Best and Worst Takes of Week 0 and 1 + Predictions for Week 2 of the 2024 College Football Season

We’re two weeks through (actually 1, though week 0 did have four games), and boy was it a ride. Florida State bookended the first two weeks with 2 inexplicable losses, and got run over without the spear being feared. That is indeed one of the worst takes of the first two weeks of the season. In addition to that, below are my worst takes from week 0 and 1.

A lot of blowouts – frankly this didn’t happen to the degree I was expecting. Many games especially for the big ten teams were tight well into the second half. Not to forget, but I expected better offense especially among the Big Ten. As an aside, Southern California is dangerous.

Clemson will be the best team in the ACC – I knew FSU would drop off some but not this much. Moreover, I better get my share of Canes stock before I can’t. Miami was dominant and Clemson got dominated.

Best takes:

Notre Dame is legit – they went into a hostile environment and got it done.

The Big Ten and SEC will each get four teams into the CFP – Time will tell on this one, but each of them looks like it is good enough to get four teams in. Ohio State and Texas were convincing, along with Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss. USC made a statement with its win over LSU, Penn State made a statement, and while Michigan and Oregon struggled, they have opportunities to make statements, starting with Michigan when they welcome the Longhorns down to Ann Arbor.

Best pick of week 0 and 1: Syracuse over Ohio – I was one point off on each team picking 37-21, with the final score ending as 38-22.

Week 0 + Week 1 record: 87-13 (.870)

While it’s still early in the season, this will be a turning point for both Michigan and Texas.

Week 2 predictions

September 6 (3 games):

Indiana def. Western Illinois, 38-7
SMU def. BYU, 34-24
Duke def. Northwestern, 20-14

September 7 (75 games):

10) Michigan def. 3) Texas, 28-24
8) Penn State def. Bowling Green, 38-14
16) Oklahoma State def. Arkansas, 33-28
17) Kansas State def. Tulane, 38-21
23) Georgia Tech def. Syracuse, 35-20
Minnesota def. Rhode Island, 27-10
Rutgers def. Akron, 34-7
Pittsburgh def. Cincinnati, 35-28
UConn def. Merrimack, 28-14
Memphis def. Troy, 38-17
Florida Atlantic def. Army, 24-17
Texas A&M def. McNeese, 45-10
1) Georgia vs. Tennessee Tech, 55-0
Ball State def. Missouri State, 37-6
Kent State def. St. Francis (PA), 48-10
UNLV def. Utah Tech, 42-7
5) Notre Dame def. Northern Illinois, 38-7
11) Utah def. Baylor, 31-17
Iowa State def. 21) Iowa, 33-30
22) Louisville def. Jacksonville State, 41-31
Auburn def. California, 27-17
Kentucky def. South Carolina, 31-21
Maryland def. Michigan State, 35-14
Washington def. Eastern Michigan, 41-7
Wisconsin def. South Dakota, 31-10
Toledo def. Massachusetts, 34-21
Boston College def. Duquesne, 45-14
North Carolina def. Charlotte, 23-10
Wyoming def. Idaho, 34-6
Navy def. Temple, 31-14
Texas State def. UTSA, 30-27
6) Ole Miss def. Middle Tennessee, 51-0
Marshall def. Virginia Tech, 31-24
12) Miami (FL) def. Florida A&M, 49-7
West Virginia def. U-Albany, 52-3
Central Michigan def. Florida International, 31-20
James Madison def. Gardner-Webb, 35-13
East Carolina def. Old Dominion, 26-14
Ohio def. South Alabama, 35-31
UCF def. Sam Houston, 41-14
4) Alabama def. South Florida, 59-7
9) Missouri def. Buffalo, 38-10
19) Kansas def. Illinois, 31-24
Florida def. Samford, 45-10
Coastal Carolina def. William & Mary, 33-14
Western Kentucky def. Eastern Kentucky, 38-17
Georgia State def. Chattanooga, 37-23
Stanford def. Cal Poly, 41-20
Wake Forest def. Virginia, 39-27
Louisiana def. Kennesaw State, 42-21
Air Force def. San José State, 30-23
Colorado State def. Northern Colorado, 42-7
Nevada def. Georgia Southern, 33-27
Arkansas State def. Tulsa, 38-31
UAB def. UL Monroe, 37-21
Southern Miss def. Southeast Louisiana, 42-28
Rice def. Texas Southern, 29-17
2) Ohio State def. Western Michigan, 45-10
14) Tennessee def. 24) NC State, 38-24
18) LSU def. Nicholls State, 38-17
Vanderbilt def. Alcorn State, 45-24
Nebraska def. Colorado, 37-27
North Texas def. Stephen F. Austin, 41-13
15) Oklahoma def. Houston, 59-14
25) Clemson def. Appalachian State, 41-17
TCU def. Long Island University, 52-10
UTEP def. Southern Utah, 44-11
7) Oregon def. Boise State, 34-13
20) Arizona def. Northern Arizona, 65-28
Washington State def. Texas Tech, 36-27
Fresno State def. Sacramento State, 45-17
Liberty def. New Mexico State, 51-17
Mississippi State def. Arizona State, 35-31
Oregon State def. San Diego State, 38-24
13) USC def. Utah State, 48-17