College football predictions 2022: Picks for top games of Week 1
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State -17
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has the misfortune of drawing Ohio State in his first regular season game at the helm for the Irish.
The former defensive coordinator is going to have to rely on his strengths to find ways to slow down Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud, a player who is sure to be in the conversation for the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
New Irish starting quarterback Tyler Buchner had a few appearances in 2021, racking up 298 passing yards on 35 attempts. He had three touchdowns to go along with three interceptions. He’ll surely be combatting some nerves and he’ll be finding his way without starting wideout Avery Davis, who has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
Prediction
The oddsmakers are giving a huge 17-point spread for this game. Notre Dame is the No. 5 team in the country. Is there really that big of a gap between team No. 5 and team No. 2? That’s what we’re about to find out. I’ll take Ohio State and the points in this one. The Buckeyes are going to win easily at home with a barrage of touchdowns that Notre Dame will not be able to match.
Notre Dame and Ohio State kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Utah State at No. 1 Alabama
Line: Alabama -41
The best team in the country faces one of last season’s Group of Five darlings in Utah State. The Aggies are getting paid handsomely to come into Tuscaloosa on a silver platter.
Utah State played UConn in Week 0, barely escaping with a win against one of the worst teams in college football from 2021.
Expect reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young to showcase all of the skills his been fine-tuning in the offseason and begin his campaign to repeat as college football’s best player in earnest.
Prediction
Bryce Young throws for four-plus touchdowns, 300-plus yards, and runs for an additional 75 on the ground. The Tide win big and cover the 41-point chasm set by the oddsmakers.
Bama and Utah State face off at 7:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.