College football fans love upsets; well, unless they’re fans of the losing team. But already, with South Florida‘s takedown of Boise State, college football is going down the upset path. It would be wise to expect more of the same in Week 1, as many top teams could be in jeopardy. Here are some specific examples of potential upsets for Week 1.
College Football Top Week 1 Upset Predictions
Miami (+2.5) over Notre Dame
With two top 10 teams battling in Week 1, it’s likely to be a competitive game. That said, it seems fair to wonder if the home Hurricanes shouldn’t actually be the favorite over the Irish. Miami has talented Georgia transfer Carson Beck running the offense and smooth running back Mark Fletcher to run the ball. The Irish have Jeremiyah Lowe, but will be breaking in a new QB, and don’t look overwhelming up front.
North Carolina (+3.5) over TCU
Bill Belichick didn’t come out of retirement to lose at home to TCU. Gio Lopez won the QB job and will be behind an offensive line of returnees that will give Belichick a solid offense. Look for the maestro to work his magic on the defensive side of the ball. Josh Hoover is an excellent QB, but Sonny Dykes isn’t going to outlast Bill Belichick. The Carolina defense will have one more big play than the TCU offense, and the new coach will be a Week 1 winner.
Virginia Tech (+7.5) over South Carolina
Tech is an underdog here, but the Hokies have one big advantage. QB Kyron Drones returns (1,562 yards and 10 TDs in nine starts). A season ago, South Carolina’s defense was remarkable. But most of those guys, particularly up front, have graduated or moved on to the NFL. LaNorris Sellers is good for some big plays, but don’t be shocked if Tech’s offense can pick on the Gamecocks in the trenches and squeak out a win.
Toledo (+9.5) over Kentucky
Kentucky had a morbid 4-8 season last year, while Toledo won eight games and beat Mississippi State and Pittsburgh. Kentucky is breaking in a new quarterback again, in seventh-year veteran Zach Calzada. The Wildcat team doesn’t have a ton of depth and in the second half, Toledo can wear down Kentucky, with former Kentucky back Chip Trayanum having a chance to grind out a win for the Rockets.
Coastal Carolina (+11.5) over Virginia
Tim Beck led Coastal Carolina to its fifth straight bowl appearance last year. Maryland transfer MJ Morris is in to run the offense, and Beck’s team returns four offensive line starters from last season. Virginia is a favorite, but the Cavaliers haven’t had a winning season since 2019. The offense struggled a year ago, and the Chanticleers have a path to hang around and keep the game competitive.
UCLA (+5.5) over Utah
Nico Iamaleava headed out of Tennessee and resurfaced at UCLA. After coming up a win short of a bowl last year, DeShaun Foster’s Bruins have reloaded with an interesting mixture of transfers and youngsters. Utah gets a bunch of respect, but they also went 5-7 a year ago. It’s a new QB for the Utes with Devon Dampier in from New Mexico. While Utah returns most of its offense, that’s not necessarily a good thing. UCLA could pull the upset.
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