CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The WVMetroNews staff submits its Week 1 college football picks:
West Virginia (-9.5) vs. Tennessee
Washington vs. Auburn (-2.5)
Virginia Tech at Florida State (-7)
Michigan at Notre Dame (-1)
Miami (-3) vs. LSU
Louisville vs. Alabama (-24)
FAU at Oklahoma (-21)
Marshall at Miami, Ohio (-1.5)
Hoppy Kercheval
West Virginia, 41 Tennessee 24: We saw last year how good the WVU offense can be under Will Grier and now Grier, OC Jake Spavital and the rest of the offense have had more time to prepare. Rocky Top has renewed optimism because of the coaching change, but it’s a long way back for a team that won just four games last year and has only one player (offensive lineman Trey Smith) among the SEC’s preseason first, second and third teams.
Auburn 21, Washington 17
Florida State 34, Virginia Tech 24
Michigan 28, Notre Dame 13
Miami 24, LSU 17
Alabama 34, Louisville 14
Oklahoma 42, FAU 31
Marshall 34, Miami, Ohio 31
Brad Howe
West Virginia 42, Tennessee 27: I think this is a big situational advantage for West Virginia. Tennessee is trying to rebuild after a disastrous 2017 season. The Vols have a first time head coach and will be implementing a new scheme on each side of the ball. West Virginia counters with perhaps the best quarterback in the nation and a loaded group of receivers. The offensive firepower from West Virginia is the difference in this one.
Washington 27, Auburn 24
Florida State 35, Virginia Tech 27
Michigan 24, Notre Dame 23
Miami 24, LSU 20
Alabama 45, Louisville 20
Oklahoma 48, FAU 24
Miami, Ohio 28, Marshall 24
Randy Gyorko
West Virginia 36, Tennessee 20: The eyes of the nation will be fixated on Will Grier, David Sills, Gary Jennings and the WVU potent offense. The eyes of West Virginians will be focused on Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson and his “Dawgs” on defense. If they hold up their end of the bargain, the preseason hype will be justified. Luckily for them, Peyton Manning isn’t walking through that door. Heck, Casey Clausen isn’t walking through that door.
Washington 31, Auburn 27
Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 23
Michigan 24, Notre Dame 20
Miami 27, LSU 13
Alabama 35, Louisville 10
Oklahoma 47, FAU 17
Miami, Ohio, 34, Marshall 28
Kyle Wiggs
West Virginia 35, Tennessee 21: Tennessee will be good again–Eventually. But game one is too soon for a young Volunteers team that has 11 freshman and newcomers in its two-deep. Will Grier should feast upon a secondary that will start two freshman cornerbacks. Expect Grier to have exceptional game to get his Heisman Trophy campaign jump started.
Auburn 28, Washington 24
Florida State 23, Virginia Tech 20
Michigan 24, Notre Dame 21
Miami 24, LSU 20
Alabama 40, Louisville 20
Oklahoma 42, FAU 22
Marshall 30, Miami, Ohio 24
Allan Taylor
West Virginia 38, Tennessee 20: Barring a three-INT day by Will Grier or a couple fumbled punts, West Virginia will exit Charlotte 1-0 and Jeremy Pruitt will start his head coaching career 0-1. Tennessee boasts an assortment of talents but needs time to enact its culture change and restore swagger. For this week at least, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Pruitt, Greg Schiano or Bob Neyland on the sideline. The Mountaineers take care of business.
Auburn 26, Washington 17
Florida State 31, Virginia Tech 24
Notre Dame 22, Michigan 20
Miami 28, LSU 23
Alabama 34, Louisville 17
Oklahoma 38, FAU 24
Marshall 24, Miami, Ohio 23