Latest / Game Day Collective / College Football Is BACK! Week 0 Preview & Predictions
Transcript
- Josh Mahler: We have made it. College football is finally back. There's eight games of FBS football this week. That is football being played from Las Vegas all the way over to Dublin, Ireland. Bill Belichick looking to get his revenge on the TCU Hornfrogs. We've got North Dakota State and Sacramento State both making their FBS debuts. Exciting. I think it's exciting. I've been pretty fairly close to the the North Dakota State team. Love watching them at the FCS level, now stepping up to the FBS. Same for Sacramento State as well. But before we get into it, first, every week here on the Game Day Collective College Football Show, we're going to be putting picks on the record and with the following segments. We're going to start off with our upset of the week where we pick one favorite that we believe is going to go down, one favorite according to the books or according to the people. And then we're going to pick a lock of the week. That's going to be the highest confidence pick that we have across the board. That could be against the spread, that could be money lines, whatever the case may be. We're gonna pick a game of the week, which is gonna be a full breakdown of the marquee matchup of the week. A game day collective after dark game. That's a late night game that's worth staying up for. And then we're also gonna get into a game day collective pick board where we're gonna go through straight-up winners with confidence ratings on all of them. Before we get started, give me your upset alert, your upset alert, the lock of the week. Put it down in the comments below. Make sure to hit that like button and hit subscribe as well. Help us keep on growing and try to grow this channel. Follow along to the platform on the podcast platform that you are listening to as well and help us keep on growing over there by giving us a five-star review. We appreciate it so much. Welcome into Game Day Collective College Football Show. We're gonna get started. make sure to join in with us right now. I think the schedule is set for Friday mornings. We're gonna be Right here. and we're gonna have several shows. There'll be guests, co-hosts, all that kind of stuff here on the col on the Game Day Collective college football show. So make sure to tune in with us as we preview each and every week, giving you all of the same picks and going through it, trying to make this exciting. We want to hear from you. So again, give us your picks down in the comments below. Let's get into it first with the game day collective upset of the week. This was you know a little easier because there wasn't such a a big slate, but it also kind of made it a little bit more difficult because you kind of got to go with what you're given. And for this week we're gonna go with North Carolina State for our upset of the week. I think that you look at this game, I think this is gonna be a lot of fun because Virginia enters in roughly about a four and a half, five and a half point favorite, depending on the sports book that you're looking at. And the my pick is North Carolina North Carolina State for this one. I think I look at this one with Virginia. Coming in with coming off of an 11-win season a season ago, and then of course kind of ruining the playoffs for everyone, it seemed like, because then Duke ended up beating Virginia in the ACC championship game. Anyways, Virginia still had a tremendous season in ending their season on a good win, a good bowl win over a tough Missouri team as well. But they're at home. Scott Stadium, it's completely sold out, and a lot of fans looking forward to this game. They're favored right now. And I'm still taking NC State in this one. I look at this and there's several reasons why I feel like NC State is going to win, and I'll get to those in just a second. But I do think Virginia is well deserving of kind of the respect that it's getting when you talk about Vegas and what I think a lot of people's picks are for this NC State team and or for this Virginia team rather. because you look at the Cavaliers again, like I said, coming off of an eleven win season and just a a very good year last year. I mean, you you watched them and they just seemed Very wholesome, a very wholesome team, very well just balanced team that that you can put your your money on. And by no by no means do I think that they're not deserving of being the favorite coming into this game. But of course, with all of that, one of the most experienced rosters in the country right now. And you look at their their offensive line alone, I it's gotta combine 165 starts. So I think that you know, there there's one area though, the reason why I'm picking NC State as my upset. Is because I think there's one area where I think they kind of have the advantage in this game. And I think it matters more to me here in week zero specifically. Of course, it matters a lot, but I think specifically here in week zero, when you're gonna start to see a little bit of you know, the first game of the year is really what I mean, where you're gonna see a little bit of slop, a little bit of rust being worn off and all of that. So reason number one, CJ Bailey. CJ Bailey enters into his third season. As North Carolina State's starting quarterback, and I think you look at last season and what he was able to do, really good season. Over 3,000 passing yards, 30 3105 on the passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and he added six additional rushing touchdowns on the season as well. So was able to get to the end zone and did it at an efficient rate too, nearly s nearly 70% completion percentage at 68.8% completion percentage. So I think you think about the first game of the season here in week zero. The games can get sloppy, they can get out of hands. You got new players, new schemes, new combinations, all that kind of stuff, and a lot of things that you've been working on in the offseason. And when you have a returning quarterback, I think having that established quarterback who's already been through the ACC and and seen this opponent specifically, I think that gives NC State an a major advantage. And like I said, especially being week zero, first game of the season. So when I'm picking an upset in week zero, I look at the quarterback maturity. And I think that that matters. the the continuity that he has with the the team and everything. I'll s I'll take CJ Bailey. Reason number two that I've got for NC State is that they've really owned this matchup. You look at it, it seems like it's just been a trend that Virginia really can't ignore. And I know that's something that isn't always necessarily meaningful, and it's typically not. but I think in this case, I'm putting some meaning to it. I like North Carolina State in this because North Carolina State's beaten Virginia four consecutive times. I think they're gonna add on to it and make it a fifth. Now, that could be risky, taking that as a reason, but you look at last season, it was a 35-31 Wolfpack victory, and it was really CJ Bailey that helped NC State kind of knock off the Cavaliers. So Virginia they they've la lost their last three home meetings against North Carolina State. I think that speaks a lot to me. And also again, just looking back going back to the The the quarterback. You've got a veteran quarterback coming back. So I don't think the NC State's walking into Charlottesville wondering whether it can beat Virginia. I think that they've realized that they've been here before. They know and they've been there repeatedly. So ta I'm taking the repetition on this one, though it's not a safe bet to put your money on just repetition alone or even just history alone. But reason number three, I think that Virginia has to replace some important pieces. You look at Virginia's overall roster. and it's extremely experienced overall, but the Cavaliers had a lot of turnover in some very important places after last year's really incredible year, including two very important positions that I think matter a lot going back to the quarterback and in the backfield on the in their star running back that they had to replace as well. So I think that's what makes week zero particularly interesting and the week one or week zero, whatever you want to call it, the game one of the season, is that you have to. get past some of that rust. You have to get past some of that slop. And whenever you've got some new pieces, I start to lean over the to the side that has a little bit more of a comfortable feeling to it. And that's why I lean NC State because they don't need to be dramatically better than Virginia. They just need CJ Bailey and and some of these these key pieces to their team that has had some of that continuity. They need some of that to to kind of just pe be pieced together good enough for four quarters. So my prediction NC State winning this one, that's really it. that that's my upset of the week. they are slightly Virginia is a slight favorite in this game, about close to a touchdown favorite. but I'm gonna pick NC State. I'm gonna say score-wise, I'm gonna go 31-27. So NC State 31, Virginia 27. And my confidence level is right about a seven out of 10 on this. So I think that Virginia might be deeper. Virginia might even have the better overall roster when you take piece by piece. But in a week zero conference game, I'm trusting the experienced quarterback and the continuity there with NC State. And I'm gonna trust that enough to make the plays late. And NC State walks into a sold out. Scott Stadium ruins the party for Virginia, starts off their season one-no. All right, going forward to the lock of the week. For my lock of the week this week, this is one that we're gonna put out weekly, and we are gonna keep track of all of these. We'll have something down below kind of showing the record, all that as well. But for the lock of the week, this was kind of tougher for me because I wanted to pick one that didn't just seem super simple, but there's also not a lot of games to to choose from. with there only being eight games to choose from, I'm going Jacksonville State spread. Jacksonville State's currently a seven and a half point underdog right now against North Dakota State. They are gonna have to go too far go to face North Dakota State, which I think is Kind of what makes this one a little interesting. So I I I do think that that you know w thinking about this game, I do think that that North Dakota State being a favorite doesn't necessarily surprise me. they are a very good team. And and you know, with with this one, I'm just gonna go out right out right up in the in front and say what my prediction is. I think Jacksonville State covers, but I don't think they win the game. I think North North Dakota State wins about 27-24, I think this is going to be a really close game. And closer than what that spread kind of indicates because you know, what what I think when I look at North Dakota State here is that they're they're making their their FBS debut. All right. And there's no questioning the bisons history and what what North Dakota State brings to the table. they have 10 FCS championship games or sorry, 10 FCS championships since 2011. And I think that tells you just about everything you need to know about this program and what they're expecting coming into the FBS level. so I I look at at North Dakota State and I know that they're a prominent team. But Jacksonville State isn't some overwhelmed opponent coming into Fargo and coming up there to to face North Dakota State. I think you look at the Gamecocks, they've already been competing at the FPS level for three years now and have produced 27 wins. They have two bowl victories to prove for in the FBS level. And they also have a conference USA Championships. So I I can believe that North Dakota State wins this game without believing that they're going to be more than a touchdown favorite over Jacksonville State. And so that's where my lock argument comes into place. And so you know, you look at Jacksonville State right now, they do have quarterback continuity. You look at Caden Creel, he returns for Jacksonville State after establishing himself last season as their starter. so meanwhile, you look over North Dakota State right now. They have to replace an NFL draft pick and Cole Payton at quarterback, as well as another NFL draft pick in Bryce Lance. so you you that that's their wide receiver. so you know, for an FPS debut, that is significant. I think that's gonna hold them back just a little bit from really being able to win this game as much as I think Vegas expects them to be able to win it. but right now I look at Jacksonville State, I think they should be able to make this into a four quarter game, a very close one. I think this is gonna be a really fun game to watch. so again, North Dakota State 27, Jacksonville State 24 is kind of what I'm looking at. So at seven and a half, Jacksonville State could still lose by a touchdown, and and the lock still caches. So I look at this, I think you've got eight points of separation between your your projected margin and what would be required to win to lose the bet right now. So my lock, Jacksonville State plus seven and a half. I feel pretty confident about this. I'm gonna put this confident level right about an eight, eight and a half out of ten. So straight up looking at North Dakota State, I think them winning by a field goal, first game in in your FBS debut, I think that means a lot. So I think that North Dakota State wins its first FBS game, which would be exciting for the program going forward and and looking at what that that means for your future. I think that means a lot for you. So I do think that they win. but seven and a half points, I think that's where I just kind of get off the train a little bit because I think Jacksonville State has too much FBS experience, too much quarterback continuity, which again I think means a lot. And I believe that net North Dakota State wins, but I just don't think they're gonna run away with this or anything. So Jacksonville State plus seven and a half. That's the game day collective lock of the week. the first lock of the week of 2026. All right, going on pretty quickly here through the show, we're gonna go to the game of the week. This one I there could be some arguments being made that we should have been talking about USC because That's a more prominent team, a team that's probably more likely to do something. But I think there's also more time throughout the season to talk about USC. There's not really a whole lot of time that we're going to be talking about TCU or North Carolina, or that we get to talk about a game being played in Dublin, Ireland. I think that you you talk about games being played in Dublin, Ireland. There's a lot of kind of controversy behind playing overseas. I don't think it's going to ever grow the game because. Here's the thing. In the NFL, you can grow the game by going overseas and doing all that, expanding to you know, different countries. I think that's great. I think that's grand, fantastic by all means. But in college, you're just not going to get that college atmosphere overseas. now I do think that Ireland brings it. I think they enjoy it. I think they think it's fun, but they're never going to feel what you feel in a college-town environment. I think if you were to take them to to places like the Big House, take them to Alabama, take them to Baton Rouge, you know, take them to to you know Ohio State, take take them, even thinking of of some of the smaller programs, let's say that you are to go to UNC or to TCU for this game, you're not going to have the same atmosphere in Ireland as what you would see truly in this game. I think Notre Dame played was it Georgia Tech, someone like that. They the Notre Dame played overseas here not too long ago. And again, you're not going to get the same feel as you would in South Bend. So, or as I like to call it North Bend because it doesn't make any sense that we call it South Bend when it's in the North. But anyways, I digress. Game of the week, still the Dublin Ireland game, where we're going to see UNC take on TCU. an early game for us here in the States, but nonetheless, I think that this is still gonna be a really fun game to watch. I I look at UNC, who look went just four and eight last season while averaging about 19 and a half points a game, only 288 yards a game. Now Bobby Petrino takes over the offense. So I think this is going to be really interesting because they bring in Billy Edwards Jr. as the quarterback. And Bill Belichick, he officially named the Wisconsin transfer as the starter. So I think that that gives Bobby Petrino an experienced option there at quarterback. And Bobby Petrino has been known to do a lot with with even just a little bit there at quarterback. So I think that that seeing other kind of ki r really experienced options there there on the offensive side of the ball for North Carolina, like Damon June, Jordan Schip, even Benjamin Hall. See, I think you look over at North Carolina, I think they should look a bit different. And I'm kind of expecting North Carolina to look better than they were a season ago, but they could look better as from a season ago and still not do too well. Like I said, only going four and eight. I do think they could be A bull eligible team. I'd put put them right in the pack right about there. So I I don't expect another, you know, forty-eight to fourteen embarrassment, but there's also still such a huge gap between the two. And I I don't think that North Carolina's gonna be so much better that they're gonna be better enough to beat TCU. so I'm taking TCU right now. I look at TCU's number one advantage, I think that they've just got the better overall roster and a coaching staff that's kind of got a little bit more mesh to it, I guess. but anyways, I look at TCU. I I think that they kind of look to kind of hold the advantages across several major position gaps. And particularly I think running back, you know, receiver portions of their defense. so I I think that there's a lot that you look at. In TCU's matchup here, I think with with their advantage, I think I look at at Jordan Dwyer, who's one of the names to watch here in this game because he was a major problem for North Carolina last season and returns as one of TCU's most dangerous weapons. So I think that that matters because North Carolina can't simply sell out and stop the run. They've got to be able to manage both. And so I don't think you're gonna see a ton of scoring from either side, although I think you're gonna see enough from one side, and I'll I'll get to my prediction here in just a minute. But another advantage that I think TCU has is Jaden Craig. I think that he's one of the the coolest week zero storylines replaces their TCU has to replace its quarterback, Josh Hoover, with the Harvard transfer and Jaden Craig. And over at Harvard, he passed for over 6,000 passing yards, 52 touchdowns, Walter Payton award finalist in 2025, and now an enormous jump coming from the Ivy League up to power four. it could be a similar story. To what we we saw with Trinidad Chamblets coming from FCS levels, f FCS rank up to the FPS level. and so I think that that this is one thing that I think is is really cool to see in a storyline that might actually develop into s being something spectacular if TCU could really do something special here. So I believe in Craig. but i it is gonna take a little bit of doing it at this level to really expect him to be the piece of of of any matchup that could really set TCU apart. But anyways, I think looking over at UNC, I don't think they're completely out of this game. I think that there is a path to an upset. I think that that to give the the Tar Heels some sort of legitimate case, rather than just making it as as if it's a one-sided bout, which I don't think it necessarily is. I think for one, Billy Edwards needs to protect the ball. Last year's game got out of control quickly. North Carolina can't give a TCU extra possessions or defensive scores. another one is for Petrino to establish the running game. This is something that he does really well. And I think if you look at Bobby Petrino's offenses in the past, that's something that he does establish and he does kind of centerpiece his offenses around that run game. So I think you have to make TC respect Demon June and avoid the obvious passing situations. Also, they have to pressure Jaden Craig. This is still Craig's first game against Power 4 competition. so you have to make him feel that jump immediately. So so get it out right off the jump and and get him kind of feeling a little bit of pressure. again, another thing that North Carolina has to do is they have to keep it close entering into the fourth quarter. I think the the longer that North Carolina hangs around, the more pressure it's gonna put towards the the quarterback who's making his first FBS start. it's gonna put a lot of pressure on that TCU team who's not an extremely talented team. So puts putting some pressure on the favorite. in this game, I think could get North Carolina really close. I still don't think North Carolina has what it takes. Another thing that I could throw in there too is that TCU does have a star safety that is out, just just announced here, I think, last week or the week before. so if North Carolina was able to attack that, I don't know if that's a weakness in TCU or not. I don't know if they've got another safety back there to kind of really step in and replace seamlessly or not, but definitely something to take a look at as well. But ultimately, my prediction for this game, I'm gonna pick TCU to win this one. I think they win it pretty comfortably too. I think they they come away with the victory here. I'm gonna pick TCU 34, North Carolina 20. feel pretty confident about TCU winning this game. I'd say about an eight out of 10 is my confidence level. I think that North Carolina is better than the T than the team that that TCU embarrassed last season, but I think Bobby Petrino. Gives this offense a little bit of life and that Billy Edwards is going to give them a little bit of stability at quarterback. I think they're able to score just a little bit more than they were a season ago. I just don't think that they've got enough continuity to this team and enough to be able to just jump into a week zero, week one, first game of the week, or sorry, first game of the season, and just start clicking on all cylinders. So when I go position by position by position, I still see the better football team winning wearing purple. So TCU wins this one in Dublin, 34. To 20. All right, another game to watch is a game, you know, we're gonna call this one our game sorry, Game Day Collective After Dark game. and this is Memphis at UNLV. I think this is gonna be a really fun one. This is gonna be our presenting game, presenting a game to stay up late for, you know, what what pack 12 after dark used to give us. I don't know if we're still gonna get a little bit of pack 12 after dark action now that the pack 12 is kind of reuniting and restructuring. but I I look at this Memphis UNLV game. I think this is gonna be a very fun game. Starts at 10 PM Eastern time. So if you're over on the Eastern co coast, starting pretty late, even in Central Time, 9 p.m. Eastern Central Time, pretty late. but it's gonna be played at Elegiant Allegiant Stadium, so in Las Vegas. I think this is gonna be a really fun game overall. You look at this, I think this is a very well-contested game. And y you look at it right now, UNLV favored by roughly four and a half points. Depending on the sports book that you're looking at again. but you know, looking at it, I think that this is a very interesting matchup between two teams that bring a lot to the table. I'm going to pick Memphis to win outright in this game. Another upset that I'm gonna pick on the week, but just a four and a half point favorite. But I think that Memphis might possibly have this. In my case for Memphis, starting off number one, Charles Huff. I think that Memphis is undergoing Plenty of roster turnover and and that's the biggest argument against predicting that Memphis could could win this one. But I think that you look at Huff, he's already kind of demonstrate demonstrated a little bit of an ability to be able to kind of reshape a program quickly. And I think that he should be able to do this with Memphis. And there's not a whole lot that you really have to completely restructure. I think that Memphis has brought several Southern miss transfers. and and and seeing seeing some of these southern mist transfers that come with Huff, I think that this kind of it adds extra pieces to the team where Memphis could really start to click and at least have some continuity. So I think that you look at some of the defensive pieces that he's brought with him. I I think he knows exactly what he wants. And so I think that I look at Huff and and what he's piecing together there at Memphis, I think this is a Memphis team that's still going to come in and start to look pretty tough. I think there's still going to be a a a good solid team. So I I think that we're just underestimating how quickly Charles Huff can get his guys playing his style of football, especially with the transfers that he ended up bringing in. I think that they're going to be able to I think that Memphis should be able to attack UNLE UNLV's offense. So Memphis's defense being able to attack. I think you look at at what they bring in with Jackson Arnold. something to mention here is that we're gonna see Jackson Arnold and Alex Orgy, possibly. So probably both quarterbacks. This could be an old style offense that you see two quarterbacks. throughout the entirety of the season. But they're also gonna have a star running back over on UNLV in Jaden Thomas. So understandably this is a a potentially good and fiery UNLV offense, but Memphis, I I don't think they need to completely shut down UNLV. I think that the Tigers need to make enough explosive plays just to turn this into a fourth quarter game and keep on pushing. I think that's where the pr the pressure starts to flip. on the home favorite. and it's kind of a home, but it's not your home stadium. So still the home team, still the favorite. and Memphis coming into this as an underdog, I think that they don't really have anything to lose. I think that you look at UNLV having kind of that that home home state, home city advantage, home field advantage there. I think they do overall have the greater continuity in many ways. They did have a 10 win season behind it. And so also they kind of have some playoff expectations. And right now the betting market is behind UNLV. So really almost all the pressure is really more on the rebels on UNLV than Memphis. I think with Memphis they can walk into Vegas playing aggressively in Charles Huff's first game as as head coach. And I think that they can do a lot. I think that this is dangerous. I think that this is more of a kind of a trap for UNLV than anything. So if I look at Memphis, I'm gonna pick Memphis. I think Memphis 31 UNLV 28. I think it's a very close game. My confidence level is lower on this one than it is on some of the others. About a six out of ten. And I I think it's just kind of a lower confidence pick. It's a it's a bold pick. And that's part of why I think it works. so I I look at Memphis. I like Memphis in this game just slightly. And I'm not I'm not sure. I don't know. It's just more of a gut feeling than anything. I think you look at UNLV, I think it's probably the safer pick, but that after dark game. Kind of first game of the season, I think that Charles Huff gets Memphis ready immediately. And I think the Tigers make it tough, you know, with some explosive plays on offense and they're able to get back there. Listen, I'm an Oklahoma guy too. So I was I I had to to watch Jackson Arnold play a lot. So if Jackson Arnold's in the game, I don't know. I'm gonna pick Memphis to win this one 31-28. Not super confident, but I do look at this game a little different than most. So ultimately, I think this is going to be a really fun game, one to watch. I think it's going to be an interesting game. I think it's going to be one that fans are going to enjoy ultimately. So kind of taking a look at the game day pick them board. this is where we're gonna kind of fly through games and we're just gonna kind of pick them as we go. So we already talked about the TCU North Carolina game. I'm gonna pick TCU to win that one. I already said 34-20. Confidence level is sitting about an eight out of 10 on that one. Then the game that we didn't really talk too much about, I don't think that there's a whole lot to talk about here. USC hosting San Jose State at home. USC has an explosive offense, one that I have a lot of faith in, one of that I think is gonna be one of the best offenses in the nation. They bring Gary Patterson in to kind of help that defense. I think that should help some. so th that's why I just don't think that this is a game worth mentioning too much about and spending too much time on. I think USC should handle business here just fine. Maybe even cover the spread. I don't know. My pick is going to be 48-13. I feel 10 out of 10 USC is going to win this one comfortably. North Carolina State at Virginia. Already talked about this one a little bit. This was our upset of the work. I'm upset of the week, our first upset of the week here of the 2026 campaign. I'm picking NC State to win this one. I think I said my score was 31-27 on that game. Confidence level sitting about a 7 out of 10 on this upset. Feel good about NC State. All right, next one is Jacksonville State at North Earn North Dakota State. We already talked about this game. Make it short and simple, sweet to the point. 27-24 North Dakota State. I'm feeling about a six out of 10, just over average for North Dakota State to pull this one off to win this game in their FBS debut. Another FBS debut for Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan. I'm going to pick Eastern Michigan 31-23 is the score I'm going to go with. And I'm feeling about seven out of ten on that one. So Sacramento State, I don't know. They could put something together and win their first FPS game as well. Who knows? But I'm gonna pick East East Eastern Michigan and go with that. Stick with my pick there. New Mexico State at Florida State. I'm gonna say an eight and a half out of ten confidence level that Florida State wins this game. I think Florida State has to turn the page eventually, right? I don't know. I'm not sure. This could be a total upset, like a crazy upset, but I'm gonna pick Florida State to win this one. I think they finally start to piece something together and become a little bit more of the Florida State that we would have expected from them here for the last, I don't know, however many years. But Florida, I'm gonna pick Florida State to win 45-13. I feel about an eight and a half out of ten, although that confidence level is quickly going down the more that I talk about it. So let's move on. Hawaii at Stanford. This was kind of a tough one for me. I think Hawaii could come away with it, but I'm not entirely sure. I am about 50-50 on this one. I'm going to pick Stanford to win this one. It's at home for Stanford, so I'm going to pick 27-24. I'm picking a lot of close games here on some of these, but confidence levels about a five out of 10 for Stanford to be able to win this one. But I'm going to pick Stanford to win 27-24. Memphis at UNLV, just mentioned that one. Memphis winning this one in a late night game, 31-0. 28, about a six out of 10 is the confidence level on that game. All right, let's pull up the game day collective card. We're gonna kind of throw this card up here. We'll have our record every week as well. So you can kind of see where we're sitting here each and every week. Starting off with the upset of the week, we're gonna pick North Carolina State over Virginia 3127. So that's kind of our upset of the week. If you kind of want to keep track of this on your own, you can. Let us know your upset of the week down in the comments below as well. lock of the week. gonna restate this one. It's just Jacksonville State covering the spread, not winning, but covering the spread. if they win, they still win our lock of the week. I I think that North North Dakota State's gonna win this game, but Jacksonville State keeps it within a touchdown to cover that seven and a half point spread. Game of the week was TCU over North Carolina. Again, my pick for that one was 31-20 or sorry, 34-20. I had it typed wrong. On the notes here. Our game day collective after dark game was Memphis winning over UNLV 3128. Close game there again. And our highest confidence winners, that was USC 10 out of 10. Florida State 8.5 out of 10. And TCU 8 out of 10. Lowest confidence picks were Memphis, 6 out of 10. And we also have North North Dakota State there at a 6.5 out of 10. All right, that is it. That is the board. It is locked. TCU in Dublin, North Carolina State is going to be the Game Day Collective upset of the week. The first one of the 2026 campaign. Jacksonville State plus seven and a half is the lock, and taking Memphis, the shock UNLB after dark. All eight picks are officially on the record. Now it's your turn. Give me your upset of the week, your lock of the week, and one pick on the board that you think I'm completely wrong about. Throw it all in the comments down below. Help us keep on growing. And next week, we're not pretending that these picks never happened. We are going to put the record back on the screen and show you exactly how we did. That'll do it for this edition of Game Day Collective College Football Show. Subscribe on YouTube, follow the podcast, and leave us a five-star review wherever you are listening. Follow Game Day Collective on X. Instagram, Facebook, all the social media platforms there, and visit gamedaycollective.media for more college football coverage throughout the week. And remember, the conversation doesn't end with this show. Welcome into the collective. I'm Josh Mahler, and we'll see you next time.