College Football AI Predictions Week 1: ATS Picks & Score Predictions for Every Game

We're off to an impressive start with our college football AI predictions after a 6-2 record straight up / against the spread last week. This time, we're firing up the AI prediction model to generate score predictions for all 91 FBS games in Week 1, including the biggest matchups of the week to complement our Week 1 moneyline picks.

Each score projection is generated based on the matchup itself before checking the best prediction market apps to derive ATS and Over/Under picks for every game. We're tracking the top matchups first; scroll to the bottom for complete AI picks and score predictions.

Featured college football AI picks for Week 1

The following college football AI picks include our featured matchups as determined by our Covers experts, which include most top-25 matchups and key rivalries for Week 1.

2026 featured picks record: SU 6-2 | ATS 6-2 | O/U 3-5

Matchup	ATS pick	O/U pick	Score prediction
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon	-24.5	O51.5	Oregon 39-14
Wisconsin vs. No. 4 ND	-20.5	O46.5	Notre Dame 35-12
Texas State at No. 5 Texas	+30.5	U59.5	Texas 44-15
UNT at No. 6 Indiana	+40.5	O56.5	Indiana 48-9
No. 7 Miami at Stanford	+24.5	U48.5	Miami 35-12
Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M	+41.5	U53.5	Texas A&M 46-7
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss	-6.5	U55.5	Ole Miss 30-23
UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma	+41.5	U51.5	Oklahoma 45-6
Clemson at No. 11 LSU	+10.5	U50.5	LSU 28-18
ECU at No. 13 Alabama	+27.5	U52.5	Alabama 34-14
Fresno State at No. 14 USC	+21.5	U51.5	USC 36-15
WSU at No. 17 Washington	+23.5	U50.5	Washington 35-13
No. 19 SMU at FSU	+3.5	U53.5	SMU 27-25
Idaho at No. 21 Utah	+35.5	U59.5	Utah 44-9
Ark.-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri	+54.5	U61.5	Missouri 54-6
Akron at Wake Forest	-24.5	U50.5	Wake Forest 36-11
Baylor vs. Auburn	-7.5	U59.5	Auburn 31-23
Colorado at GT	-6.5	O51.5	Georgia Tech 31-21
Indiana State at Purdue	+35.5	U56.5	Purdue 42-12
Toledo at Michigan State	+10.5	O47.5	Michigan State 29-20
UCLA at California	+1.5	U53.5	UCLA 27-26
UNLV at Hawaii	+7.5	U57.5	UNLV 31-26

Lines courtesy of Kalshi and subject to change. Final ATS and O/U selections are graded against the exact line at time of publish.

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College football Week 1 AI predictions

Boise State vs. Oregon AI prediction

Oregon owns one of the biggest overall roster advantages on the Week 1 board and should have enough offensive depth to keep scoring even if this turns into a second-half blowout. Boise State has enough experience to contribute offensively, but the forecast still lands on a decisive Ducks win.

Score prediction: Oregon 39, Boise State 14

Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame AI prediction

Notre Dame brings substantially more continuity into this neutral-site matchup at Lambeau Field, while Wisconsin is leaning heavily on a reworked roster against one of the nation’s strongest returning cores. The forecast has the Irish controlling the game on both sides and winning by more than three touchdowns.

Score prediction: Notre Dame 35, Wisconsin 12

Texas State vs. Texas AI prediction

Texas has the talent and depth to dictate this matchup at home, but a spread north of 30 points leaves little room for a late score or a slower second half. The forecast still has the Longhorns winning comfortably, while the projected 29-point margin puts Texas State on the ATS side.

Score prediction: Texas 44, Texas State 15

North Texas vs. Indiana AI prediction

Defending champion Indiana should overwhelm North Texas over four quarters, but the market is asking the Hoosiers to win by more than 40. The forecast gets Indiana close to 50 points while still leaving the Mean Green just inside that enormous number.

Score prediction: Indiana 48, North Texas 9

Miami vs. Stanford AI prediction

Stanford already has a Week 0 win in hand, but Miami represents a major step up in opponent quality. The Hurricanes have the stronger roster and defensive ceiling, and the forecast expects them to win comfortably even though a margin in the low 20s leaves Stanford with the ATS pick.

Score prediction: Miami 35, Stanford 12

Missouri State vs. Texas A&M AI prediction

Texas A&M has a massive talent advantage and should spend most of the night in control, but the working spread requires a win by more than 40 points. The forecast gets the Aggies into the mid-40s while giving Missouri State enough late resistance to stay barely inside the number.

Score prediction: Texas A&M 46, Missouri State 7

Louisville vs. Ole Miss AI prediction

Week 1’s only ranked-vs.-ranked matchup sends Louisville and Ole Miss to Nashville. The Rebels carry the stronger overall profile into the neutral-site game, and the forecast gives them a one-score victory while leaning toward a lower-scoring matchup than the market.

Score prediction: Ole Miss 30, Louisville 23

UTEP vs. Oklahoma AI prediction

Oklahoma should have little trouble controlling this game at home, but a spread above 40 points creates a very different ATS question than the winner. The forecast has the Sooners winning by 39 and therefore lands on UTEP plus the points despite a lopsided final score.

Score prediction: Oklahoma 45, UTEP 6

Clemson vs. LSU AI prediction

One of Week 1’s marquee games should be much more competitive than the biggest mismatches elsewhere on the board. LSU gets the edge at home, but Clemson’s defense gives it a path to keep the scoring environment relatively compressed and stay within the working spread.

Score prediction: LSU 28, Clemson 18

East Carolina vs. Alabama AI prediction

Alabama owns the obvious talent advantage and is still projected to control the game, but the forecast stops well short of a four-touchdown margin. East Carolina’s path is less about threatening an upset than keeping a comfortable Alabama win from becoming a complete runaway.

Score prediction: Alabama 34, East Carolina 14

Fresno State vs. USC AI prediction

USC has the offensive ceiling to pull away, but Fresno State’s best route is shortening the game and preventing the Trojans from turning every possession into points. The forecast lands almost directly on the working spread and favors a lower-scoring result.

Score prediction: USC 36, Fresno State 15

Washington State vs. Washington AI prediction

The Apple Cup remains one of the weekend’s signature rivalry games even with Washington carrying the stronger roster. Rivalry familiarity helps keep the projected margin below the working spread, but the Huskies are still forecast to win comfortably at home.

Score prediction: Washington 35, Washington State 13

SMU vs. Florida State AI prediction

SMU brings the stronger overall profile into Tallahassee, but the forecast expects a much tighter game than the rankings might suggest. The Mustangs get the outright win by only two points, which makes Florida State the mechanical ATS side at the working number.

Score prediction: SMU 27, Florida State 25

Idaho vs. Utah AI prediction

Utah should be able to impose its physical advantage from the opening quarter, particularly against an Idaho team facing a major jump in competition. The forecast has the Utes winning by 35 and narrowly clearing the working spread in a lower-scoring game than the market.

Score prediction: Utah 44, Idaho 9

Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Missouri AI prediction

Missouri is projected to dominate from start to finish, but spreads above seven touchdowns are difficult to clear even in extreme mismatches. The forecast has the Tigers scoring into the 50s while Arkansas-Pine Bluff does just enough to stay within the enormous working number.

Score prediction: Missouri 54, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6

Akron vs. Wake Forest AI prediction

Wake Forest should control the trenches and keep Akron’s offense under pressure throughout the night. The forecast has the Demon Deacons winning by 25, essentially landing on the spread, with the more pronounced signal coming from a modest scoring environment.

Score prediction: Wake Forest 36, Akron 11

Baylor vs. Auburn AI prediction

Auburn gets the edge in a neutral-site matchup that should be much more competitive than the ranked-team mismatches above it. The forecast gives the Tigers an eight-point victory, barely clearing the working spread, while the projected total sits more clearly below the market.

Score prediction: Auburn 31, Baylor 23

Colorado vs. Georgia Tech AI prediction

Georgia Tech enters with the more stable overall profile and the home-field advantage, while Colorado is integrating major changes on both sides of the ball. The forecast gives the Yellow Jackets a double-digit win and enough offensive success to push the game over the working total.

Score prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Colorado 21

Indiana State vs. Purdue AI prediction

Purdue should control an FCS opponent at home, but the forecast does not quite get the Boilermakers to the margin required by the massive working spread. Indiana State therefore becomes the ATS side even though the model still projects a 30-point Purdue win.

Score prediction: Purdue 42, Indiana State 12

Toledo vs. Michigan State AI prediction

Michigan State gets the home-field edge and the stronger overall roster, but Toledo is capable enough to prevent this from becoming a runaway. The forecast has the Spartans winning by nine, leaving the Rockets inside the working spread in a game projected to sneak over the total.

Score prediction: Michigan State 29, Toledo 20

UCLA vs. California AI prediction

The forecast sees almost nothing separating these rivals on a neutral-strength basis, which makes home field especially meaningful. UCLA gets the one-point projected win, but California stays inside the working spread while the total remains in the low 50s.

Score prediction: UCLA 27, California 26

UNLV vs. Hawaii AI prediction

UNLV carries the stronger overall profile into Honolulu, but road trips to Hawaii are rarely straightforward and the forecast expects a competitive night. The Rebels win by five, leaving Hawaii inside the working spread with the projected total just below the market.

Score prediction: UNLV 31, Hawaii 26

College football AI picks for every Week 1 game

We are tracking AI score predictions, ATS picks, Over/Under picks, kickoff times, and TV channels for all 91 Week 1 games involving at least one FBS team. Games are listed chronologically by kickoff.

2026 record for every game: SU 6-2 | ATS 6-2 | O/U 3-5

Date / time	Matchup	ATS pick	O/U pick	Score prediction
Thu., Sept. 3 6:00 p.m. ET BTN	UMASS at RUTG	-30.5	O53.5	Rutgers 46-9
Thu., Sept. 3 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	ALB at BUFF	-17.5	U47.5	Buffalo 38-9
Thu., Sept. 3 7:00 p.m. ET ACCN	AKR at WAKE	-24.5	U50.5	Wake Forest 36-11
Thu., Sept. 3 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	MERR at DEL	+30.5	U56.5	Delaware 41-11
Thu., Sept. 3 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	B-C at UCF	+41.5	O58.5	UCF 50-9
Thu., Sept. 3 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	WGA at KENN	-22.5	O50.5	Kennesaw State 38-13
Thu., Sept. 3 8:00 p.m. ET Peacock	EIU at MINN	+43.5	O51.5	Minnesota 48-7
Thu., Sept. 3 8:00 p.m. ET ESPN	COLO at GT	-6.5	O51.5	Georgia Tech 31-21
Thu., Sept. 3 8:00 p.m. ET SECN	UAPB at MIZZ	+54.5	U61.5	Missouri 54-6
Thu., Sept. 3 9:00 p.m. ET BTN	UAB at ILL	-27.5	O54.5	Illinois 43-14
Thu., Sept. 3 9:00 p.m. ET ESPNU	IDAHO at UTAH	+35.5	U59.5	Utah 44-9
Fri., Sept. 4 6:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	SJSU at EMU	+2.5	U55.5	Eastern Michigan 27-25
Fri., Sept. 4 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	NCAT at GSU	+28.5	U61.5	Georgia State 43-15
Fri., Sept. 4 7:00 p.m. ET BTN	INST at PUR	+35.5	U56.5	Purdue 42-12
Fri., Sept. 4 8:00 p.m. ET ESPNU	LIU at KU	+41.5	U54.5	Kansas 45-7
Fri., Sept. 4 8:00 p.m. ET FS1	TOL at MSU	+10.5	O47.5	Michigan State 29-20
Fri., Sept. 4 8:00 p.m. ET SEC+	UTEP at OKLA	+41.5	U51.5	Oklahoma 45-6
Fri., Sept. 4 9:00 p.m. ET ESPN	MIA at STAN	+24.5	U48.5	Miami 35-12
Fri., Sept. 4 9:00 p.m. ET FOX	FRES at USC	+21.5	U51.5	USC 36-15
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET TNT	CCU at WVU	+21	U55.5	West Virginia 35-18
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET ESPNU	LIB at JMU	-6.5	O50.5	James Madison 32-23
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET CBSSN	BRY at ARMY	-36.5	O50.5	Army 47-9
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET WFSB-3	LAF at UCONN	-19.5	O53.5	UConn 41-15
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET ABC	ECU at ALA	+27.5	U52.5	Alabama 34-14
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET ACCN	UNH at SYR	+34.5	U57.5	Syracuse 38-12
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET FOX	UNT at IND	+40.5	O56.5	Indiana 48-9
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET FS1	OHIO at NEB	+24	O46.5	Nebraska 34-13
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET ESPN	ORST at HOU	+20.5	U50.5	Houston 35-15
Sat., Sept. 5 12:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	TARL at BGSU	+2.5	O48.5	Tarleton State 29-22
Sat., Sept. 5 12:30 p.m. ET CW	M-OH at PITT	+16.5	O47.5	Pittsburgh 30-19
Sat., Sept. 5 12:30 p.m. ET BTN	BALL at OSU	+50.5	U56.5	Ohio State 53-3
Sat., Sept. 5 12:45 p.m. ET SECN	KENT at SCAR	-35.5	U54.5	South Carolina 43-7
Sat., Sept. 5 1:00 p.m. ET SEC+	YSU at UK	+23.5	U62.5	Kentucky 38-17
Sat., Sept. 5 1:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	SEMO at ISU	+29.5	U52.5	Iowa State 37-13
Sat., Sept. 5 1:00 p.m. ET MW+	DUQ at AFA	+30.5	U57.5	Air Force 40-14
Sat., Sept. 5 2:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	URI at TEM	+14	O51.5	Temple 33-22
Sat., Sept. 5 3:00 p.m. ET SEC+	TSU at UGA	-45.5	O55.5	Georgia 55-6
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ESPN	TXST at TEX	+30.5	U59.5	Texas 44-15
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ACCN	TULN at DUKE	-7.5	O51.5	Duke 33-23
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	UTRGV at UTSA	-28.5	U59.5	UTSA 45-13
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET CBSSN	TOW at NAVY	-30.5	O50.5	Navy 46-9
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET FS1	MRSH at PSU	-24.5	O52.5	Penn State 42-15
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	MAINE at APP	-18.5	U52.5	App State 35-16
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET SEC+	FUR at TENN	+46.5	U66.5	Tennessee 53-9
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET MW+	FOR at NDSU	+41.5	U57.5	North Dakota State 46-7
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	CIT at CHAR	+19.5	O46.5	Charlotte 34-15
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET CBS	BOISE at ORE	-24.5	O51.5	Oregon 39-14
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET FOX	BC at CIN	-7.5	O50.5	Cincinnati 31-23
Sat., Sept. 5 3:30 p.m. ET ABC	BAY vs. AUB	-7.5	U59.5	Auburn 31-23
Sat., Sept. 5 3:45 p.m. ET ESPNU	OKST at TLSA	+13.5	U58.5	Oklahoma State 32-21
Sat., Sept. 5 4:15 p.m. ET BTN	NIU at IOWA	-31.5	O44.5	Iowa 40-6
Sat., Sept. 5 4:15 p.m. ET SECN	UNA at ARK	+40.5	U63.5	Arkansas 50-12
Sat., Sept. 5 5:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	ALC at USM	-20.5	O50.5	Southern Miss 39-14
Sat., Sept. 5 6:00 p.m. ET USA	WYO at CSU	-3.5	U45.5	Colorado State 24-19
Sat., Sept. 5 6:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	NORF at ODU	+40.5	U54.5	Old Dominion 47-7
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	EKU at JVST	+20.5	U54.5	Jacksonville State 32-19
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	ARST at MEM	+14.5	U56.5	Memphis 35-21
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET SEC+	APSU at VAN	-28.5	U60.5	Vanderbilt 45-13
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET FS1	ACU at TTU	+42.5	U59.5	Texas Tech 46-9
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	HCU at RICE	-23.5	O47.5	Rice 43-9
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	FIU at USF	-13.5	O52.5	South Florida 38-21
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	CHSO at GASO	-25.5	U51.5	Georgia Southern 39-12
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET CBSSN	IDST at USU	-13.5	U61.5	Utah State 37-22
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	MUR at MTU	+20.5	U59.5	Middle Tennessee 36-20
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	NICH at KSU	-37.5	O55.5	Kansas State 49-7
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	SHSU at TROY	-17.5	U53.5	Troy 40-13
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	SELA at USA	+13.5	O52.5	South Alabama 30-24
Sat., Sept. 5 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN	MOST at TAMU	+41.5	U53.5	Texas A&M 46-7
Sat., Sept. 5 7:30 p.m. ET NBC	WMU at MICH	+27.5	U48.5	Michigan 35-12
Sat., Sept. 5 7:30 p.m. ET ACCN	VMI at VT	+55.5	U62.5	Virginia Tech 55-7
Sat., Sept. 5 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	NWST at LT	+44.5	U55.5	Louisiana Tech 48-7
Sat., Sept. 5 7:30 p.m. ET ESPNU	ULM at MSST	-28.5	O54.5	Mississippi State 43-12
Sat., Sept. 5 7:30 p.m. ET ABC	CLEM at LSU	+10.5	U50.5	LSU 28-18
Sat., Sept. 5 7:45 p.m. ET SECN	FAU at FLA	+26.5	U59.5	Florida 38-16
Sat., Sept. 5 8:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	LAM at ULL	+19.5	O48.5	Louisiana 35-17
Sat., Sept. 5 8:00 p.m. ET BTN	HAMP at MD	-45.5	O56.5	Maryland 54-7
Sat., Sept. 5 8:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	UTTECH at BYU	+51.5	U61.5	BYU 54-6
Sat., Sept. 5 8:00 p.m. ET BTN	SDST at NW	+13.5	U46.5	Northwestern 29-17
Sat., Sept. 5 9:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	MERC at NMSU	+28.5	U51.5	New Mexico State 37-11
Sat., Sept. 5 9:30 p.m. ET USA	PRST at SDSU	+39.5	U62.5	San Diego State 45-7
Sat., Sept. 5 9:30 p.m. ET ESPN+	NAU at ARIZ	-31.5	U57.5	Arizona 44-12
Sat., Sept. 5 10:00 p.m. ET CW	UNLV at HAW	+7.5	U57.5	UNLV 31-26
Sat., Sept. 5 10:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	MVSU at SAC	+37.5	U56.5	Sacramento State 46-9
Sat., Sept. 5 10:00 p.m. ET ESPN+	MORG at ASU	-43.5	O52.5	Arizona State 51-7
Sat., Sept. 5 10:00 p.m. ET FS1	CMU at UNM	-10.5	O46.5	New Mexico 32-17
Sat., Sept. 5 10:30 p.m. ET CBSSN	WKU at NEV	+1.5	U52.5	Western Kentucky 29-22
Sat., Sept. 5 10:30 p.m. ET ESPN	UCLA at CAL	+1.5	U53.5	UCLA 27-26
Sun., Sept. 6 4:00 p.m. ET NBC	WSU at WASH	+23.5	U50.5	Washington 35-13
Sun., Sept. 6 7:30 p.m. ET ABC	LOU vs. MISS	-6.5	U55.5	Ole Miss 30-23
Sun., Sept. 6 7:30 p.m. ET NBC	WIS vs. ND	-20.5	O46.5	Notre Dame 35-12
Mon., Sept. 7 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN	SMU at FSU	+3.5	U53.5	SMU 27-25

Kickoff times and TV listings are current as of publication and subject to change. Market lines are also subject to change.

How our college football AI predictions work

Our college football AI predictions use a custom forecasting process built with GPT-5.6 Sol to project a final score for each matchup using team strength, current offensive and defensive information, quarterbacks, roster continuity, transfers, coaching changes, injuries, and home-field context.

Each score projection is locked before the final Kalshi market snapshot used for publication. Those projected scores are then compared with the representative spread and total to produce our ATS and Over/Under selections.

We’ll continue updating the process as the season develops and publicly track every published score prediction, ATS pick, and Over/Under selection.

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