LSU-Clemson Headlines Week 1 College Football Picks vs Spread — SkimNews
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- Clemson visits No. 11 LSU Saturday at 7:49 p.m. ET on ABC in a "Battle of Tigers" framed as old school vs. new school, with Dabo Swinney's transfer-portal skepticism squaring off against Lane Kiffin's "Portal King" approach and the No. 1-ranked transfer class
- LSU is fighting the SEC in court over two former NFL players' eligibility — the SEC is suing the school — and Kiffin decided Friday not to place those players on LSU's official roster
- No. 9 Ole Miss is a 6.5-point favorite over No. 24 Louisville on Sunday night in Nashville, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy leading the Rebels against a Cardinals team some believe could be in the ACC and playoff hunt
- No. 2 Notre Dame lays 20.5 points to Wisconsin on Sunday night, though CBS Sports' Brad Crawford picked Wisconsin +20.5, citing Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph Jr.'s mobility as enough to keep the opener respectable
- Record-breaking heat across the South threatens games involving No. 13 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 20 Tennessee on Saturday, testing both teams and fans seeking shade
- Four top-25 teams open in the first hour Saturday: Alabama vs. ECU, North Texas at No. 6 Indiana, Oregon State at No. 23 Houston, and Ball State at No. 1 Ohio State, with Oklahoma hosting UTEP and No. 7 Miami visiting Stanford on Friday
- CBS Sports experts picked Oregon Under 51.5 vs. Boise State, LSU-Clemson Under 50, Washington State +23.5 in the Apple Cup, and SMU -3 over Florida State on Monday night
Why it matters: The unresolved LSU–SEC legal fight casts a cloud over Lane Kiffin's debut before his first snap and could shape LSU's roster and College Football Playoff trajectory all season. On the field, heavy favorites Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ohio State open against unranked or lower-tier opponents — meaning Week 1 upsets could scramble early rankings before conference play begins.
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