College GameDay podcast makes picks for top Week 1 games

Week 1 of the 2024 college football season is finally here, and it means it’s time to pick some games. The ESPN College GameDay podcast obliged, with the likes of Pete Thamel, Ryan McGee and “Stanford” Steve Coughlin picking some of the top games of the week.

All told, the group went through seven of the bigger matchups of the weekend, picking games against the spread. From a big SEC-ACC clash to a Big 10-SEC showdown, they made some interesting calls.

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Check out the full picks for Week 1 from the College GameDay podcast below.

Georgia vs. Clemson

Stanford Steve: Clemson +11.5
Pete Thamel: Clemson +11.5
Ryan McGee: Georgia -11.5

These two programs are old-school rivals and have met from time-to-time of late. The most recent showdown was the 2021 season opener, a 10-3 win for Georgia with no offensive touchdowns scored. The respective offenses might be able to muster some touchdowns this time around, with Georgia likely holding the upper hand in that department. However, as the picks from Stanford Steve and Thamel indicate, Clemson is perhaps stout enough on defense and capable of controlling possession enough to at least cover the double-digit point spread.

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Notre Dame at Texas A&M

Stanford Steve: Notre Dame +3
Pete Thamel: Texas A&M -3
Ryan McGee: Notre Dame +3

Notre Dame heads to College Station as a road underdog but many feel the Irish are actually the better team, as evidenced by the picks for the Irish to cover the slim, 3-point spread. Notre Dame, by virtue of a third year coach and what should be a salty defense could be poised to pick up a big road win, but Texas A&M have plenty of talent, too, and a noted homefield advantage.

Miami at Florida

Stanford Steve: Florida +2.5
Pete Thamel: Miami -2.5
Ryan McGee: Florida +2.5

There’s probably not a Week 1 game with more at stake than this showdown between in-state rivals and their third-year head coaches needing to show a significant step in the right direction. And there’s not a ton, on paper, to separate these two squads prior to playing. Miami enters as a slight road favorite headed to Gainesville, but Florida holding serve and covering — or winning — at home would hardly be a stunner.

Penn State at West Virginia

Stanford Steve: West Virginia +7.5
Pete Thamel: West Virginia +7.5
Ryan McGee: Penn State -7.5

These two squads opened the 2022 season with a relatively methodical win for Penn State at home. And as the Nittany Lions return the trip and head to Morgantown, they’re still healthy favorites. But after the strong finish to 2023 for West Virginia and Penn State overhauling both sides of the ball with new coordinators, two of the three ESPN pickers weren’t sold on the Nittany Lions covering the touchdown and a half.

Western Kentucky at Alabama

Stanford Steve: Western Kentucky +31.5
Pete Thamel: Alabama -31.5

McGee appeared to not make a pick on the first game of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama, though the question is less about a winner or loser and far more about the Crimson Tide covering a 31.5-point spread. And the ESPN pickers were split on the matter. Stanford Steve chose to opt for the consistent program of Western Kentucky to lose by a slimmer margin, while Thamel thinks the Tide cruise to a cover.

Fresno State at Michigan

Stanford Steve: Fresno State +21
Pete Thamel: Michigan -21

Both teams enter this game with new head coaches, although Fresno State had a change far more recently as former head coach Jeff Tedford stepped down to deal with health concerns, opening the seat for Tim Skipper. For Michigan, it’s Sherrone Moore’s first turn as the full-time head coach. And with so much new, Stanford Steve and Thamel were split on the pick. Thamel thinks the talent of the Wolverines is too much to overcome, while his compatriot has Fresno State covering — McGee again didn’t appear to make a pick.

USC vs. LSU

Stanford Steve: USC +4.5
Pete Thamel: LSU -4.5

McGee seemed to indicate he was leaning toward LSU, but didn’t make a formal pick. That lined him up with Thamel in taking the Tigers to cover the 4.5-point spread against USC. Both teams enter this contest, which will be played on Sunday night, in similar circumstances: Third-year head coaches trying to lead big-brand programs to dominant seasons after slipping slightly in 2023. And the loser will immediately be behind the eight ball in delivering a 2024 season that lives up to the promise.

And now that picks have been made, it’s finally time for Saturday to roll in.