Can Wisconsin make it a close game on Sunday night?

Should Vanderbilt be on upset alert in Week 1 against an FCS team?

Will defenses rule once again between LSU and Clemson?

I'm playing the early-season Trojans Over trend once again. Including the Week Zero 42-26 win over San Jose State, Lincoln Riley has coached eight games at home against non-conference opponents in August / September. In those games, the average score has been USC 57, Opponents 17. USC has never scored less than 42 points in any of those contests. I was less than impressed with the Trojans' defense on Saturday, while their offense was crisp and in midseason form led by quarterback Jayden Maiava. Expect points galore once again in the L.A. Coliseum on Friday night. USC 44, Fresno State 21.

To me, this game has backdoor cover written all over it. The Seminoles should roll in the first half before putting in backups in the second half and cruising to an easy win. After all, they play #19 SMU at home on Labor Day and want to be rested and healthy for that crucial early-season game. I think a couple of late Aggies scores give us a semi-comfortable Week Zero cover. Florida State 41, New Mexico State 17.

This is my first college football pick of hopefully hundreds this season. So glad my favorite sport is officially back! But picking Week 0 / 1 games is SO hard without much data to go on. Virginia is #1 in the conference in experience per Phil Steele's magazine and they boast a strong defense that surrendered less than 20 points per game last season. At the same time, I'm not sure I'm expecting fireworks from the Cavaliers' offense with new QB Beau Pribula. While NC State's offense might be potent as the season goes along, I don't expect to see a 35-31 game like last year. Give me the home team in a bit of a dogfight. Virginia 23, NC State 17.

In Lincoln Riley's four years at USC, he's had six total home games against non-conference teams during the first two weeks of the season. In those games, the Trojans have averaged 61.3 points per game. In total, those six games have averaged over 76 points per game. Riley likes to run it up early in the season and should be able to do so against a weak San Jose State team. Expect the Trojans to come out firing and hit another Over in a non-conference game at home. USC 54, San Jose State 14.

I’ve doubted Indiana long enough and now I’m done. This team is absolutely for real and they’re going to prove it in Miami’s home stadium on Monday night. The Hoosiers’ defense has only given up more than 20 points twice: at Penn State and in garbage time against Oregon in the Peach Bowl. Don’t expect Miami to find a ton of success against that unit. On the other side, I think the Hurricanes will keep the game close before Fernando Mendoza leads Indiana to two fourth quarter touchdowns and an improbable National Championship to say the least. Indiana 27, Miami 17.

I’ve been way off in the College Football Playoff games as evidenced by me liking Texas Tech and Alabama on New Year’s Day. Both of these Big Ten teams were awesome and their defenses looked impenetrable. Indiana shockingly won in Eugene in October, 30-20, so I lean towards Oregon in the rematch. Like Miami, Indiana hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in a game this season, but I have to think that Ducks' OC Will Stein will make the necessary adjustments to succeed. I have continued to doubt the Hoosiers, but their offense led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is impressive. Either way, I think this one is decided by four points or less, something like 27-24 Ducks.

As someone with annual Fiesta Bowl tickets, I was thrilled at the possibility of an Ohio State-Georgia semifinal game on Thursday night. But Miami’s domination of the line of scrimmage against the Buckeyes and Trinidad Chambliss’ theatrics vs. the Bulldogs changed that. This game should be a barn burner regardless, but I lean towards the Hurricanes for two reasons: Their physicality against Texas A&M and Ohio State was superior, plus the continuing uncertainty around the Rebels’ coaching staff can be a distraction. Interesting streaks on the line here: Ole Miss has scored 30+ points in eight straight games, while Miami hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in regulation all season. Give me the Hurricanes, 28-21.

I’ll be attending my second Holiday Bowl on Friday to watch my alma mater go for its second 10-win season in the last three years. It was a magical 5-0 run for my Wildcats in November, fueled by a defense that forced 28 turnovers this season (currently T3 in the nation). SMU was a late-November win away from playing in the ACC Championship Game before losing 38-35 at Cal. Does this team really want to be here when the Mustangs arguably could’ve been in the CFP for the second straight season? The motivation and fan support should be all Wildcats.

In its last four games, Georgia has surrendered 10, 3, 9, and 7 points. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bulldogs ended up winning the National Championship again, though I still lean Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Don’t expect the wild shootout that we saw on Oct. 18. Both defenses will come to play and keep this one in the 40s so we’re getting some value here. Personally, I’m be parlaying Georgia ML with the Under at better than 3-to-2 odds.

Let’s think back to last year when the undefeated and top-ranked Big Ten champion entered the Rose Bowl against a team which was talented but had question marks. Final score: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21. And the game wasn’t even that close. While I don’t think this one will be a blowout like last year, did Indiana already win its National Championship of sorts by beating Ohio State while Fernando Mendoza took home the Heisman Trophy? Alabama has the better athletes and showed its mettle after a brutal start vs. Oklahoma. This game should be close but talent wins out. I'm predicting an outright upset, but just in case I'll take the points.

The Red Raiders have looked elite all season. Yes, I know it’s the Big 12 but outside of losing to Arizona State with a backup QB, their next closest game was decided by 22 points. The oddsmakers are not giving Texas Tech enough credit. That defense is a top-three unit in America. Meanwhile, who did Oregon really beat? Penn State? In overtime no less. Iowa? On a last-second field goal. USC? Always a fade on the road. Washington? Also inconsistent. Get ready for the Big Ten PR spin after they lose this one.

I was at the 2003 National Championship Game between these two schools and the amount of talent on that field was ridiculous. But I digress -- both teams are coming off lackluster offensive performances in their last games, scoring only 10 points each. Don’t expect the Miami offense to find better footing in this contest. The Buckeyes have allowed 16 or fewer points in every game and I have a hard time seeing the Hurricanes exceeding that mark in the Cotton Bowl. Look for Ryan Day to open up the playbook and for OSU to cruise to at least a two-score victory.