College Football Week 1 Picks, Predictions Against Spread For Top 25 Teams

College football finally is back.

The action gets off to a rousing start, too, with the Week 1 schedule featuring several exciting matchups that include the best teams in the nation.

The most-anticipated game of the opening week is No. 1-ranked Alabama beginning its national championship defense against No. 20-ranked USC in Dallas.

Here are our predictions for Week 1 of the 2016 college football season. All spreads are from OddsShark and our picks are italicized.

Thursday, Sept. 1
Charlotte at No. 19 Louisville (-39.5)
Appalachian State at No. 9 Tennessee (-23)

Friday, Sept. 2
Furman at No. 12 Michigan State (no line)
Northwestern State at No. 23 Baylor (no line)
Kansas State at No. 8 Stanford (-16.5)

Saturday, Sept. 3
No. 3 Oklahoma (-11.5) at No. 15 Houston
Bowling Green at No. 6 Ohio State (-28)
Hawaii at No. 7 Michigan (-40.5)
Rutgers at No. 14 Washington (-27)
No. 16 UCLA (+3) at TAMU
No. 5 LSU (-10.5) at Wisconsin
Miami-Ohio at No. 17 Iowa (-27.5)
SE Louisiana at No. 21 Oklahoma State (no line)
UC Davis at No. 24 Oregon (no line)
No. 18 Georgia at No. 22 UNC (+3)
No. 20 USC at No. 1 Alabama (-12) in Dallas
No. 2 Clemson (-8) at Auburn