Big 12 picks, predictions for college football Week 1 scores - FPSHUB

Projecting the best records for the top college football conferences

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg breaks down who he thinks will win the in each of the Power Four conferences and the Group of Five.

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Who will win Big 12 college football Week 1 games?

Look at The Arizona Republic’s score prediction for every game on the Big 12 college football Week 1 schedule this week.

The games include Jacksonville State at UCF, UT Martin at Oklahoma State, Stephen F. Austin at Houston, Nebraska at Cincinnati, Wagner at Kansas, Auburn at Baylor, Georgia Tech at Colorado, Robert Morris at West Virginia, South Dakota at Iowa State, North Dakota at Kansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas Tech, Portland State at BYU, Northern Arizona at Arizona State, Hawaii at Arizona, Utah at UCLA and TCU at North Carolina.

There are four college football Week 1 games involving Big 12 teams on Thursday, Aug. 28, while three Big 12 teams will play on Friday, Aug. 29. Eight Big 12 teams are in action on Saturday, Aug. 30 and one will play on Monday, Sept. 1.

All times MST. Click on highlighted games for Big 12 football Week 1 odds for that matchup.

Watch select Big 12 football Week 1 games on FUBO (free trial)

Big 12 football game predictions: Thursday, Aug. 28

Jacksonville State at UCF, 4 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

Jacksonville State is no pushover, it went 9-5 last season. But, that was with Rich Rodriguez as head coach. He’s now at West Virginia.

Prediction: UCF 30, Jacksonville State 20

UT Martin at Oklahoma State, 4:30 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

UT Martin went 9-5 last season, but it is an FCS school. The Cowboys shouldn’t have any issues with the Skyhawks.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 30, UT Martin 16

Stephen F. Austin at Houston, 5 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

It’s vital for the Cougars to get off to a good start this season after they opened last season with losses in four of their first five games. They’ll start strong.

Prediction: Houston 31, Stephen F. Austin 20

Nebraska at Cincinnati, 6 p.m., ESPN (stream with FUBO)

We’ll know a lot about the Bearcats after this game. Could this team surprise in 2025? We have serious doubts.

Prediction: Nebraska 31, Cincinnati 17

Big 12 football game predictions: Friday, Aug. 29

Wagner at Kansas, 4:30 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

Wagner, an FCS school, went 4-8 last season. If Kansas can’t defeat it soundly in 2025, the Jayhawks could be in for a long season.

Prediction: Kansas 30, Wagner 13

Auburn at Baylor, 5 p.m., FOX (stream with FUBO)

This non-conference game will be a test for the Bears, but it will be played in Waco, Texas. The Bears can make an early statement for the Big 12.

Prediction: Baylor 30, Auburn 24

Georgia Tech at Colorado, 5 p.m., ESPN (stream with FUBO)

Georgia Tech will provide a good early test for the Buffaloes, who went 5-1 at home last season. They’ll get off to a good start at home in 2025.

Prediction: Colorado 31, Georgia Tech 20

Big 12 football game predictions: Saturday, Aug. 30

Robert Morris at West Virginia, 11 a.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

Robert Morris went 7-5 last season, but the Mountaineers shouldn’t have much difficulty beating the FCS opponent to get off to a 1-0 start.

Prediction: West Virginia 47, Robert Morris 20

South Dakota at Iowa State, 12:30 p.m., FOX (stream with FUBO)

South Dakota is coming off an 11-3 season and is an FCS foe that can’t be taken lightly. Iowa State won’t take the Coyotes lightly.

Prediction: Iowa State 35, South Dakota 17

North Dakota at Kansas State, 4 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

Kansas State shouldn’t have any issues with this FCS school that went 5-7 last season.

Prediction: Kansas State 38, North Dakota 15

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas Tech, 4:30 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

Texas Tech gets to open against an FCS team that went 3-9 last season. That should be a recipe for a blowout in Lubbock, Texas.

Prediction: Texas Tech 51, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20

Portland State at BYU, 5 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

FCS opponent Portland State went just 3-8 in 2024. A BYU loss in the season opener would be stunning.

Prediction: BYU 45, Portland State 17

Northern Arizona at Arizona State, 7 p.m., ESPN+ (stream with ESPN+)

The Lumberjacks are on the rise, but they won’t be able to hang with Arizona State for the entire 60 minutes.

Prediction: Arizona State 45, NAU 20

Hawaii at Arizona, 7:30 p.m., TNT (stream with Sling)

The Wildcats need to win their season opener if they want to have a chance to improve on last season’s win total. Noah Fifita and the offense will find a way to outscore Hawaii in a potential thriller.

Prediction: Arizona 35, Hawaii 31

Utah at UCLA, 8 p.m., FOX (stream with FUBO)

These former Pac-12 South rivals meet for the first time since they faced off as conference foes in 2023. The Utes won that game, 14-7. We expect them to win this one, too.

Prediction: Utah 21, UCLA 17

Big 12 football game prediction: Monday, Sept. 1

TCU at North Carolina, 5 p.m., ESPN (stream with FUBO)

The Horned Frogs went 4-2 on the road last season. They’ll start off strong on the road again, spoiling Bill Belichick’s debut for the Tar Heels.

Prediction: TCU 30, North Carolina 27

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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