College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 0 matchups

No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 6 USC are in action – and their quarterbacks and coaches will be the focus of Week 0. 

The Irish travel to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, and that will be the debut for new quarterback Sam Hartman. The Wake Forest transfer was a record-setting passer in the ACC, and now he is the key for second-year coach Marcus Freeman. Navy coach Brian Newberry will be making his debut in this classic rivalry. 

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams also will be in action against San Jose State. It's the Pac-12 farewell tour for the Trojans, and second-year coach Lincoln Riley is trying to guide USC to its first College Football Playoff appearance. 

MORE: SN 2023 Preseason All-America Team

Those are the two best games among seven games involving FBS schools in Week 0. Each week, we pick every game against the spread for Top 25 teams. Here is a look at our track record the last four years: 

Here are our Week 0 predictions against the spread:

Week 0 picks against the spread 

• Navy at No. 13 Notre Dame (-20.5) (2:30 p.m., NBC) 

These teams have played in Ireland twice. Notre Dame won 54-27 in 1996 and 50-10 in 2012. Hartman will give the ND offense more down-field firepower, and that will help offset Navy's option attack. The Midshipmen hung with the Irish last year in a 35-32 shootout where the Irish were limited to just 66 rushing yards. That won't be the case this time. The Irish's defense – which held Navy to 3 of 11 on third down last year – will make that down and distance more difficult.  Look for Notre Dame to pull away in the second half, and Hartman will offer an encouraging performance. 

Pick: Notre Dame wins 38-17 and COVERS the spread. 

• UTEP (-2) at Jacksonville State (5:30 p.m., CBSSN) 

Rich Rodriguez is back in the FBS, and Jacksonville State is making its Conference USA debut. Zion Webb had 10 passing TDs and 13 rushing TDs in his first season with Rodriguez in 2022. The Miners were 1-1 S/U as a road favorite last year, but the Gamecocks will feed off the excitement of being in a FBS conference. This might be the best game of the week. 

Pick: Jacksonville State wins 31-29 in an UPSET. 

• UMass at New Mexico State (-7) (7 p.m., ESPN) 

UMass is counting on Clemson transfer quarterback Taisun Phommachanh to give life to an offense that averaged 12.5 points per game in Don Brown's first season. New Mexico State is ahead of that schedule with Jerry Kill. The Aggies have returning quarterback Diego Pavia and four of their top five receivers back. New Mexico State was 4-1 ATS as a favorite last season, too. 

Pick: New Mexico State wins 31-17 and COVERS the spread. 

• Ohio at San Diego State (-2.5) (7 p.m., FS1) 

Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke is returning from a torn ACL, and the Bobcats will test San Diego State with a high-flying offense that averaged 31.8 points per game last season. The Bobcats have won their last three games against Mountain West Conference opponents, too. The Aztecs will slow this game down around quarterback Jalen Mayden, but a late TD pass to Sam Wilgusz gives the Bobcats a thrilling road victory. 

Pick: Ohio wins 30-27 in an UPSET. 

• Hawai'i at Vanderbilt (-17.5) (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) 

This is a large spread, mostly because the Commodores won 63-10 on the road against the Warriors in the Week 0 opener last season. A.J. Swann is back at quarterback for Vanderbilt, and freshman Sedrick Alexander should feast on a Hawaii defense that allowed 212.7 rushing yards per game. Hawaii will be improved in Timmy Chang's second season, and they were 8-4 ATS last season. This will fall right on the line; a lot closer than last season. 

Pick: Vanderbilt wins 34-14 and COVERS the spread. 

MORE: SEC preview, predictions

• San Jose State at No. 6 USC (-31.5) (8 p.m., Pac-12 Network) 

Williams won't be the focus. USC will score at a high clip – and South Carolina transfer running back Marshawn Lloyd will score a pair of first-half TDs. Remember, USC averaged 50.7 points per game in the first three games last season. Will they get enough starts? San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro had 23 TDs and just six interceptions last season. That's a lot of points against a veteran quarterback. This won't be close, but the Spartans should be good for a back-door cover. 

Pick: USC wins 52-24 and FAILS TO COVER the spread 

• FIU at Louisiana Tech (-12.5) (9 p.m., CBSSN) 

FIU beat Louisiana Tech 42-34 in a double-overtime thriller last season. The Panthers then lost their final four games. Louisiana Tech second-year coach Sonny Cumbie is turning to Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier to lead a turnaround from last year's 3-9 disaster. That's a large spread given last year's result. FIU transfer Shomari Lawrence – who had 597 yards last season at South Dakota – could flash in this game, too. 

Pick: Louisiana Tech wins 35-31 but FAILS TO COVER the spread