Week 1 doesn’t provide the usual punch with only one top-25 matchup. Clemson vs. #11 LSU headlines this Saturday, September 5’s primetime schedule, featuring matchups between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. ET.
Alongside Clemson vs. LSU, several big brands will be in action — such as head coach Kyle Whittingham debuting at #16 Michigan, while Florida begins the Jon Sumrall era. We aren’t getting big-time battles with College Football Playoff implications on Saturday, but intriguing storylines are alive and well.
Below, we’ll jump into our best college football predictions tonight, including picks for winners, spreads, over/under, team totals, and more on PrizePicks.
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Western Michigan vs. #16 Michigan Prediction on Over/Under for NCAAF Week 1
Time, How to Watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Following a 9-4 finish last season, Michigan football is entering its first season under head coach Kyle Whittingham, who hopes to bring stability to a program that’s stumbled since 2023’s national championship run.
Entering tonight’s matchup against Western Michigan, the Wolverines are expected to feature a strong run game.
As Utah’s offensive coordinator last season, Jason Beck coached a unit that posted a 59.6% rush-play rate (87th percentile). Beck will now call the plays for Michigan, and the Wolverines are suited for the ground game — proven by 2025’s 57.9% rush-play rate (82nd percentile), via TeamRankings.
Following 932 rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry in 2025, RB Jordan Marshall returns as UM’s feature tailback. Plus, former 5-star RB recruit Savion Hiter could be in store for touches. PrizePicks projects Marshall for 99.5 rush yards, while Hiter has 56.5 rush yards.
Adding to the attack, QB Bryce Underwood returns with true dual-threat ability — which includes 32.5 projected rush yards vs. Western Michigan on PrizePicks. As 2025’s #1 overall recruit, Underwood’s potential breakout is a major storyline for Michigan’s 2026 campaign.
The Wolverines’ offense feels like the most sticky unit for this matchup, further lifted by ranking sixth in returning experience, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly. Meanwhile, Western Michigan is 103rd in returning production on defense, pointing to potential growing pains on Saturday night.
The Broncos enter their fourth season under head coach Lance Taylor. In 2023 and 2024, WMU finished 107th and 132nd in rush success rate allowed, though that improved to 39th last season, per Game On Paper. With little returning experience on defense, could Western Michigan go back to struggling against the run?
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Clemson vs. #11 LSU Prediction on Over/Under for NCAAF Week 1
Time, How to Watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
We mentioned Michigan and Florida entering year one under new head coaches, and LSU joins that storyline with the addition of head coach Lane Kiffin. The Tigers have lived in the spotlight, from ripping Kiffin away from Ole Miss to attempting to field TE Dae’Quan Wright and DT Zxavian Harris, who had brief stints in the NFL.
LSU will finally look to silence its critics by taking the field against Clemson, which enters its 19th campaign under head coach Dabo Swinney. After last year’s 7-6 record, Clemson certainly lacks hype compared to LSU kicking off the Kiffin era.
Frankly, Dabo’s fielded inconsistency for years now, and that includes an offense that ranked 59th, 29th, and 60th in adjusted EPA per play over the last three seasons. The unit has undergone an overhaul, ranking 94th in returning production.
We can’t overlook the absurd environment for a night game in Tiger Stadium, famously known as Death Valley. That level of noise plays mind games with an offense, suggesting Clemson could come out conservative with QB Christopher Vizzina in his first game as a full-time starter.
RB Gideon Davidson brings returning experience with 260 rushing yards last season, and RB
Chris Johnson Jr. comes over from SMU — where he totaled 479 rushing yards and 7.1 yards per carry in 2025. Clemson may look to keep it on the ground in an attempt to drag LSU into a slugfest.
Sticking with that idea, Clemson likely lacks the firepower to hang with LSU. Among 44 incoming transfers, Kiffin brought in the #1 overall transfer, QB Sam Leavitt, and #3 overall transfer, OT Jordan Seaton, per 247 Sports.
Under Kiffin, Ole Miss ranked in the 90th percentile for the fewest seconds per play in the last two seasons. LSU is a team that wants to play fast, but Clemson has something we can trust with 61% of production returning on defense (80th percentile) under veteran defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
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Florida Atlantic vs. Florida Prediction on Spread for NCAAF Week 1
Time, How to Watch: 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network
The past five seasons for Florida have been a nightmare, featuring only one winning season. The Gators made a much-needed change by landing head coach Jon Sumrall — who led Tulane to an 11-3 record and College Football Playoff appearance last year.
With 29 incoming transfers, hiccups are ahead, mainly on offense with only 55% of returning production (51st percentile). There could finally be some identity on this unit, though, as Buster Faulkner mans the offensive coordinator position.
In 2025, Faulkner was OC for Georgia Tech, which logged 0.19 adjusted EPA per play (88th percentile) and a 52.8% success rate (96th percentile). The Yellow Jackets also tallied a 52.6% rush-play rate (88th percentile).
The Gators have skill position players who could fill roles in a run-heavy attack. For example, RB Jadan Baugh totaled 1,170 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry for Florida in 2025. As the ninth-best WR available in the transfer portal, former Auburn and Georgia Tech WR Eric Singleton Jr. is an exciting add with elite speed who can stretch the field.
Starting QB Aaron Philo is mostly an unknown, making only eight appearances over two seasons at Georgia Tech. However, room for points is still present. Florida Atlantic returns 65% of production on defense (90th percentile), and the unit allowed a 48.5% success rate (17th percentile) and 0.08 adjusted EPA per play (20th percentile) in the 2025 season.
Most importantly, the Owls were awful against the run, ceding a 50.1% rush success rate (17th percentile). That opens the door for Faulkner to deploy his usual run-heavy attack, perhaps leading to a successful debut for Sumrall.
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Who will shine in their head coaching debut of new teams in the primetime spotlight? Michigan and Florida may feast on the ground, while LSU takes on a Clemson team that likely wants to slow the game in a hostile environment.
Don’t wait until kickoff — make college football picks on PrizePicks now. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in on your predictions if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders — now available in 36 states!
Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we jump into the 2026 season.
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