College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for Thursday’s top games of Week 1

Week 1 of the college football season is finally here, and Thursday night brings a powerful preview of the weekend ahead. Several Power Four teams kick off their campaigns, including four ranked in the AP Top 25 in the preseason.

A few matchups stand out as potential thrillers, giving us a first look at some teams that still have important questions to answer. Minnesota hosts North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET in a Big Ten vs. ACC matchup between two teams that will rely on elite running backs while breaking in new starting quarterbacks.

At the same time, Colorado will be playing North Dakota State, which will see the Buffaloes enter their second year under coach Deion Sanders with a tough test against an FCS powerhouse. If the Buffaloes want to build on their 4-8 record from last year, they will have to beat the Bison in their season opener, as they face even tougher challenges in Colorado State and Nebraska in the coming weeks.

Stay with CBS Sports all evening for college football coverage from kickoff. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games on Thursday of Week 1.

SportsLine Consensus Odds | All Times Eastern

North Dakota State in Colorado

8pm | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — Outside of Colorado, expectations have cooled, but excitement is still high in Boulder. Deion Sanders wants a more balanced offense after most of the pressure to perform fell on his son, Shedeur, who was expected to throw the ball in 2023. North Dakota State is a great first test for the revamped offense, especially on the ground. Although NDSU has experience and plenty of elite FCS talent, the Buffaloes have proven Power 4 starters at every position on the field, unlike last season. This is an improved Colorado team and the Buffaloes will prove it in prime time. Forecast: Colorado -9.5 –– Brandon Marcello

North Carolina in Minnesota

8pm | Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) — Combined, these teams scored just 44 points last season when North Carolina had a future first-round draft pick in Drake Maye at quarterback and both teams had two games under their belt. Now both are integrating new quarterbacks — the Tar Heels haven’t even named a starter yet — and will likely rely on their running game as they settle into a new season. Points should be an absolute must. Forecast: Below 50.5 -David Cobb

What college football picks can you confidently make in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all based on a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception — and find out.