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ESPN’s SP+ predicts final score for every Week 1 B1G game

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

ESPN’s SP+ is back for the 2023 season, providing score predictions for every game of the year along the way.

The system was devised by Bill Connelly with the full picks for Week 1 revealed on Sunday. In the B1G, that includes 11 total games and 3 conference matchups.

Matt Rhule will begin the first game of his Nebraska tenure this week on the road against Minnesota. While the long-term expectations for Rhule are positive, opening on the road against a conference rival has the SP+ predicting a loss to the Gophers.

Ryan Walters — in his head coaching debut at Purdue — draws a tough Fresno State matchup to begin the season. While that game should be a tight one all the way, the SP+ does give the Boilermakers an edge to open the season.

Here are the full SP+ picks for the week ahead as the college football season begins:

  • Nebraska 16, Minnesota 28
  • Central Michigan 11, Michigan State 34
  • East Carolina 4, Michigan 45
  • Fresno State 22, Purdue 27
  • Utah State 4, Iowa 37
  • Buffalo 10, Wisconsin 40
  • Ohio State 46, Indiana 12
  • Towson 5, Maryland 41
  • Toledo 16, Illinois 29
  • West Virginia 16, Penn State 39
  • Northwestern 17, Rutgers 21

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.