College Football Picks: The Panel's Best Bets For Week 1 This Weekend

The Panel's College Football Picks:

• The Panel Pick 1: Clemson Tigers +12 Points @ -110 With DraftKings
• The Panel Pick 2: Texas A&M Aggies -3 points @ -105 With Caesars
• The Panel Pick 3: TCU & Stanford Over 60.5 Points @ -105 With BetMGM
• The Panel Pick 4: Florida State & Boston College Under 50 Points @ -110 With BetMGM

Our team of experts dive into the openign week of the college football season, focusing on insights and odds from top NFL betting sites. 

Leveraging our in-depth expertise, we'll cover the key matchups, spotlight players to watch, examine positional battles, and identify potential surprises.

We'll provide a thorough overview of where the smart money is trending, break down each game, and share our own strategies and insights.

Keep reading for The Panel's detailed coverage and expert predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

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Clemson Tigers (14) Vs Georgia Bulldogs (1) - (O/U 48.5, Bulldogs, -11.5)

There is nothing like a neutral-site battle between a strong ACC contender and a former two-time National Champion. 

Both teams face plenty of questions after last season and some believe Kirby Smart and Georgia are different from the team they once were. 

The Bulldogs did go 13-1 in 2023 and came up a field goal short of making the National Championship playoff for a third consecutive year.     

Georgia and Clemson have considerable holes to fill. Also, will Florida transfer Trevor Etienne play? He is expected to be suspended for Saturday’s game but that has not been announced as of press time. 

Carson Beck needs all the help he can get against a reloading Clemson defense.     

The over is down to 48.5 points with betting apps for this Saturday afternoon contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Clemson ranked 129th in the nation in explosive plays last season and that red zone offense was also outside the Top 100.                                                                                                                                

With the uncertainty, this game could feature two more cautious teams than expected, the points have come down from 13.5, but Clemson's 12 points are worth a look for their 2024 opener.

The Panel Pick 1: Clemson Tigers +12 Points (DraftKings Sportsbook -110)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7) Vs Texas A&M Aggies (20) - (O/U 46, Aggies, -3)  

Notre Dame may have its work cut out for them. They open the 2024 season with high expectations and a very young offensive line. 

Their revamped offense takes on a Texas A&M team that may feature one of the best defensive fronts in the nation at Kyle Field. 

This contest is expected to be pretty close. Keep in mind that Texas A&M can muck up a game quite well. Mike Elko comes from Duke with an offensive philosophy that should boost the Aggies’ point potential. 

Marcus Freeman brings in an improved offense, but again, the trenches could be an issue on both sides of the ball. 

So, Elko figures to have a healthy Connor Weigman who possesses elite arm strength from the quarterback position. 

Add Nic Scourton on the edge and Notre Dame signal-caller Riley Leonard could have a long evening in Texas. 

Our pick is for Texas A&M to hold off Notre Dame for the cover on Saturday night.

The Panel Pick 2: Texas A&M Aggies -3 points (Caesars Sportsbook -105)

LSU Tigers (13) Vs USC Trojans (23) (O/U 64.5, Tigers -4.5)

The Tigers and Trojans each had to replace their quarterbacks after Caleb Williams went number one in the draft and Jayden Daniels went number two.

The problem is that Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly have seen a lot of transition. 

LSU do have Garrett Nussmeier and four returning starters and that should help the Tigers, but USC still seems to have done little to fix their defensive issues. 

Add in an unproven Mitch Moss (who has thrown just 92 passes) and an LSU defense that wants to play more aggressively, and this has the makings of an LSU win and cover.

The Panel Pick 3: TCU & Stanford Over 60.5 Points (BetMGM Sportsbook -105)

Boston College Eagles Vs Florida State Seminoles (10) (O/U 50, Seminoles -16.5)

Monday night college football on a holiday is always a bonus and Florida State and Boston College begin a little after 7:30pm ET. 

The Seminoles will be keen to rebound after a surprising loss to Georgia Tech in Week 0. Yes, the game was on a neutral site, but a loss is a loss. 

Now, Florida State must win convincingly and D.J. Uiagalalei expects to rebound from a subpar Week 0.  

Bill O’Brien should keep his Boston College squad close, but Florida State has too much talent not to be held to 21 points in Week 1. 

The Panel's pick is to take the Under by a whisker. 

The Panel Pick 4: Florida State & Boston College Under 50 Points (BetMGM Sportsbook -110)