College Football Week 1 Picks: Ohio State vs. Texas Headlines Betting Bonanza
Week 1 is a five-day college football feast, and Ohio State vs. Texas is the main course.
This potential national title preview kicks off a loaded Thursday-to-Monday slate as the Longhorns make a rare trip north of the Mason-Dixon to face the defending champs at the Horseshoe.
Last season, Ohio State took down Texas in the Cotton Bowl (CFB Playoff semifinal) before beating – and covering against – Notre Dame in the national title game. The Buckeyes were gutted by the NFL Draft, and most of this year’s stars aren’t seniors.
Arch Manning leads a Texas offense that’s locked and loaded for another high-voltage season. Oddsmakers have Ohio State as a 2.5-point favorite with a 48.5-point total at top sports betting apps.
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150
Other Week 1 Highlights:
- Notre Dame at Miami (Sunday night): The national championship runner-up heads to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Hurricanes.
- LSU at Clemson (Saturday night): A Death Valley showdown between the SEC’s Tigers and the reigning ACC champs.
- TCU at North Carolina (Labor Day night): Bill Belichick makes his college head coaching debut in Chapel Hill with an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Week 1 College Football Picks
Here are our Week 1 picks for the College Football Season to back on your favorite sports betting sites.
| Date | Matchup | Week 1 Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Thur. Aug. 28 |  Nebraska at  Cincinnati * | Cincinnati +6.5 (-110) DraftKings |
| Fri. Aug. 29 |  Georgia Tech at  Colorado | Georgia Tech -3.5 (-110) Hard Rock |
| Fri. Aug. 29 |  Auburn at  Baylor | Auburn -2 (-105) ESPN BET |
| Sat. Aug. 30 |  Texas at  Ohio State | Texas +2.5 (-105) DraftKings |
| Sat. Aug. 30 |  Alabama at  Florida State | Alabama -12.5 (-112) DraftKings |
| Sat. Aug. 30 |  LSU at  Clemson | Clemson -4.5 (-105) ESPN BET |
| Sat. Aug. 30 |  Hawai’i at  Arizona | Hawai’i +14.5 (-118) FanDuel |
| Sat. Aug. 30 |  Utah at  UCLA | UCLA +6.5 (-105) BetMGM |
| Sun. Aug. 31 |  Notre Dame at  Miami | Under 54.5 Points (-110) DraftKings |
| Mon. Sept. 1 |  TCU at  North Carolina | Under 54.5 Points (-110) DraftKings |
* - Game played Arrowhead Stadium
Week 1 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis
Thursday, August 28
Nebraska vs. Cincinnati, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: The Cornhuskers lack an impactful history in the Big Ten. This season, a bowl bid remains far more realistic than a Big 10 title game playoff berth. QB Dylan Raiola returns to lead NU, which should own the majority of the crowd support in that is a “neutral site” game in name only. The Bearcats need to make a statement and coach Scott Satterfield would love nothing more than to knock off a Big Ten foe. Brendan Sorsby can mix it up with multiple new wideouts and a solid running game that will prove the difference in this one. The Bearcats could well win this one outright.
Best Bet: Cincinnati +6.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Friday, August 29
Georgia Tech at Colorado, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: Gone are the days of the Buffaloes commanding the college football stage and Coach Prime landing on the cover of Time magazine. The Buffs find themselves in the middle of the Big 12 preseason pack. The Buffs have a potential QB controversy with one-time 8th-grade phenom Julian Lewis and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter eyeing the QB 1 spot. Sanders stacked his roster again this season, but his challenge remains in assembling the best team on the field. That may take some time. Brent Key’s Yellow Jackets tend to over perform in the spotlight – although they are untested in the thin air of Boulder. Atmosphere notwithstanding, Tech finds itself ahead of the curve vs. Colorado in the race to re-tool, if not rebuild.
Best Bet: Georgia Tech -4 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Auburn at Baylor, 8 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: A dozen teams found themselves in the running for the Big 12 championship with 2 weeks to play in the season in 2024. Expect a similar traffic jam atop the conference this season. Baylor joins all those teams who hope to follow the footsteps ASU planted last season. The Bears waste no time jumping into the caldron opening against SEC foe Auburn. This Auburn team had plenty of luck last season – all of it bad. Auburn brings a new QB Jackson Arnold and a bucket full of skill position talent to Texas. And they’ll hold their own on both sides of the ball. The Hugh Freeze hot seat is already warm. Desperate Tigers can be dangerous.
Best Bet: Auburn -2.5 (-105) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Texas at Ohio State, 12 p.m. (FOX)
Buzz: Dave Portnoy's first Big Noon Kickoff opens with a battle of 2 teams favored to win the national championship playing in rematch of the CFB semifinal. Texas visits the Horseshoe looking avenge its loss in the Cotton Bowl. This time Arch Manning leads the Longhorns’ offense from the opening snap. He’ll have to meet those lofty hopes to carry the Longhorns to the Natty. Thankfully, Texas’ defense should be able to pick up the slack when necessary. For Ryan Day and Ohio State, only a national championship could remedy their embarrassment suffered against Michigan last season. The Bucks lost 14 players to the NFL draft, including their QB and the core of their offensive and defensive lines. This is the way you want to start a rebuild. Sark & Arch win it outright.
Best Bet: Texas +2.5 (-105) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Alabama at Florida State, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: A year ago, Florida State came off a 13-0 season, a first-ever Power Five undefeated college football playoff snub - and promptly collapsed. The Noles finished 2-10, their worst season in 50 years. Mike Norvell fixed his QB situation by poaching former BC QB Tommy Castellanos from the portal. He’s already delivered smack talk toward the Tide. Under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer last season, Alabama lost to Vanderbilt and saw its offense dissolve down the stretch. No matter which QB DeBoer chooses – his defense should flourish in the SEC – and certainly against the Noles. That same defense could well pitch a shutout here - or at least keep FSU out of the end zone. Look for an Alabama cover in a 24-10 sort-of affair.
Best Bet: Alabama -12.5 (-112) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Best Bet: Under 50.5 Points (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam
LSU at Clemson, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: The Tigers from Death Valley visit the Tigers in Death Valley. The Clemson Tigers clawed their way to the ACC title last season and bring back gobs of talent. QB Cade Klubnik hungers for another shot at the playoff. Clemson reigns in the ACC until someone else usurps the crown. Brian Kelly’s lists of accomplishments at LSU include a Heisman Trophy winner and time in the top 10. But no SEC championship. And Kelly’s Tigers have been favored to win in their previous 3 openers but lost each one outright. This time they’re getting 4.5 points. It won’t be enough in Death Valley. As opposed to Death Valley.
Best Bet: Clemson -4.5 (-108) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Hawai’i at Arizona, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Buzz: Arizona finished with the worst record against the spread of any Power Five team last season at 2-10. The Wildcats have been elevated to “long shot” status in the Big 12 this season, thanks to Noah Fifita and the leveling of talent across the conference. Hawai’i opens at home in Week 0 against Stanford. Hawai’i’s travel east across several time zones and the arid, elevated climate of Tucson should help the home team, as well. Still, Hawai’i and the points is the play here.
Best Bet: Hawai’i +13.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Utah at UCLA, 11 p.m. (FOX)
Saturday, August 30
Buzz: Thanks to realignment, Utah at UCLA means the Big 12 vs. the Big Ten. Utah finds itself stuck in the middle of the pack. Kyle Whittingham’s team stumbled last season thanks to injuries, poor play, and QB struggles. Utah combines an overhauled offense with a reliable defense. Can that combination handle Tennessee transfer QB Nick Iamaleava and an overhauled Bruins’ squad? Iamaleava’s homecoming will be enough for UCLA to grab the backdoor cover against a still-figuring-it-out Utah team.
Best Bet: UCLA +6.5 (-105) at BetMGM via OddsJam
Sunday, August 31
Notre Dame at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Buzz: “Catholics vs. Convicts” this ain’t. Former Georgia QB Carson Beck upgraded his surroundings by swapping Athens for South Beach after Miami QB Cam Ward grabbed the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. The Canes brought in a new defensive coordinator and an overhauled defense. Notre Dame comes off a loss in the natty to Ohio State. Notre Dame also lost its QB and defensive coordinator – both to the NFL. Defense will carry the Irish this season. Another exciting game on a packed college schedule.
Best Bet: Under 54.5 Points (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam
Monday, September 1
TCU at North Carolina, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Buzz: Welcome to “Chapel Bill.” After a half-century in the NFL, Bill Belichick coaches his first college game as North Carolina entertains TCU. The Horned Frogs join 10 other teams that hold a possible – if not probable – shot at the Big 12 championship. TCU surged late last season and looks to ride that momentum. While Belichick was sharing headlines with his paramour, TCU QB Josh Hoover worked on adding to his impressive numbers from last seas (3,949 yards, 27 TDs.) Sadly for Belichick and Heels, neither Tom Brady nor Drake Maye will be walking through any doors on the UNC campus.
Best Bet: TCU -3 (-110) at Hard Rock via OddsJam
Promo Code: BOOKIES20X
Next Blackpool Manager Odds - Ian Evatt, Richie Wellens In Frame To Replace Steve Bruce 
Darts World Grand Prix 2025 Free Bets, Betting Offers & Tips For Day 4 
BetMGM Bonus Code BOOKIESBG150: Claim $150 Betting Bonus for Phillies vs Dodgers (Oct. 8) 
bet365 Bonus Code BOOKIES Scores $200 Betting Bonus for Phillies vs Dodgers (Oct. 8) 
Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code BOOKIES20X: Get 20 100% Profit Boosts for Phillies vs Dodgers (Oct. 8) 
Eagles vs. Giants Odds, Best Bets & Player Props For TNF NFL Week 6
Comments