It's finally here, in all it's glory: College Football Week 1 gets into full swing on Saturday, August 30. And that means we get the first full CFB DFS picks of the season, with 60 games on tap.
There are some incredible college football games on Saturday to kickoff the 2025 college football season; none are greater than No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State, where we’ll get see the golden boy, Texas QB Arch Manning, going to the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio, to try and slay the defending champions.
Below, we'll breakdown top CFB DFS picks for Saturday on PrizePicks in Week 1. You can make your college football predictions on PrizePicks to win real money by picking More or Less on player stats all season long.
CFB DFS Picks for Week 1 – Saturday, 8/30
Here are the top Saturday CFB DFS picks for Week 1 of college football on August 30. Use these players in your PrizePicks CFB Lineup by picking More or Less on their stats and win real money if your Lineup hits!
With two discounted picks on the PrizePicks CFB board today — Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and Alabama QB Ty Simpson — it's even easier to cash in on the Week 1 slate.
Texas QB Arch Manning Projection: 1.5 Pass TDs
#1 Texas vs. #3 Ohio State Pick – 12 p.m. ET
- Texas QB Arch Manning recorded a pass attempt in six games last season and made two starts when QB Quinn Ewers was injured.
- Manning had at least two passing touchdowns in three games where he attempted a minimum of 12 pass attempts.
- Manning is on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, but not the Manning Award.
- Ohio State allowed two passing touchdowns in the final three games last season, including against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
🏈 Find more Texas vs. Ohio State predictions and picks in our full preview here
Ohio State RB James Peoples Projection: 12.5 Rush Attempts
#1 Texas vs. #3 Ohio State Pick – 12 p.m. ET
- Ohio State RB James Peoples finished third amongst Ohio State running backs in carries (49), rushing yards (197), and rushing touchdowns (2) in 2024.
- Peoples should get a more prominent role with RB TreVeyon Henderson and RB Quinshon Judkins both leaving for the NFL.
- Both Peoples and transfer CJ Donaldson are expected to work in, similar to Henderson and Judkins.
- Peoples was with the team last year, while Donaldson is playing in his first game with the Buckeyes in Week 1.
- Although former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is no longer with the team, the offense shouldn’t be any different with current OC Brian Hartline, who has been a coach with Ohio State since 2017.
- Ohio State ran more than they passed last season with a 53.09% run play percentage (64th).
- Last season, Ohio State had an exceptional run-blocking offensive line; according to PFF, their 68.7 run-blocking grade ranked 41st in the FBS.
📺 8 Must-Watch College Football Games in Week 1 & Where to Watch
Georgia RB Nate Frazier Projection: 69.5 Rushing Yards
Marshall vs. #8 Georgia Pick – 3:30 p.m. ET
- Georgia RB Nate Frazier led the team in carries (133) and rushing yards (671) last season.
- This was due to Georgia RB Trevor Etienne missing time with a rib injury, but Etienne was the lead running back when healthy.
- Etienne is no longer with Georgia after leaving for the NFL.
- In six games where Frazier carried the ball 11 times or more, he ran for over 80 yards three times.
- Georgia head coach Kirby Smart praised Frazier at SEC Media Day, saying, “His confidence in his run and his ability to give effort and conditioning level are much better than he was as a freshman.”
- Smart also said that they need to run the ball more – Frazier is expected to lead those efforts.
- Marshall was 102nd in rushing yards allowed per game last season (186.2).
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Projection: 283.5 Pass Yards
#9 LSU vs. #4 Clemson Pick – 7:30 p.m. ET
- LSU had the eighth-highest pass play percentage in the FBS last season (59.21%).
- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier had more than 287 passing yards in 9 of 13 games last season.
- Nussmeier led the SEC in pass attempts (525) and completions (337) in 2024.
- Nussmeier was named to the ESPN Preseason All-American Second Team.
- Clemson was 66th in passing yards allowed per game in 2024 (222.3).
- Clemson was 92nd in completions allowed per game last season (20.0).
- Some notable results from QBs vs. the Clemson defense in 2024 include: SMU QB Kevin Jennings (304 yards, 3 TDs), Pittsburgh QB Nate Yarnell (350 yards, 1 TD), Georgia QB Carson Beck (287 yards, 2 TDs).
LSU WR Aaron Anderson Projection: 62.5 Receiving Yards
#9 LSU vs. #4 Clemson Pick – 7:30 p.m. ET
- LSU WR Aaron Anderson led the team in receptions (61) and receiving yards (884) in 2024.
- Anderson had more than 65 receiving yards in 7 of 13 games last season.
- Anderson was named to the 2025 Biletnikoff Award watchlist for the most outstanding receiver in college football
- Anderson could get his yards in bulk, as he had a 20+ yard reception in ten games last season.
Clemson WR Antonio Williams: 59.5 Receiving Yards
#9 LSU vs. #4 Clemson Pick – 7:30 p.m. ET
- Clemson WR Antonio Williams led the team in catches (75), receiving yards (904), and his 11 touchdowns were tied for the fifth-most in the ACC.
- Williams had more than 62+ receiving yards in 7 of 14 games last year, including four of the final five.
- Williams was named to the Biletnikoff, Paul Hornung, and Maxwell Award Watch List for top receivers in the country.
- LSU was 75th last year in passing yards allowed per game (230.5).
- Williams had more than 62 receiving yards in his last two games against an SEC opponent in 2024.
Make Week 1 CFB DFS Picks on PrizePicks
Your Saturdays are officially set with college football back in full swing and CFB DFS to make every game more exciting.
Today, we have a loaded slate, including some key matchups that will be front and center, including Texas vs. Ohio State and Clemson vs. LSU.
Week 1 is finally here, and we have our first weekend with a full schedule. And now, it's time to cash in on your college football picks in PrizePicks' real money CFB DFS game.
Just pick More or Less on 2-6 player stat projections, including Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier passing yards, and get paid when your picks are right — all the way up to 2000x.
Check out the Playbook for more CFB DFS picks and college football predictions throughout the season!
