Week 1 2026: CFB analyst picks are graded; results are in!

Week 1 is in the books and the straight-up picks from our analysts are graded. Let’s jump right in.

We had a lot of undefeated weeks this week due to the chalky nature of the game results this week, but I have to recognize Shehan Jeyarajah and Chip Patterson for going 24-0 this week. That’s impressive to do with any slate of games even if you pick 24 favorites to win, and I’m not sure I’ve ever logged an undefeated record of 24-0 before. Congratulations to both gentlemen on a big winning week.

On College Gameday, everyone went undefeated as expected based on the short slate and expected results. Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and the celebrity guest picker Lainey Wilson all went 5-0. Kirk Herbstreit went 4-0 due to selecting one less game than the others. There’s not much more to say other than I don’t think I’ve ever seen a week without anyone below .500, but we did it this week.

Check out the full slate of results below to see how your favorite (or most hated) personality did this week.

NamePctWinLoss
Shehan_Jeyarajah100240
Chip_Patterson100240
Danny_Kanell10090
Rece_Davis10080
Desmond_Howard10050
Nick_Saban10050
Pat_McAfee10050
Celebrity_Guest10050
Joel_Klatt10050
Andy_Staples10050
Kirk_Herbstreit10040
Chris_Fallica10040
Chase_Daniel10030
Paul_Finebaum10030
Phil_Steele10030
Tim_Tebow10030
Steve_Coughlin10010
Scott_Van_Pelt10010
Tom_Fornelli96241
Brian_Jones88.8981
JD_Pickell88.8981
Richard_Johnson88223
Dan_Wetzel87.571
Pete_Thamel85.7161
Josh_Pate83.3351
Greg_McElroy8082
Jennifer8041
Rick_Neuheisel77.7872
Aaron_Taylor77.7872
Bruce_Feldman7531
Brett_McMurphy7531
David_Pollack71.4352
Brian_Kelly66.6763
Roman_Harper66.6721
Stewart_Mandel66.6721
Ralph_Russo66.6721
Jimbo_Fisher5011
Eric_Mac_Lain5011
Average89.8624828

Week 1 2026: CFB LOCKS from the Cover 3 Podcast!

Here are your week 1 LOCKS from the Cover 3 Podcast. Be sure to check out the full video for great analysis and commentary.

ATS picks:

PickName
SMU-3 vs Florida State (-110)Bud Elliott
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin 1H Under 24.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Ole Miss vs Louisville Under 55.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Duke vs Tulane Under 51.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Georgia-47 vs Tennessee State (-110)Bud Elliott
Indiana 1H TT over 27.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Clemson TT under 20.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Boise State 1H TT under 6.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
UTEP 1H TT under 1.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Miami (FL) 1H-13.5 vs Stanford (-110)Bud Elliott
Notre Dame-20 vs Wisconsin (-110)Chip Patterson
Alabama vs East Carolina 1H Under 28.5 (-110)Chip Patterson
California+2 vs UCLA (-110)Chip Patterson
Boston College+7.5 vs Cincinnati (-110)Chip Patterson
Colorado State vs Wyoming Under 46.5 (-110)Chip Patterson
Indiana 4Q-7.5 vs North Texas (-110)Chip Patterson
Boise State TT under 13.5 (-110)Chip Patterson
Michigan State vs Toledo Under 47.5 (-110)Chip Patterson
Georgia Tech 1H-3.5 vs Colorado (-110)Chip Patterson
Wisconsin 1H+11.5 vs Notre Dame (-110)Danny Kanell
Louisville+7 vs Ole Miss (-110)Danny Kanell
Auburn-7 vs Baylor (-110)Danny Kanell
LSU vs Clemson Under 50.5 (-110)Danny Kanell
Michigan-27.5 vs Western Michigan (-110)Danny Kanell
Boise State TT under 13.5 (-110)Danny Kanell
Stanford vs Miami (FL) Over 47.5 (-110)Danny Kanell
Georgia Tech vs Colorado 1H Under 26.5 (-110)Danny Kanell
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin Under 47.5 (-110)Tom Fornelli
Louisville+7 vs Ole Miss (-110)Tom Fornelli
Auburn vs Baylor Under 59 (-110)Tom Fornelli
Cincinnati vs Boston College Under 50.5 (-110)Tom Fornelli
Indiana-40.5 vs North Texas (-110)Tom Fornelli
LSU-10 vs Clemson (-110)Tom Fornelli
Ball State+51 vs Ohio State (-110)Tom Fornelli
South Carolina-35.5 vs Kent State (-110)Tom Fornelli
Tennessee-46.5 vs Furman (-110)Tom Fornelli

Money line sprinkles:

PicksName
Baylor +250 vs AuburnBud_Elliott_ML
Wyoming +165 vs Colorado StateBud_Elliott_ML
Liberty +190 vs James MadisonBud_Elliott_ML
FIU +506 vs South FloridaBud_Elliott_ML
California +115 vs UCLAChip_Patterson_ML
Tulsa +460 vs Oklahoma StateChip_Patterson_ML
Toledo +350 vs Michigan StateChip_Patterson_ML
Florida State +140 vs SMUDanny_Kanell_ML
California +115 vs UCLADanny_Kanell_ML
Clemson +325 vs LSUDanny_Kanell_ML
FIU +506 vs South FloridaDanny_Kanell_ML
California +115 vs UCLATom_Fornelli_ML
South Dakota State +475 vs NorthwesternTom_Fornelli_ML

Week 0 2026: CFB LOCKS from the Cover 3 Podcast!

Welcome back to college football season. Our very first post of the year is from the LOCKS episode of the Cover 3 podcast. Be sure to check out the full video or podcast for all of the analysis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhgxVGYo6Cc

ATS picks:

PickName
TCU vs North Carolina 1H Under 23.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Virginia vs NC State Under 53.5 (-110)Bud Elliott
Eastern Michigan-9.5 vs Sacramento State (-110)Chip Patterson
Florida State-30.5 vs New Mexico State (-110)Chip Patterson
North Carolina 1H+6.5 vs TCU (-110)Chip Patterson
Virginia vs NC State 1H Under 27.5 (-110)Chip Patterson
Florida State-30.5 vs New Mexico State (-110)Danny Kanell
Jacksonville State+7.5 vs North Dakota State (-110)Danny Kanell
Southern Cal-38.5 vs San Jose State (-110)Danny Kanell
Hawaii+3.5 vs Stanford (-110)Danny Kanell
TCU vs North Carolina Under 47.5 (-110)Danny Kanell
UNLV-4.5 vs Memphis (-110)Danny Kanell
NC State+4.5 vs Virginia (-110)Danny Kanell
North Dakota State 1H-3.5 vs Jacksonville State (-110)Tom Fornelli
TCU vs North Carolina Under 47.5 (-110)Tom Fornelli
Virginia vs NC State Under 53.5 (-110)Tom Fornelli

Money line sprinkles:

PicksName
Memphis +167 vs UNLVBud_Elliott_ML
North Carolina +295 vs TCUChip_Patterson_ML
NC State +165 vs VirginiaDanny_Kanell_ML
Memphis +167 vs UNLVTom_Fornelli_ML