2023 Week One College Football Division I-A Predictions To Win
(Image in Unsplash from Wix.com)
By: Evan Troxel
(Ignore the asterisks and whatever else looks out of place. I am posting this at the last minute. I made most of these predictions well over a week ago! I also decided to pick Nebraska to defeat Minnesota at the last minute. I originally had Minnesota defeating Nebraska, but I decided to change my mind! Also, I won't be surprised if P.J. Fleck gets terminated/fired at the end of the season.)
The matchups for Week One, technically Week Two, are in order like it is shown on the ESPN website: https://www.espn.com/college-football/schedule
My predictions for 2023 Week Zero in NCAA Division I-A College Football resulted in five wins and two losses! (Note: I initially wrote this as five wins and three losses and that was incorrect, an honest mistake.)
Here are my predictions to win and lose for NCAA Division I-A College Football for Week One!
(I put every third matchup in the color green so that you don't have to try so hard to find your favorite matchup of Week One!)
Thursday, August 31st, 2023
*Elon Phoenix (I-AA, Coastal Athletic Association: 6-2, 8-4) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (I-A, ACC, 3-5, 8-5): Prediction to win: Wake Forest, Prediction to lose: Elon
Kent State (I-A, Mid-American: 4-4, 5-7) at UCF (I-A, American Athletic: 6-2, 9-5): Prediction to win: UCF, Prediction to lose: Kent State
Rhode Island (I-AA, Coastal Athletic Association: 5-3, 7-4) at Georgia State Panthers (I-A, Sun Belt: 3-5, 4-8): Prediction to win: Georgia State, Prediction to lose: Rhode Island
St. Francis (PA) Red Flash (I-AA, Northeast: 7-0, 9-3) at Western Michigan (I-A, Mid-American: 4-4, 5-7): Prediction to win: Western Michigan, Prediction to lose: St. Francis (PA)
*NC State Wolfpack (I-A, ACC, 4-4, 8-5) at UConn Huskies (I-A, FBS Independent: 6-7): Prediction to win: NC State, Prediction to lose: UConn
Florida Gators (I-A, SEC: 3-5, 6-7) at Utah Utes (I-A, Pac-12: 7-2, 10-4): Prediction to win: Florida, Prediction to lose: Utah
Nebraska Cornhuskers (I-A, Big Ten: 3-6, 4-8) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (I-A, Big Ten: 5-4, 9-4): Prediction to win: Nebraska, Prediction to lose: Minnesota
South Dakota Coyotes (I-AA, Missouri Valley Football: 2-6, 3-8) at Missouri Tigers (I-A, SEC: 3-5, 6-7): Prediction to win: Missouri, Prediction to lose: South Dakota
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (I-AA, Southwestern Athletic: 1-7, 3-8) at Tulsa Golden Hurricane (I-A, American Athletic: 3-5, 5-7): Prediction to win: Tulsa, Prediction to lose: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
North Carolina A&T Aggies (I-AA, Big South: 4-1, 7-4) at UAB Blazers (I-A, Conference USA, 4-4, 7-6): Prediction to win: North Carolina A&T, Prediction to lose: UAB
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (I-AA, Western Athletic: 2-3, 5-6) at Arizona State Sun Devils (I-A, Pac-12: 2-7, 3-9): Prediction to win: Arizona State, Prediction to lose: Southern Utah
Friday, September 1st, 2023
Howard Bison (I-AA, Mid-Eastern Athletic: 4-1, 5-6) at Eastern Michigan Eagles (I-A, Mid-American, 5-3, 9-4): Prediction to win: Eastern Michigan, Prediction to lose: Howard
Central Michigan Chippewas (I-A, Mid-American: 3-5, 4-8) at Michigan State Spartans (I-A, Big Ten: 3-6, 5-7): Prediction to win: Michigan State, Prediction to lose: Central Michigan
Miami (OH) Redhawks (I-A, Mid-American: 4-4, 6-7) at Miami (FL) Hurricanes (I-A, ACC: 3-5, 5-7): Prediction to win: Miami (FL), Prediction to lose: Miami (OH)
*Louisville Cardinals (I-A, ACC: 4-4, 8-5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (I-A, ACC: 4-4, 5-7): Prediction to win: Louisville, Prediction to lose: Georgia Tech
Missouri State (I-AA, Missouri Valley Football: 3-5, 5-6) at Kansas Jayhawks (I-A, Big 12: 3-6, 6-7): Prediction to win: Kansas, Prediction to lose: Missouri State
Stanford Cardinal (I-A, Pac-12: 1-8, 3-9) at Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (I-A, Mountain West: 2-6, 3-10), Prediction to win: Stanford, Prediction to lose: Hawaii
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023
East Carolina Pirates (I-A, American Athletic: 4-4, 8-5) at Michigan Wolverines (I-A, Big Ten: 9-0, 13-1): Prediction to win: Michigan, Prediction to lose: East Carolina
Virginia Cavaliers (I-A, ACC: 1-6, 3-7) at Tennessee Volunteers (I-A, SEC: 6-2, 11-2): Prediction to win: Tennessee, Prediction to lose: Virginia
Colorado Buffaloes (I-A, Pac-12: 1-8, 1-11) at TCU Horned Frogs (I-A, Big 12: 9-0, 13-2): Prediction to win: TCU, Prediction to lose: Colorado
Arkansas State Red Wolves (I-A, Sun Belt: 1-7, 3-9) at Oklahoma Sooners (I-A, Big 12: 3-6, 6-7): Prediction to win: Oklahoma, Prediction to lose: Arkansas State
Utah State Aggies (I-A, Mountain West: 5-3, 6-7) at Iowa Hawkeyes (I-A, Big Ten: 5-4, 8-5): Prediction to win: Iowa, Prediction to lose: Utah State
Ball State Cardinals (I-A, Mid-American: 3-5, 5-7) at Kentucky Wildcats (I-A, SEC: 3-5, 7-6): Prediction to win: Kentucky, Prediction to lose: Ball State
Bowling Green (I-A, Mid-American: 5-3, 6-7) at Liberty Flames (I-A, FBS Independent: 8-5): Prediction to win: Liberty, Prediction to lose: Bowling Green
Fresno State Bulldogs (I-A, Mountain West: 7-1, 10-4) at Purdue Boilermakers (I-A, Big Ten: 6-3, 8-6): Prediction to win: Purdue, Prediction to lose: Fresno State
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (I-A, Conference USA: 2-6, 3-9) at SMU Mustangs (I-A, American Athletic: 5-3, 7-6): Prediction to win: SMU, Prediction to lose: Louisiana Tech
*Northern Illinois (I-A, Mid-American: 2-6, 3-9) at Boston College (I-A, ACC: 2-6, 3-9): Prediction to win: Boston College, Prediction to lose: Northern Illinois
Long Island University Sharks (I-AA, Northeast: 4-3, 4-7) at Ohio Bobcats (I-A, Mid-American: 7-1, 10-4): Prediction to win: Ohio, Prediction to lose: Long Island University
Robert Morris (I-AA, Big South: 0-5, 0-11) at Air Force Falcons (I-A, Mountain West: 5-3, 10-3): Prediction to win: Air Force, Prediction to lose: Robert Morris
Mercer (I-AA, Southern: 5-3, 7-4) at Ole Miss Rebels (I-A, SEC: 4-4, 8-5): Prediction to win: Ole Miss, Prediction to lose: Mercer
East Tennessee State at Jacksonville State: Prediction to win: Jacksonville State, Prediction to lose: East Tennessee State
Northern Iowa at Iowa State Cyclones: Prediction to win: Iowa State, Prediction to lose: Northern Iowa
Akron at Temple: Prediction to win: Temple, Prediction to lose: Akron
Portland State Vikings (I-AA, Big Sky: 3-5, 3-7) at Oregon Ducks (I-A, Pac-12: 7-2, 10-3): Prediction to win: Oregon, Prediction to win: Portland State
Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana Hoosiers: Prediction to win: Ohio State, Prediction to lose: Indiana
Boise State Broncos at Washington Huskies: Prediction to win: Washington, Prediction to lose: Boise State
Rice Owls at Texas Longhorns: Prediction to win: Texas, Prediction to lose: Rice
Tennessee State Tigers (I-AA, Ohio Valley: 2-3, 4-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (I-A, FBS Independent: 9-4): Prediction to win: Notre Dame, Prediction to lose: Tennessee State
Buffalo at Wisconsin Badgers: Prediction to win: Wisconsin, Prediction to lose: Buffalo
UMass at Auburn Tigers: Prediction to win: Auburn, Prediction to lose: UMass
Towson at Maryland Terrapins: Prediction to win: Maryland, Prediction to lose: Towson
South Florida at Western Kentucky: Prediction to win: Western Kentucky, Prediction to lose: South Florida
Wofford Terriers (I-AA, Southern: 3-5, 3-8) at Pittsburgh Panthers (I-A, ACC: 5-3, 9-4): Prediction to win: Pittsburgh, Predictions to lose: Wofford
Eastern Kentucky at Cincinnati Bearcats: Prediction to win: Cincinnati, Prediction to lose: Eastern Kentucky
Gardner-Webb at Appalachian State: Prediction to win: Appalachian State, Prediction to lose: Gardner-Webb
Western Carolina at Arkansas Razorbacks: Prediction to win: Arkansas, Prediction to lose: Western Carolina
SE Louisiana at Mississippi State: Prediction to win: Mississippi State, Prediction to lose: SE Louisiana
California Golden Bears (I-A, Pac-12: 2-7, 4-8) at North Texas Mean Green (I-A, Conference USA: 6-2, 7-7): Prediction to win: California, Prediction to lose: North Texas
Colgate Raiders (I-AA, Patriot League: 2-4, 3-8) at Syracuse Orangemen (I-A, ACC: 4-4, 7-8): Prediction to win: Syracuse, Prediction to lose: Colgate
Bryant at UNLV: Prediction to win: UNLV, Prediction to lose: Bryant
UT Martin at Georgia Bulldogs: Prediction to win: Georgia, Prediction to lose: UT Martin
South Carolina State at Charlotte 49ers: Prediction to win: Charlotte, Prediction to lose: South Carolina State
Monmouth at Florida Atlantic Owls: Prediction to win: Florida Atlantic, Prediction to lose: Monmouth
The Citadel at Georgia Southern: Prediction to win: Georgia Southern, Prediction to lose: The Citadel
Bucknell at James Madison, Prediction to win: James Madison, Prediction to lose: Bucknell
UAlbany at Marshall Thundering Herd: Prediction to win: Marshall, Prediction to lose: UAlbany
Nevada Wolf Pack at USC Trojans: Prediction to win: USC, Prediction to lose: Nevada
Maine at Florida International: Prediction to win: Florida International, Prediction to lose: Maine
Southeast Missouri State at Kansas State Wildcats: Prediction to win: Kansas State, Prediction to lose: Southeast Missouri State
New Mexico at Texas A&M Aggies: Prediction to win: Texas A&M, Prediction to lose: New Mexico
Army at UL Monroe: Prediction to win: UL Monroe, Prediction to lose: Army
Alabama A&M Bulldogs (I-AA, Southwestern Athletic: 4-4, 4-7) at Vanderbilt Commodores (I-A, SEC: 2-6, 5-7): Prediction to win: Vanderbilt, Prediction to lose: Alabama A&M
Washington State Cougars at Colorado State Rams: Prediction to win: Washington State, Prediction to lose: Colorado State
Texas State at Baylor Bears: Prediction to win: Baylor, Prediction to lose: Texas State
UTSA at Houston Cougars, Prediction to win: Houston, Prediction to lose: UTSA
Central Arkansas at Oklahoma State Cowboys: Prediction to win: Oklahoma State, Prediction to lose: Central Arkansas
Bethune-Cookman at Memphis Tigers: Prediction to win: Memphis, Prediction to lose: Bethune-Cookman
Alcorn State at Southern Mississippi: Prediction to win: Southern Miss, Prediction to lose: Alcorn State
Stephen F. Austin at Troy Trojans: Prediction to win: Stephen F. Austin, Prediction to lose: Troy
Middle Tennessee at Alabama Crimson Tide: Prediction to win: Alabama, Prediction to lose: Middle Tennessee
West Virginia Mountaineers at Penn State Nittany Lions: Prediction to win: Penn State, Prediction to lose: West Virginia
*North Carolina Tar Heels (I-A, ACC: 6-2, 9-5) at South Carolina Gamecocks (I-A, SEC: 4-4, 8-5): Prediction to win: North Carolina, Prediction to lose: South Carolina
Toledo Rockets (I-A, Mid-American: 5-3, 9-5) at Illinois Fighting Illini (I-A, Big Ten: 5-4, 8-5): Prediction to win: Illinois, Prediction to lose: Toledo
Texas Tech Red Raiders (I-A, Big 12: 5-4, 8-5) at Wyoming Cowboys (I-A, Mountain West, 5-3, 7-6): Prediction to win: Texas Tech, Prediction to lose: Wyoming
Northwestern State Demons (I-AA, Southland: 4-2, 4-7) at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (IA, Sun Belt: 4-4, 6-7): Prediction to win: Louisiana, Prediction to lose: Northwestern State
South Alabama Jaguars (I-A, Sun Belt: 7-1, 10-3) at Tulane Green Wave (I-A, American Athletic: 7-1, 12-2): Prediction to win: Tulane, Prediction to lose: South Alabama
Old Dominion Monarchs (I-A, Sun Belt: 2-6, 3-9) at Virginia Tech Hokies (I-A, ACC: 1-6, 3-8): Prediction to win: Virginia Tech, Prediction to lose: Old Dominion
Western Illinois Leathernecks (I-AA, Missouri Valley Football: 0-8, 0-11) at New Mexico State Aggies (FBS Independent: 7-6): Prediction to win: New Mexico State, Prediction to lose: Western Illinois
Incarnate Word Cardinals (I-AA, Southland: 5-1, 12-2) at UTEP Miners (I-A, C-USA: 3-5, 5-7): Prediction to win: Incarnate Word, Prediction to lose: UTEP
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (I-AA, Big Sky: 2-6, 3-8) at Arizona Wildcats (I-A, Pac-12: 3-6, 5-7): Prediction to win: Arizona, Prediction to lose: Northern Arizona
Sam Houston Bearkats (I-AA, WAC: 3-2, 5-4) at BYU Cougars (I-A, FBS Independent: 8-5): Prediction to win: BYU, Prediction to lose: Sam Houston
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (I-A, Sun Belt: 6-2, 9-4) at UCLA Bruins (I-A, Pac-12: 6-3, 9-4): Prediction to win: UCLA, Prediction to lose: Coastal Carolina
Idaho State Bengals (I-AA, Big Sky: 1-7, 1-10) at San Diego State Aztecs (I-A, Mountain West: 5-3, 7-6): Prediction to win: San Diego State, Prediction to lose: Idaho State
Sunday, September 3rd, 2023
Northwestern Wildcats (I-A, Big Ten: 1-8, 1-11) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (I-A, Big Ten: 1-8, 4-8): Prediction to win: Northwestern, Prediction to lose: Rutgers
Oregon State Beavers (I-A, Pac-12: 6-3, 10-3) at San Jose State Spartans (I-A, Mountain West, 5-3, 7-5): Prediction to win: Oregon State, Prediction to lose: San Jose State
LSU Tigers (I-A, SEC: 6-2, 10-4) at Florida State Seminoles (I-A, ACC: 5-3, 10-3): Prediction to win: LSU, Prediction to lose: Florida State
Monday, September 4th, 2023
Clemson Tigers (I-A, ACC: 8-0, 11-3) at Duke Blue Devils (I-A, ACC: 5-3, 9-4): Prediction to win: Clemson, Prediction to lose: Duke
I will post the results for Week One (and my predictions for Week Two) in the near future! Thank you for reading this story!
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