CFB Week 0 Preview and Predictions

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports

Week 0 is finally here. Throughout the season, I’ll be previewing each week, looking at the best games, biggest storylines, making predictions, and more. Get everything you need to know for the Week 0 action right here!

Biggest Games

Let’s take a look at the biggest games of Week 0. Usually, I’ll pick the top five games in my opinion, but since there are only five this week, it works out perfectly.

1. Iowa State vs. Kansas State (-3) Ireland

The annual college football kickoff in Ireland is a big game for multiple reasons. Not only are two ranked teams going at it in their first game, but they’re also conference foes with aspirations of winning the Big 12. KSU is favored, and for good reason. They have a great QB in Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards should have a breakout year, and their defense looks solid. However, Iowa State has arguably the better quarterback in Rocco Becht, who is surrounded by good weapons and a strong defense. This should be a great game, and I’m super excited for it. The winner will get a head start on that coveted Big 12 championship—and a potential playoff berth—while the loser will have to battle from behind.

2. Stanford at Hawai’i (-2.5)

Stanford projects to be one of the worst Power 5 teams this year. Hawai’i, well, they’re Hawai’i. The Rainbow Warriors are actually favorites in this one, and if they can pull out the win, it would be huge. Elijah Brown needs to step up for Stanford to have a chance. He’s shown flashes, but in an offense that will be subpar at best, he needs to ball out. Hawai’i will lean on veteran running back Landon Sims, who hopes to have a breakout season. This game could really go either way, and it would be a good win for both sides.

3. Fresno State at Kansas (-12)

There’s a chance Fresno State can pull off this upset, but even if they don’t, this will be an entertaining game. Jalon Daniels has tons of talent, but injuries have plagued his career. The Jayhawks hope this is the year he can stay healthy and lead them to success. Fresno State QB EJ Warner has been solid at Temple and Rice over the past three years, and the Bulldogs are hoping he can carry that success with them. They don’t have the straight-up talent Kansas has, so they’ll need to play their best to pull off the upset—but it certainly could happen.

4. Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (-10)

This might end up being the least-watched game of Week 0, since Stanford-Hawai’i kicks off 30 minutes after it, and Fresno State-Kansas 30 minutes before. Still, it’s special nonetheless. The Hilltoppers are 10-point favorites at home, but they’re up against a solid Sam Houston team. WKU has a totally revamped offense, going hard in the portal, and they hope it’ll turn into one of their classic high-powered attacks that can put up 35+ points per game. Sam Houston looks to dominate on the ground. Transfer RB Elijah Green is entering his sixth year, and North Texas transfer Shane Porter rushed for over 600 yards last season. This will definitely be a game to keep an eye on.

5. Idaho State at UNLV (-25.5)

On a normal week, this is a game you’d probably only watch if you’re a UNLV or Idaho State fan, but in Week 0, it might as well be the Super Bowl. UNLV hopes to claim the Group of 6 playoff bid this year, and losing this game would crush that dream. They should win by 30+, but it’ll also be our first look at this team under Dan Mullen.

Biggest Storylines

• Rocco Becht or Avery Johnson? ISU-KSU will feature two dark horse Heisman contenders at QB, but which one is superior? This matchup will say a lot about these teams, and both Johnson and Becht will look to impress early and show they’re the better player.

  
  

• Is Hawai’i a dark horse? Yes, it’s unlikely. But if Hawai’i blows out Stanford, we at least have to start the conversation that they could be a dark horse playoff team. They play Arizona in Week 1, and if they start 2-0, it’s not crazy.

  
  

• How good is UNLV? Obviously, they’ll look great against an FCS team, but people are picking them to dethrone Boise State in the Mountain West. They need to look absolutely dominant here. They also have a crucial QB battle we’ll get to in a second.

Players to Watch

1. Rocco Becht & Avery Johnson - I’m lumping these two together because they’re in very similar positions. As mentioned earlier, both are aiming for the Heisman race and a spot in the CFP, so expect them to ball out on Saturday.

2. UNLV QBs - We still don’t know if the starter will be Alex Orji or Anthony Colandrea, but both will see action. It’ll be important to see who looks better. The Rebels need a great QB this season, and it would be nice to see a clear difference in Week 0.

3. Jalon Daniels - Yes, I know—three (technically five) QBs in a row is lame, but quarterback play is what makes this week so exciting. Daniels looks to finally fulfill his potential this season, and it’s crucial he gets off to a strong start against Fresno State.

Game Predictions

Every week I’ll pick 25 games (only five this week) and keep track of my record, as well as my score in the #KZACFBpicks challenge. If you want to play along, all you have to do is pick 25 games each week (you can use mine or choose your own), post them on X/Twitter with #KZACFBpicks, and the weekly winner gets a cash prize! The scoring system is at the bottom of this article.

• #22 Iowa State vs. #17 Kansas State (-3): Kansas State - I’ve got Kansas State here, covering the spread as well. I think they’re slightly better overall, and I like Johnson just a bit more than Becht.

  
  

• Idaho State at UNLV (-25.5): UNLV - Easy pick. A potential CFP team vs. an FCS opponent—no doubts here.

  
  

• Fresno State at Kansas (-12): Kansas - Kansas is the better team, and at home they should take care of business. The spread will be close, though, so watch that.

  
  

• Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (-10): Sam Houston - I’ve got a bit of an upset here. Sam Houston has a talented backfield and a solid offensive line that should be able to dominate WKU. The Bearkats’ defense is a big question mark, though, so this will be a close one.

  
  

• Stanford at Hawai’i (-2.5): Stanford - Even though the Cardinal are going to be one of the worst Power 4 teams, they’re still more talented than Hawai’i. It’ll be tough on the road, but I think Stanford pulls off the “upset.”

KZA CFB picks Scoring System

• 35+ = 0.5 points

• 21.5–34.5 = 1 point

• 15.5–21 = 1.5 points

• 11–15 = 2 points

• 7–10.5 = 2.5 points

• 3.5–6.5 = 3 points

• 0.5–3 = 3.5 points

• +0.5–3 = 4.5 points

• +3.5–6.5 = 5 points

• +7–10.5 = 5.5 points

• +11–15 = 6 points

• +15.5–21 = 6.5 points

• +21.5–34.5 = 7.5 points

• +35+ = 10 points

You can find Owen Pannell on X here.

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