College football odds, predictions: LSU vs. Clemson, Ole Miss vs. Louisville lead Week 1 picks - CBS Sports
College football returns for its first full weekend of the 2026 season with a slate of high-profile matchups. Analysts provide betting odds and predictions for key games, including Miami versus Stanford.
Why it matters
College football is a major cultural and economic driver in the US, with significant fan engagement and betting market activity.
College football's first full weekend is here, bringing five consecutive days of meaningful games and enough marquee matchups to keep the remote working overtime.
Week 1 begins Thursday night, rolls through a loaded Saturday slate and stretches into Monday evening, giving us an early look at several teams carrying College Football Playoff expectations into the 2026 season. Neutral-site showdowns, one notable ranked matchup and uncomfortable road trips headline Labor Day weekend, when preseason confidence finally collides with reality.
This is where contenders begin building résumés, and coaches facing pressure can change the conversation. Our weekly picks are back, too, with predictions against the spread for the biggest games throughout the weekend. There will be winners, bad beats and a few early-season surprises along the way.
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