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Week 1 of the college football season is finally upon us, and Thursday night brings with it a sumptuous appetizer for the weekend, with several Power Four teams beginning their campaigns, including four ranked in the preseason AP Top 25.
Some matchups stand out more than others as they could be thrillers that provide early perspective on some teams with key questions: Minnesota will host North Carolina at 8 pm ET in a Big Ten vs. ACC matchup between two teams using new starting quarterbacks while relying on elite running backs.
At the same time, Colorado and North Dakota State will be on the road, giving the Buffaloes some serious competition against some of the best teams in the FCS in coach Deion Sanders' second year. If the Buffaloes want to improve on last year's 4-8 record, they need to beat the Bison in their season opener, as they'll face tougher matches against Colorado State and Nebraska in the coming weeks.
Be sure to tune into CBS Sports throughout the night for college football opening rounds and live game coverage, and see our experts' picks for the best games to play on Thursday in Week 1.
Odds based on SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern
North Dakota State University vs. University of Colorado
8 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — Expectations have cooled outside of Colorado, but they're still running high in Boulder. Deion Sanders wants a more balanced attack after the pressure to throw the ball to his son Shedul in 2023 was too much. North Dakota State will be a great first test for the revamped offense, especially in the ground game. North Dakota State is experienced and loaded with FCS talent, but the Buffaloes, unlike last season, have proven Power 4 starters at every position on the field. This is an improved Colorado team, and the Buffaloes will look to prove it in primetime. Prediction: Colorado -9.5 — Brandon Marcelo
North Carolina vs. Minnesota
8 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (free trial available) — North Carolina has future first-round draft pick Drake Maye at quarterback, and even though both teams have already played two games, the two teams combined for just 44 points last season. Both teams are currently practicing with new quarterbacks (the Tar Heels have yet to name a starter), and will likely rely on the run game to get a foothold in the new season. Points will be valuable. Prediction: Under 50.5 — David Cobb
What college football picks can you be confident about going into Week 1? Head to SportsLine to find out which team will win and cover the spread, powered by a proven computer model that's returned over $2,000 in profits since inception.
