As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Arkansas @ Oklahoma State (ABC): Let’s face it, most of the early games are going to be overshadowed by the next game, so the angle is: is there a reason to keep an eye on any of the other ones? In this case, no. I like the Pokes.
• Texas @ Michigan (FOX): Early last season was defined by Texas and Alabama’s excellent tilt in Austin, that helped put the Horns on the to the playoff. Michigan, of course, won that playoff. This is an all-time helmet game between two programs that have met just once: in the 2004-05 Rose Bowl, where Texas won 38-37 on a walk-off field goal by Dusty Magnum. (Vince Young of course featured prominently for the Longhorns.) This time around, the game may not be that close: Michigan is replacing a lot from last year’s team and may not really have a quarterback, whereas Texas sort of has the opposite problem. The main factor will be the true road game aspect of this, but I still have to pick Texas.
• Kansas State @ Tulane (ESPN): I don’t know that Tulane can win this game, but I think they can make it interesting.
• Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati (ESPN2): Once again, I love the regional matchup aspect of this, but this one doesn’t figure to be anything other than a Pitt rout.
• Bowling Green @ Pennsylvania State (BTN): Penn State rolls.
• Akron @ Rutgers (BTN): Rutgers rolls.
• Troy @ Memphis (ESPNU): This definitely a match up of two totally different approaches to offense and game management in general. I’ll take the Tigers here, but it may be worth keeping an eye on this one.
• Army @ Florida Atlantic (CBS): I think there’s a way Army can win here, but if FAU can just force the issue with their speed it’ll be all but over.
• Georgia Tech @ Syracuse (ACCN): So as Florida State was getting thrashed by Boston College last Monday, my favorite joke was “wow the Noles are really devaluing Georgia Tech’s strength of schedule”. That said, unlike FSU, Syracuse appears to have a quarterback that can throw the ball downfield, which is definitely going to be a new test for our defense.
• Rhode Island @ Minnesota (Peacock)

12:45: McNeese State @ Texas A&M (SEC)

2:00:

• Tennessee Tech @ Georgia (ESPN+)
• Missouri State @ Ball State (ESPN+)

2:30: Saint Francis @ Kent State (ESPN+)

3:00: Utah Tech @ Nevada-Las Vegas (MWN)

3:30:

• Baylor @ Utah (FOX): Talking about “styles make fights”, Utah would prefer this to be a literal rockfight. This isn’t the high-flying RGIII Baylor days of course, and overall, it figures that the Bears will struggle in this trip to Salt Lake City.
• South Carolina @ Kentucky (ABC): South Carolina might be kind of bad? I mean, I have no idea about Kentucky, but just based on that I’ll take the Cayuts at home.
• Northern Illinois @ Notre Dame (NBC): ND should roll.
• Iowa State @ Iowa (“El Assico”; CBS): Ah, here’s how you know it’s really Week 2 of the season. Of course, why CBS decided the nation needed to see this oddest of rivalries is beyond me. What not to expect: offense. What to expect: ??? I think the Hawkeyes are more talented and it is in Kinnick, but there’s a reason why there’s a non-zero chance the phrase “sickos” will be used on the broadcast.
• California @ Auburn (ESPN2): So I went to last year’s edition of the this game in Berkeley, and Cal had plenty of chances to the win the game. They basically just… didn’t. I won’t be in Alabama for this one, but there’s reasons for optimism for Cal. At a minimum, they probably have an edge at quarterback. I think they’ll get the dub this time.
• South Dakota @ Wisconsin (FS1)
• Idaho @ Wyoming (truTV)
• Eastern Michigan @ Washington (BTN): UDub gets a head start on scheduling MAC opponents, like a proper Big Ten team.
• Michigan State @ Maryland (BTN): Meanwhile in College Park, an early test for both of these teams. That said, it’s September, which means the Terps are basically unstoppable.
• Temple @ Navy (CBSS): There’s not going to be a lot of chances for Navy to obliterate a conference opponent this year. This is very much one of them.
• Charlotte @ North Carolina (ACCC): Heels should roll.
• Jacksonville State @ Louisville (ACCNX)
• Duquesne @ Boston College (ACCNX)
• Massachusetts @ Toledo (ESPN+)

4:00: Texas-San Antonio @ Texas State (“I-35 Rivalry”; ESPNU): This is definitely the G5 game of the day, and perhaps one of the best games of any sort. UTSA is the steady hand here, while Texas State went on a major talent acquisition spree this off-season. This may well be the biggest game in the history of Texas State at this level, and it’ll be interesting to see if they can pack it in in San Marcos. That said, I still like the Roadrunners.

4:15: Middle Tennessee State @ Mississippi (SEC): Lane Kiiffin can name his score in this one.

4:30: Marshall @ Virginia Tech (CW): I don’t think Virginia Tech is good or any thing, but Marshall sure has a chance to be very, very bad.

6:00:

• Florida A&M @ Miami (ACCNX)
• Central Michigan @ Florida International ESPN+)
• Albany @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
• South Alabama @ Ohio (ESPN+)
• Gardner-Webb @ James Madison (ESPN+)
• East Carolina @ Old Dominion (ESPN+)

6:30: Sam Houston State @ Central Florida (ESPN+)

7:00:

• South Florida @ Alabama (ESPN): So many will remember last year’s contest in Tampa, where Bama won but it sure wasn’t comfortable. The caveat, of course, is that they really didn’t have a quarterback. USF is actually not a bad team, but I don’t think Bama will be in much of a mood to mess around in this one. If they do, well, it’ll certainly make things challenging for DeBoer going forward.
• Virginia @ Wake Forest (ESPN2): I have absolutely no read on this game. Ask me next week. For now, I’ll just pick Wake.
• Kansas @ Illinois (FS1): Okay, so more “styles make fights” football here. Kansas, of course, is going to move the ball, the question is just how much will Illinois keep them out of the end zone. This feels like either a very narrow Illinois win in a low-scoring, defensive contest, or a Kansas absolute blowout. The latter feels more likely.
• Georgia Southern @ Nevada (truTV): Southern is in a bit of disarray after last week’s loss to a Mountain West team, and going to the Reno doesn’t seem like it’ll solve any of their problems.
• San Jose State @ Air Force (CBSS): I like Air Force here.
• Northern Colorado @ Colorado State (MWN)
• California Polytechnic @ Stanford (ACCNX)
• Samford @ Florida (ESPN+)
• Buffalo @ Missouri (ESPN+)
• Southeastern Louisiana @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)
• Tennessee-Chattanooga @ Georgia State (ESPN+)
• Tulsa @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• William & Mary @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
• Eastern Kentucky @ Western Kentucky (ESPN+)
• Louisiana @ Kennesaw State (ESPN+)
• Texas Southern @ Rice (ESPN+)
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Tennessee vs. North Carolina State (Duke’s Mayo Classic @ Charlotte, NC; ABC): I don’t think anyone thinks NC State is bad, per se, just that Tennessee might be really good. In particular, I’m not sure the Wolfpack defense is going to be able to stop the Vols.
• Colorado @ Nebraska (NBC): Nebraska’s decent again, Colorado still has major problems in the trenches, the game is at night in Lincoln, and this is an old, old rivalry. It… might get ugly for the Buffs.
• Western Michigan @ Ohio State (BTN):  Bucks roll.
• Alcorn State @ Vanderbilt (ESPNU)
• Nicholls State @ Louisiana State (ESPN+)
• Stephen F. Austin @ North Texas (ESPN+)

7:45: Houston @ Oklahoma (SEC): The Sooners may, no joke, score 100.

8:00:

• Appalachian State @ Clemson (ACCN): If Clemson has some things figured out, and a quarterback, then this one won’t be close. But… if things in upstate South Carolina are as bleak as they looked against Georgia, App State may be looking for yet another ACC team to upset. To be clear, I can’t pick the Mountaineers, but I’m not going to be surprised if they pull this off.
• Long Island @ Texas Christian (ESPN+)

9:00: Southern Utah @ Texas-El Paso (ESPN+)

10:00:

• Texas Tech @ Washington State (FOX): I think I kind of like Wazzu in this one, but it’s hard to tell where these two teams are at at the moment. Once again, as me next week.
• Sacramento State @ Fresno State (MWN)
• Boise State @ Oregon (Peacock)
• Northern Arizona @ Arizona (ESPN+)

10:15: Liberty @ New Mexico State (ESPN2): Ugh, Liberty’s going to win, aren’t they.

10:30:

• Mississippi State @ Arizona State (ESPN): This is possibly the most random game of the day. Anything could happen here and I wouldn’t be surprised. Which is partially why I love that this involves a SEC team kickoff at 9:30 their time back in Mississippi, because this could get weird for the folks back east. Also, I kind of like the Sun Devils anyway.
• Oregon State @ San Diego State (CBSS): Beavers all the way here.

11:00: Utah State @ Southern California (BTN): Welcome to… B1G After Dark. Ugh, they’re going to co-opt that aren’t they? At any rate, I’ll be shocked if there’s a reason to actually tune in for any other reason.