Big 12 football is back in a big way.
Conference games span the entire Labor Day weekend as the main courseÌý— Week 1Ìý— arrives across America.
Four Big 12 teams are in action Thursday. Three more take the field Friday. Conference football is on from morning till night on Saturday. And the final game of the weekend, on Monday night, features a Big 12 squad as TCU visits North Carolina for Bill Belichick's UNC debut.
Our staff prognosticators, Michael Lev and Justin Spears, are back to pick the top eight games of the week straight up and against the spread. Lev and Spears are joined this season by Jordan Hamm of .
For more on our predictionsÌý— plus a complete breakdown of the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-Hawaii matchup Saturday night — check out The Wildcast podcast. It’s available onÌý,ÌýÌýor wherever you get your podcasts.
People are also reading…
Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby looks for a receiver during the first half of an Oct. 12, 2024, game against UCF in Orlando, Fla.
THURSDAY, Aug. 28
Matchup:ÌýNebraska (-6.5) vs. Cincinnati (at Kansas City, Mo.)
Time/TV: 6 p.m., ESPN
Hamm's prediction: Cincinnati to win outright
Lev’s prediction: Nebraska to win and cover
Spears’ prediction:ÌýCincinnati to win outrightÌý
FRIDAY, Aug. 29
Matchup:ÌýGeorgia Tech (-4.5) at Colorado
Time/TV: 5 p.m., ESPN
Hamm's prediction: Georgia Tech to win and cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýGeorgia Tech to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: Colorado to win outright
Matchup:ÌýAuburn (-2.5) at Baylor
Iowa State's Carson Hansen (front) lands just short of the end zone in the fourth quarter against Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday Aug. 23, 2025.
Time/TV: 5Ìýp.m.,ÌýFOX/11
Hamm's prediction: Baylor to win outright
Lev’s prediction:ÌýBaylor to win outright
Spears’ prediction: Auburn to win and cover
SATURDAY, Aug. 30
Matchup:ÌýSouth Dakota (+14.5) at No. 22 Iowa State
Time/TV: 12:30 p.m., FOX/11
Hamm's prediction: Iowa State to win, South Dakota to cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýIowa State to win, South Dakota to cover
Spears’ prediction:ÌýIowa State to win and cover
Matchup:ÌýNAU (+28.5) at No. 11 ASU
Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN+
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State defensive back Xavion Alford (2) and teammates celebrate against UCF on Nov. 9, 2024, in Tempe.
Hamm'sÌý±è°ù±ð»å¾±³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô: ASU to win and cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýASU to win, NAU to cover
Spears’ prediction:ÌýASU to win and cover
Matchup:ÌýHawaii (+17.5) at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., TNT/HBO Max
Hamm's prediction: ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to win and cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to win and cover
Spears’ prediction:ÌýÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to win and cover
Matchup:ÌýUtah (-5.5) at UCLA
Time/TV: 8 p.m., FOX/11
Hamm's prediction:ÌýUtah to win, UCLA to cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýUtah to win and cover
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes, right, talks to quarterback Josh Hoover during the second half of the Horned Frogs' game against ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ on Nov. 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Spears’ prediction:ÌýUtah toÌýwin and cover
MONDAY, Sept. 1
Matchup:ÌýTCU (-3.5) at North Carolina
Time/TV: 5 p.m., ESPN
Hamm's prediction: TCU to win and cover
Lev’s prediction:ÌýTCU to win, North Carolina to cover
Spears’ prediction:ÌýTCU to win and cover
Ìý
Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social
Michael Lev
Sports Reporter/Columnist
Why I’m rooting for Brent Brennan to succeed — and UA fans should, too | Michael Lev
