College football predictions 2022: Picks for top games of Week 1
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas
Line: Arkansas -6.5
Head Coach Sam Pittman has the Arkansas football program back in business after Razorback fans endured several years of mediocrity and poor play.
Cincinnati Head Coach Luke Fickell is in it for the long haul with the Bearcats after signing a lucrative long-term contract — a reward for becoming the first Group of Five team to make it to the College Football Playoff.
The Bearcats lost a lot of talent to the NFL, but still should have most of their starting offensive line returning to help new QB Ben Bryant or Evan Prater — Fickell won’t say — stay on their feet against a tough Razorback defense.
KJ Jefferson, a dual-threat QB for the Hogs, is one of the most talented signal callers in the SEC. He will push this Bearcats defense to the limits. Arkansas has a great home-field advantage with their raucous crowd that will make for a difficult environment for a new starting quarterback.
Prediction
Arkansas will cover this one and win by more than six points at home. Expect KJ Jefferson to have a big day and the Bearcats to be rattled by a loud crowd early in the game. The Bearcats keep it respectable, but I think the Hogs win by 7-10 points.
Arkansas and Cincinnati kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
No. 11 Oregon at No. 3 Georgia
Line: Georgia -17
The Georgia Bulldogs, aka the reigning, defending national champions, take on the Oregon Ducks in what’s technically a neutral site game in Week 1.
But come on, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is about 75 miles from the Bulldogs’ campus in Athens, Ga., and it’s about 2,600 miles from the Ducks’ campus in Eugene, Ore.
The Bulldogs are going to be fired up for their first game of their title defense. Even though they lost some talent on both sides of the ball, they still have Kirby Smart calling the shots — one of the best tacticians in all of college football. Plus quarterback Stetson Bennett is back and looks even better than last year, according to his head coach.
Oregon has first-time head coach Dan Lanning, who served under Smart from 2018-2021 as his defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, looking to make a statement in his first game at the helm for the Ducks. They also have Auburn transfer Bo Nix at quarterback, who’s looking for a fresh start after just-ok performances while a member of the Tigers.
Prediction
Never bet against the champs. They’re coming out with a chip on their shoulder after being ranked No. 3 to start the 2022 season instead of No. 1. Georgia’s speed, strength, and championship pedigree will give them too many advantages. The Bulldogs cover and win by more than 17 points in Atlanta.
Oregon and Georgia kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.