The long wait is over as Week 1 of the 2024 college football season has finally arrived. Thursday night's schedule brings a hefty appetizer for the weekend ahead with several Power Four teams are getting their campaigns underway, including four who are ranked in the preseason AP Top 25.
A couple of matchups stand out above the rest as potential thrillers that will give us an early read on some teams with significant questions to answer. Minnesota hosts North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET in a Big Ten vs. ACC battle between a pair of squads that will be relying on elite running backs while breaking in new starting quarterbacks.
Kicking off at the same time is Colorado vs. North Dakota State as the Buffaloes begin Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders with a serious test against an FCS power. If the Buffaloes are going to build on last year's 4-8 mark, defeating the Bison in their season opener is imperative as even tougher challenges await at Colorado State and Nebraska in the weeks ahead.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the evening for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let's take a look at our expert picks for the best games on Thursday of Week 1.
Odds via SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern
North Dakota State at Colorado
8 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) -- Expectations outside Colorado have cooled, but the hype is still hot in Boulder. Deion Sanders wants a more balanced offense after the bulk of the pressure to produce was on his son, Shedeur, to throw the ball in 2023. North Dakota State provides a great first test for the revamped offense, particularly on the ground. Though NDSU has experience and plenty of elite FCS talent, the Buffaloes have proven Power 4 starters at every position on the field, unlike last season. This is an improved Colorado team and the Buffaloes will prove it in Prime Time. Prediction: Colorado -9.5 -- Brandon Marcello
North Carolina at Minnesota
9 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) -- These teams combined for just 44 points last season when North Carolina had a future first-round draft pick at quarterback in Drake Maye and when both teams already had two games under their belt. Now, both are breaking in new quarterbacks — the Tar Heels haven't even named a starter yet — and are likely going to be relying on their run games as they get their feet underneath them in a new season. Points should be at a premium. Prediction: Under 50.5 -- David Cobb
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread -- all from a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception -- and find out.
