2023 cbhsports College Football 8/31-9/4 Preview

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AP Top 6
1.Georgia 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: UT-Martin (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ESPN+/SECN+)
2.Michigan 0-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: East Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET, Peacock)
3.Ohio State 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: @ Indiana (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
4.Alabama 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Middle Tennessee (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, SECN)
5.LSU 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: 8.Florida State (Orlando) (Sunday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
6.USC 1-0 (0-0) Pac-12 This week: Nevada (Saturday, 6:30 PM ET, PAC12)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)
Florida @ 14.Utah (Thursday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)
In what was a great season opener between the Gators and Utes in “The Swamp” last season, should be another good one in 2023. This year, the game was moved up to Thursday to open Week 1. According to Clutch Points, Utah star QB Cam Rising does plan on playing after tearing his ACL in the Utes’ Rose Bowl loss to Penn State in January. Rising will have to play this season without star tight end Dalton Kincaid and offensive tackle Braeden Daniels (Wednesday Update: Rising is not expected to play per multiple sources). If Rising is out, backup signal caller Bryson Barnes will lead the Utes on Thursday night. The Utes defense loses Clark Phillips. Anthony Richardson, Florida’s QB last fall, starred in a close opening over the Utes. Despite a rocky season after the big opening season win, was selected by the Indianapolis Colts early in the first round of the NFL Draft. To replace him, Gators coach Billy Napier brought in Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz. Mertz is expected to start alongside a talented backfield that includes tailbacks Trevor Etienne, Montrell Johnson, and Tulane transfer Cam Caroll. The Gators’ front seven defensively is talented but a shaky secondary will have to stop Rising and Utah’s passing attack. Unlike last season, this game should not come down to the last play but it will be close for a half. Projected Score: Utah 24, Florida 17

Colorado @ 17.TCU (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
Colorado begins the Deion Sanders era against the reigning national runners up TCU Horned Frogs. In what seems like will happen in every future college football off-season, the Buffaloes added and lost many transfers during the spring and summer 2023 including adding Deion’s sons Shedeur Sanders (QB), Shilo Sanders (S), as well as the multi-talented Travis Hunter (WR, CB) who will be a game wrecker for them in the tough Pac-12. The Horned Frogs lost a lot from their Fiesta Bowl winning roster including quarterback Max Duggan, receiver Quentin Johnson, running back Kendre Miller, receiver and return specialist Derius Davis, cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, and linebacker Dee Winters to the NFL Draft. Most importantly, Garrett Riley left TCU’s offensive coordinator job to take the same job at Clemson. Former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles should be a good fit with Chandler Morris taking over the reins as the signal-caller in Fort Worth. TCU should be a great challenge for Colorado, a team many think will only win a few games in year one under Coach Prime. Projected Score: TCU 35, Colorado 20

Virginia vs. 12.Tennessee (Nashville) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
Can Josh Heupel lead Tennessee to a ten win or better season again in 2023? An instate trip to Nashville to face Virginia should not be a difficult one for the Volunteers but they trot out new starting QB Joe Milton against the Cavaliers. Losing quarterback Hendon Hooker and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman will hurt the Vols’ offense but Heupel’s offensive mind should help. Tennessee’s mediocre defense will have to stop new Cavaliers Tony Muskett, the new signal-caller in Charlottesville who replaces Brennan Armstrong, the all-time leader in almost every passing category in school history. Virginia head coach Tony Elliott will need answers from his subpar defense in 2022 to stop a Vol offense that is full of talent outside of Milton including receiver Bru McCoy and running back Jamari Small. Projected Score: Tennessee 38, Virginia 13

West Virginia @ 7.Penn State (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC)
Penn State is primed to be among Michigan and Ohio State as favorites in the Big Ten with young QB Drew Allar primed to start for the first time at night against an underrated West Virginia team. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions isn’t young outside of their signal caller with a loaded running back room led by Nick Singleton, receivers Harrison Wallace, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Liam Wallace. Penn State’s defense is full of veterans and should be able to stop West Virginia’s offense with new quarterback Garrett Greene should have some difficulties moving the ball in a hostile environment in State College even with a veteran filled offense. The Mountaineer defense will have to slow down Nick Singleton which will not be easy. Penn State should win easy in this one after a competitive first half. Projected Score: Penn State 34, West Virginia 17

South Carolina vs. 21.North Carolina (Charlotte; Duke’s Mayo Classic) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
ESPN’s College GameDay heads to Charlotte for this old ACC rivalry between a South Carolina team that surged to end the year and a North Carolina squad that lost its last four games. The quarterback match up between Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Drake Maye (North Carolina) should be fantastic. Rattler will have to find talented receiver “Juice” Wells against a so-so Tar Heels defense while Maye will be without his top receiver from last year Josh Downs, who was drafted to to the NFL back in April. The Tar Heels await the NCAA’s decision on Tez Walker’s appeal to play this season. He would be a huge help to the Tar Heel offense, however, without a decision from the NCAA at least a week before the game, he is not expected to play. South Carolina’s defense should not be as bad as the Tar Heels’ last season but losing three players on that side of the ball to the NFL. With that being said, this game should be 50-50 with both offenses going back and forth. Projected Score: South Carolina 31, North Carolina 28

5.LSU vs. 8.Florida State (Orlando; Camping World Kickoff) (Sunday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
LSU will look to avenge a loss to Florida State last season in Orlando on Sunday night when the Seminoles blocked LSU’s extra point that would have tied the game. Then Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and his Fighting Irish opened the season on against Mike Norvell’s Seminoles in Tallahassee and came out with a close win in Tallahassee. Can Kelly do the same thing in a revenge spot with his star defensive end Maason Smith getting suspended due to getting paid signing autographs prior to the NIL agreement? Fellow LSU lineman Harold Perkins will have to pick up the slack on getting to FSU QB Jordan Travis to create havoc in the backfield. Travis gets to throw to talented transfer tight end Jaheim Bell while LSU will rely on pre-season All-SEC First Team QB Jayden Daniels tossing it to Malik Nabers. The Seminoles defense is full of talent just like LSU’s led by defensive end Jared Verse. Both of these teams are very talented and so the game should not disappoint. Projected Score: LSU 28, Florida State 24

9.Clemson @ Duke (Capital One Labor Day Kickoff) (Monday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)
Clemson will begin its season for a second consecutive season Monday in primetime against a fellow ACC opponent. Last season, Clemson cruised against a lowly Georgia Tech team. This season’s opener should be different against a Duke team that was great a season ago. Blue Devils QB Riley Leonard, RB Brandon Johnson, and receiver Jordan Moore will look to continue their success from last season. The Blue Devil defense is full of veterans and will go against what should be a much improved passing offense with former TCU coordinator Garrett Riley who led the Horned Frogs offense to a national championship runner up. In addition, the Tigers offense should be more stable with Cade Klubnik stepping into a more permanent role at quarterback and Will Shipley continuing to lead the unit at tail back. Clemson’s always talented front seven headed by four graduates on the line should be the difference in a close, season opening win. Projected Score: Clemson 24, Duke 21