The Big E College Football Picks: Week 1

Welcome back to the Big E College Football Picks! I know everyone enjoyed the off-season but it's time to stop playing around and start beating Vegas. There are no prizes of any sort to the winner of this season-long contest but we support any and everybody joining in on the picks.

The defending champion from 2012 is Savannah_Domer who went 84-63 against the spread.

This year we had to do things a little differently and using Yahoo! College Football Pick 'Em.

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Remember to use your SBN handle in our group so we know who you are. Also, be aware we'll be picking games not just from Saturday. For this week you'll need to get picks in for some of tonight's games. The league is set to pick Yahoo! Featured Games of the Week plus Independent games so as to include all Irish games.

Games with no spread (typically involving a FCS opponent) won't be commented on in these posts. Let's hope they are all easy wins. Here we go...

Texas Tech (-5) at SMU

Pick: SMU

Very interesting first game for Koach Kliff's debut. A bit of a sneaky tough game to open the season for the Red Raiders.

Purdue (+10.5) at Cincinnati

Pick: Purdue

Both teams are breaking in new coaches. Cincinnati seems favored just a little too much for my liking.

BYU (-1) at Virginia

Pick: BYU

I'll take the Cougars' strong defense. Still waiting for Mike London to Do Good Things.

Miss State (+12.5) at Oklahoma State [Houston, TX]

Pick: Oklahoma State

I really love that Cowboys offense putting on a show on the turf and covering this double-digit spread.

Temple (+29.5) at Notre Dame

Pick: Notre Dame

I'm really excited for the season to start.

Alabama (-20) at Virginia Tech [Atlanta, GA]

Pick: Alabama

How many among us will pick the Hokies here?

Washington State (+15.5) at Auburn

Pick: Washington State

I don't know, in terms of recruiting this spread makes plenty of sense. But both of these teams, not just Wazzu, were terrible last year and have a lot to prove. I'll take the points and hope Leach can work some magic.

Miami [OH] (+19.5) at Marshall

Pick: Marshall

The Herd are the Conference USA favorites and usually play really well at home.

Idaho (+15) at North Texas

Pick: North Texas

Sometimes Yahoo! is going to throw a terrible, terrible game at us. This is one of those times.

UAB (+3.5) at Troy

Pick: Troy

Troy won this game last year and should take care of business at home this year.

Kentucky (-4.5) at Western Kentucky

Pick: Kentucky

The Wildcats better cover the spread or else I want all of their top recruits to decommit by Sunday.

Georgia (-1.5) at Clemson

Pick: Clemson

Seems smart to take the home dog here. Just a super opening weekend game, you guys.

New Mexico State (+42.5) at Texas

Pick: Texas

I'm buying Longhorn stock this season.

LSU (-4.5) at TCU [Arlington, TX]

Pick: LSU

I like the Bayou Bengals to wear down the Frogs just enough to cover. Another flavorful game on the weekend.

Nevada (+21) at UCLA

Pick: Nevada

Nevada is still a sold program, don't sleep on them covering here.

Boise State (+3.5) at Washington

Pick: Boise State

The Huskies should win this game in their new renovated stadium. That house should be rocking but I'll take the points when Boise State is an underdog.

Northwestern (-6) at California

Pick: Northwestern

I really don't want to pick Northwestern here.

Ohio (+20.5) at Louisville

Pick: Ohio

Your weekly "closer than the experts think" game.

Colorado (+2.5) at Colorado State

Pick: Colorado

Are the Buffaloes bad enough to lose to their in-state rival for a second straight season?

Florida State (-10.5) at Pittsburgh

Pick: Florida State

This spread seems way too low to me.