Big 12 football is back in a big way.
Conference games span the entire Labor Day weekend as the main course — Week 1 — 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 Sports360AZ.com.
For more on our predictions — plus a complete breakdown of the Arizona-Hawaii matchup Saturday night — check out The Wildcast podcast. It’s available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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: Nebraska (-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: Cincinnati to win outright
FRIDAY, Aug. 29
Matchup: Georgia Tech (-4.5) at Colorado
Time/TV: 5 p.m., ESPN
Hamm's prediction: Georgia Tech to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: Georgia Tech to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: Colorado to win outright
Matchup: Auburn (-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: 5 p.m., FOX/11
Hamm's prediction: Baylor to win outright
Lev’s prediction: Baylor to win outright
Spears’ prediction: Auburn to win and cover
SATURDAY, Aug. 30
Matchup: South 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: Iowa State to win, South Dakota to cover
Spears’ prediction: Iowa State to win and cover
Matchup: NAU (+28.5) at No. 11 ASU
Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN+
Arizona State defensive back Xavion Alford (2) and teammates celebrate against UCF on Nov. 9, 2024, in Tempe.
Hamm's prediction: ASU to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: ASU to win, NAU to cover
Spears’ prediction: ASU to win and cover
Matchup: Hawaii (+17.5) at Arizona
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., TNT/HBO Max
Hamm's prediction: Arizona to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: Arizona to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: Arizona to win and cover
Matchup: Utah (-5.5) at UCLA
Time/TV: 8 p.m., FOX/11
Hamm's prediction: Utah to win, UCLA to cover
Lev’s prediction: Utah 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 Arizona on Nov. 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Spears’ prediction: Utah to win and cover
MONDAY, Sept. 1
Matchup: TCU (-3.5) at North Carolina
Time/TV: 5 p.m., ESPN
Hamm's prediction: TCU to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: TCU to win, North Carolina to cover
Spears’ prediction: TCU to win and cover
