Common Man Predictions – Week 1

[Sirhornsalot]

FINALLY, it's here. We are officially out of the off season wilderness! We are IN the 2026 football season.

First week lacks some of the more exciting games to make your picks from. I try to make it at least a little challenging. This time, we have a Thursday game so have your picks in by midnight Wednesday. Winner will be announced Monday after the final game.

At stake this week – an entire collection of Air Supply albums.

Buenos Suerte!


(Thursday)

Georgia Tech at Colorado

(Saturday)

Oregon State at Houston

Boise State at #2 Oregon

Clemson at #11 LSU

Coastal Carolina at West Virginia

Baylor at Auburn

UCLA at Cal

(Sunday)

Washington St at #17 Washington

Wisconsin at #4 Notre Dame

#24 Louisville at #9 Ole Miss


(Monday)

#19 SMU at Florida St

TIEBREAKER – Guess the winner and score of the Texas vs Texas St game.

 

[Chapalahorn]

Thursday)

Georgia Tech

(Saturday)

Houston

Oregon

LSU

West Virginia

Auburn

Cal

(Sunday)

Washington

Notre Dame

Ole Miss


(Monday)

SMU

TIEBREAKER – Texas 56 Texas State 14

 

[Kmed]

New season, and I know absolutely nothing about these teams (especially since players are on one year contracts and whole rosters get flipped). That said, this week will probably be my best guesses of the season. The more I think I know about the various teams the worse I do.

GT
Houston
Oregon
Clemson (please, win this one for the planet)
WV
Auburn
Cal
Washington
Ole Miss
SMU

Texas 52 Texas State 10

 

[Sirhornsalot]

My picks.

Colorado – Tech will have a new QB and are on the road. CU has some decent front 7 folks and a 2nd year QB. CU in a mild upset.

Houston – I'm buying shares of Houston this year. Solid coach. Good talent.

Oregon – This one could get out of hand.

LSU – LSU, but it will be close. Clemson has a good team. And LSU has a bunch of new faces.

West Virginia – I expect WV to be the darkhorse in the Big 12.

Auburn – Despite Baylor's addition of DJ Lagway at QB, I'm not buying yet. Auburn is tough at home.

UCLA – They've assembled some talent, have a good QB, and should be better than last year. Cal is tough at home but I think UCLA pulls it out.

(Sunday)

Washington – The Huskies are too talented to lose this game, even though it's a rivalry game.

Notre Dame – Too much talent.

Louisville – I like Louisville a lot. Broughm is a very good coach. I'm picking the upset.


(Monday)

SMU – The Ponies prevail due to good defense and QB play. FSU will make it close. It's their second game.


TIEBREAKER – Texas 52 Texas State 10

 

[Sunkist]

Georgia Tech
Houston - buy stock
Oregon - will look the best during regular season
LSU - Leavitt is so good
West Virginia
Auburn
UCLA
Washington
Ole Miss
SMU

Texas 48 Texas State 3

 

[General Hooker]

Colorado

Houston

#2 Oregon

Clemson (upset special)

West Virginia

Auburn

UCLA

Washington

Notre Dame

Ole Miss

Florida St

TIEBREAKER – Texas 66 Texas St 7 (late garbage time TD for TexSt)

 

[Baron]

Ga Tech
Cougar High
Oregon
Scum Bag U (LSU)
W Va
Auburn
Cal
Washington
ND
Ole Miss (I almost want to pick Louisville in an upset)
Fla St
Texas 48 - Texas St 13

 

[hookemhorb]

Georgia Tech at Colorado - I think it's Colorado at GT. GT in the post Haynes King era without an experienced QB. It's going to be a rough year for them. Luckily, the Buff's don't have an experienced QB either. Colorado is also lacking a proven run game. I'm going with GT in a "defensive" game.

Oregon State at Houston - what?!? There's another team out of Oregon! The Cougars win big if they don't play with their food.

Boise State at #2 Oregon - The Duck's open a promising season with a blow out at home.

Clemson at #11 LSU - LSU has a new coach and high hopes. Clemson has a veteran coach and well, hopes to win enough games to keep his job. Dabo better have some magic left in his hip pocket because without an experienced QB this is going to be a long season for Clemson. Picking the home team.

Coastal Carolina at West Virginia - The Mountaineers will look like a playoff team after this game and the next. Then reality will hit, but until then the Mountaineers will take this first game.

Baylor at Auburn - Auburn is another team that obtains a starting QB from the portal. Let's hope Brown can make the jump from the South Florida Bulls to the SEC. Baylor brought in DJ Lagway that could make them a contender if he can keep his turnovers down. I expect a close game. If Lagway doesn't turn it over, Baylor can win this at the end. I'll go with the upset and pick Baylor.

UCLA at Cal - 2 middle of the road teams that are about equal. Each has last year's QB back, but Cal has the better running game. I'm going with the home team.

(Sunday)

Washington St at #17 Washington - If Washington wants to be the 4th Big 10 team to make the playoffs then they need to beat their instate rival. They should roll easily over the Cougars.

Wisconsin at #4 Notre Dame - The Irish start with a lower tiered Big 10 team at home. This should be a yawner. Notre Dame covers the spread.

#24 Louisville at #9 Ole Miss - I believed in Louisville last year but without a Div I experienced QB, I don't know. If they can run the ball and take the pressure off of their QB, they stand a chance. Ole Miss has the QB and RB returning so I'm going with the home team, once again.


(Monday)

#19 SMU at Florida St - I'm picking SMU with a decent shot of making the playoffs so they got to win this one. This is one of their long road trips.

TIEBREAKER – Guess the winner and score of the Texas vs Texas St game.
Texas 59 - Texas St 3
I expect to see some blown coverages while the D absorbs the new schemes. That could lead to some points.