This column is presented by SuperWest Sports, a media partner of Oregon Sports News.
Wise is the bettor who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense Betting Tips before logging on to his sportsbook.
I may not always be perfect, but if you’ve followed my advice in the past, you’re money ahead.
Every Thursday in this space throughout the 2024 college football season, I give you my picks for college football games involving SuperWest teams.
For those who don’t know, that includes all the former Pac-12 teams, the Mountain West, plus BYU.
On rare occasions, when I blow a pick (or two), I evaluate my mistakes the following week, analyzing where I may have gone wrong.
Of course, I fully expect to be basking in the glory of my success—and you should, too.
As always, my selections include incredibly accurate game scores and just enough commentary to keep me from drinking too much coffee at my favorite hangout in the South Shore District of Seattle.
I’m already on my second cup, so let’s get on with the picks!
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TCU vs. Stanford
Friday, Aug. 30
7:30 pm PT, ESPN
In this matchup, we get the West Coast ACC versus the 2023 Champion Runner-up. This game’s weird, but someone’s gotta do something cool.
Both teams return with semi-proven quarterbacks and sub-par defenses. But for Stanford, their “D” was absolutely terrible last year. They allowed 37.7 points per game, which was 2nd worst in the nation.
The Cardinal returned seven players from 2023, but that’s probably not a good sign in the transfer portal era. Stanford will need quarterback Ashton Daniels to step up this season if they’re going to get things done.
TCU’s defense was pretty bad last season, but not quite like Stanford’s. The Horned Frogs also return signal-caller Justin Hoover, who threw for 2,206 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Hoover might throw for half of that in this game.
Horny Toads Win!
Predicted Final Score: TCU 30, Stanford 17
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Portland State at Washington State
Saturday, Aug. 31
12:00 pm PT, The CW
I went to college twice. The first time, I partied hard, and the second time, I went to watch football. During my second stint at college, the first team Washington State played against was Portland State.
I remember drinking tequila out of a flask with my buddy, smoking some bowls before, and sitting in the rain and watching the Vikings destroy my soul in a come-from-behind victory in the pouring rain.
Everyone left, I stayed, and I’ve never felt colder.
This year’s edition of the Cougars cannot lose this game. If they do, they’ll hurt themselves in conference realignment talks.
WSU is led by new quarterback John Mateer, who played in all 12 games last year but only threw 17 times.
I’ll put it this way: I’m done with the logic. If WSU loses to a 5-6 FCS team, they’re gonna break my soul. I refuse to believe that’ll happen.
WSU finds a way.
Predicted Final Score: Washington State 31, Portland State 20
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Colorado State at No. 4 Texas
Saturday, Aug. 31
12:30 pm PT, ESPN
It’s hard to imagine a universe in which Colorado State beats Texas, but with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi at quarterback, it’s plausible.
Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 3,460 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 2023. But to enter fantasy land, Rams wideout Tory Horton would need to play the best game of his life.
Horton is CSU’s best player, and he’ll need at least two game-changers for the Rams to pull off the upset.
If the Longhorns win this one, they should quit football forever. The Longhorns’ tradition speaks for itself, and they’re back at it, finishing 12-2 last year.
Signal-caller Quinn Ewers leads Texas, but if you’re reading this, you didn’t want to read that. Ewers threw for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions in UT’s run to the National Semifinal last year.
That’s also the last time they’ve played, and they remember the hurt from Washington.
The Rams get rammed.
Predicted Final Score: Texas 42, Colorado State 14
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UNLV at Houston
Saturday, Aug. 31
4:00 pm PT, FS1
This is one of those games that not a lot of people will watch, but they should. These two squads are equal, and a win in this matchup would be a nice boost to the start of either team’s season.
UNLV needs to regain momentum after losing in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game and then losing again in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
But it’s going to be hard because no one knows who their quarterback is. Whoever it is, they just need to throw the ball to Ricky White, and things should work out.
Houston is breaking in a new head coach after finishing 4-8 last year.
Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith receives high praise because he often falls behind but then makes it interesting in the end.
The real key is how the Rebels’ secondary will perform. If they can be a little bit better than last year, they’ll win.
Everyone tries in the opener, UNLV gets a dub.
Predicted Final Score: UNLV 28, Houston 27
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Idaho at No. 3 Oregon
Saturday, Aug. 31
4:30 pm PT, Big Ten Network
Idaho was pretty decent last year. They finished 9-4 overall at the FCS level. But pretty decent isn’t gonna do it against Oregon.
This Ducks team feels hell-bound to redeem their two losses against Washington last season and make a deep run into the College Football Playoff.
The main thing to watch is how the new quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, performs.
Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns last year, and the Vandals’ defense should prove just enough of a test to make this interesting … for a quarter.
Idaho’s defense ranked 14 nationally in yards allowed per game last year in the FCS, and they return four starting defensive linemen.
Enough talk about Idaho. This one’s about drinking beer and watching Oregon win.
Crack open some Deschutes.
Predicted Final Score: Oregon 50, Idaho 13
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Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan
Saturday, Aug. 31
4:30 pm PT, NBC
Everyone thinks Michigan will dominate this game, but Fresno State could make it tight.
Mikey Keene is a real one, and Malik Sherrod is one of the best halfbacks in the West. The Bulldogs also return four offensive linemen, giving them a little more chance to handle the Ann Arbor noise.
Don’t believe the Michigan hype. They obviously recruit better players, but they are replacing everyone on offense minus receivers three and four.
The Wolverines should hold the advantage on their defensive line. They return two dominant defensive tackles, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Fresno hasn’t seen guys like this before.
And even though the Bulldogs are a potential Group of Five Playoff team, they’re kinda like Drake. And they’re “Not Like Us.”
Michigan gets a nice win.
Predicted Final Score: Michigan 38, Fresno State 20
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UCLA at Hawaii
Saturday, Aug. 31
4:30 pm PT, CBS
Hawaii still isn’t an island-burner, but they’re still better than they used to be.
The last time the Rainbow Warriors played UCLA, they got spanked 44-10.
UH features a solid quarterback in Brayden Schager, but he’ll need protection if he wants to do things. Schager threw for over 3,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2023.
For UCLA, don’t get drunk on the beach the night before.
From a statistical standpoint, the Bruins should wax UH. The Rainbow Warriors offensive line gave up 39 sacks a year ago and ranked near dead last in the nation in rushing yards per game.
UCLA’s pass rush was also a Top 10 unit last season, which should hinder caution regarding the aloha spirit. This game will be closer, but the Bruins win comfortably.
Predicted Final Score: UCLA 37, Hawaii 24
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New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona
Saturday, Aug. 31
7:30 pm PT, ESPN
Noah Fifita should get an appearance on the “Workaholics” intro because “he’s gotta be fresh.” I really could’ve done better.
The duo of wideout Tetairoa McMillan and the aforementioned signal-caller Fifita will be hard for anyone to stop, but particularly New Mexico.
The Lobos allowed 35.1 points per game last year, and this was against a mostly Group of Five schedule.
It doesn’t help that they enter this contest after a devastating come-from-behind loss against Montana State, in which they also allowed 35 points.
I’m all for improvement, but they still should’ve won that game, and the loss killed their momentum going forward.
The Lobos enter this contest as massive underdogs, and they probably should because Arizonawillo snapped them in half.
Wildcats win big.
Predicted Final Score: Arizona 45, New Mexico 13
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Wyoming at ASU
Saturday, Aug. 31
7:30 pm PT, FS1
This one should be close. After Craig Bohl’s retirement, a new era begins in Laramie. It’s Jay Sawvel’s turn, but he’s got a tough opener.
Arizona State enters this contest after a 3-9 mark last season, but they should be better this year.
It also goes unmentioned that the Sun Devils played a real nonconference schedule in 2023. They lost to both Oklahoma State and Fresno State. If they replaced those with cupcakes they would’ve had five wins.
In 2024, ASU will be led by Sam Leavitt, who has a surfer-sounding name but little experience as a quarterback.
The Cowboys also have a new quarterback, Evan Svoboda, who appeared in eight games last year.
This game should be considered a coin flip, but Sparky enters it slightly favored.
The coolest mascot in College Football spits fire, Forks Up.
Predicted Final Score: ASU 24, Wyoming 23
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No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC
Sunday, Sept. 1
4:30 pm PT, ABC
LSU versus USC feels like a game the Trojans would have won in the past. But is the past now?
Last year, the Tigers boasted the best offense in the nation, averaging 45.5 points per game, but Jayden Daniels plays for Washington’s Football Team now.
The Tigers are still a Top 15 team, but a quarterback is important. Talking about the one who calls the signals, USC enters this contest without Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams for the first time in two years.
The Trojans vastly underperformed last season, and the team down south can be unforgiving. Both squads are similar, but LSU should have a little more depth.
Not yet, USC. Tigers claw the horses.
Predicted Final Score: LSU 35, USC 27
