Written by Rohit Ghosh
Follow @Rohitghosh

NCAA Football 2014: Week 1

We asked our College football expert to take some time and analyze the top games of Week 1 in College Football. He picked our three games and previewed what to watch for. Beyond that, AccuScore has expert picks against the spread, on totals and on the moneyline for every college football game this week and every week: See NCAA Football picks here

Texas A&M Aggies @ South Carolina Camecocks

It's a tale of two sides as South Carolina enters their Week 1 matchup as a projected top-10 team, while Texas A&M knows they're somewhat in a rebuild mode following Johnny Manziel's departure to the NFL. Sophomore Kenny Hill takes over the QB spot for an Aggies squad that’s boasts more than enough talent at the skill positions.

This week’s matchup comes down to how effectively Texas A&M can contain South Carolina's ground attack. SC's offensive line is easily one of the best in the division and most importantly, they get to go up against a squad that gave up over 236 rushing yards last season.

Kevin Sumlin is 10-2 on the road, while Steve Spurrier is 23-1 in season openers.

AccuScore has South Carolina as solid 61.7 percent favorites to defeat Texas A&M. The average score after 10,000 simulations is 34-28.



If you're a new member, Try AccuScore Free for 7 days If you were previously a member, sign up using coupon code NCAAF20 for 20% off an annual membership.

LSU Tigers @ Wisconsin Badgers

In what might be one of, if not the best game of the first week, No. 14 Wisconsin is hoping junior QB Tanner McEvoy can lead them to what could be a season-defining victory over No. 13 LSU. While the Badgers were able to decide on a No. 1 QB for the team (at least based on the most recent report), what Miles and LSU plan to do with their QB situation is still up in the air. For their sake, let's hope the idea of playing two QBs isn’t a total disaster.

This week’s matchup comes down to how well Wisconsin can run the ball. There’s certainly more flexibility with McEvoy running the read-option. Both Melvin Goron and Corey Clement will find themselves in position to make big plays. Goron is projected to carry the ball 22 times for nearly 150 yards; Clement is projected to carry it 10 times for 66 yards.

For LSU, the key will be opening up the field for their talented backs. QBs Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris don’t have to shoulder all the offensive responsibility, just enough to keep the defense guessing. Any sort of predictability is even more costly against such an experienced Wisconsin defense.

AccuScore has Wisconsin as a slight 51.4 percent favorite to win its Week 1 matchup against LSU. The average score after 10,000 simulations, however, favors LSU: 25.7 – 25.5.

Clemson Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs

When the schedules came out, No. 12 Georgia immediately became a huge favorite in their Week 1 matchup against No. 16 Clemson. Hasn’t it been the Bulldogs that have notoriously built a reputation for missed expectations? According to a stat released by ESPN, Georgia has been in the preseason AP Top 25 every season; they finished the season unranked in 3 of those campaigns.

Clemson deserves more respect, but that doesn’t translate into a better probability at winning this matchup. Georgia has a star back in Todd Gurley and a more than competent QB in Hutson Mason.

Clemson has a defense to be proud of, with an improved line and back end. Containing either Gurley or Mason would allow the score to stay within a range they can compete in – a shootout tips the game further in favor for Georgia.

AccuScore has the Georgia Bulldogs as 57.8 percent favorites to defeat the Clemson Tigers. The average score after 10,000 simulations is 33-29, with the Bulldogs coming out on top despite committing more turnovers.