5 bold predictions for Week 1 of the college football season

First-year coaches roll

I’ve already predicted a tough loss for Marcus Freeman on Saturday night but for the most part, I think it’s going to be a good weekend for first-year head coaches at big-time programs.

Lincoln Riley hosts Rice and he’s going to make USC football fans happy as they watch Caleb Williams have a huge night in his debut for the Trojans. I expect around 50 points.

I also think Napier and Florida football are being underestimated. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Gators made a run at a major bowl this season and won nine or 10 games.

The schedule isn’t that hard and if Anthony Richardson lives up to the hype, this team could really be a dark horse in the SEC. It’s one of the 15 most talented teams in the country according to the Blue-Chip ratio from 247 sports and that’s not meaningless as I expect we’ll see on Saturday.

With the right head coach, blue-chip programs can turn around quickly and after this weekend, Florida, USC, Oklahoma, and LSU are all going to feel good about their choices. Notre Dame will again soon, the Irish just have a brutal opening game.