It’s the opening week of the season, and college football picks for Week 0 are underway. Below, we have opinions on some of the early games featured on a limited slate for you to consider.
Let’s dive into the NCAAF odds and bust our bookmakers so we can fatten up our bankroll for the 2025 College Football campaign.
Take It Slow
Listen, it’s the opening week of the season, so don’t get carried away. Don’t manufacture opinions just so you can have a higher stake in a game in which little is known on either side of the field. College football picks Week 0 should be a friendly dip of the toe into the turbulent waters of sports betting. It’s a good litmus test to see how improved or deteriorated a team has become.
Remember, returning players at the skill positions are important and should be considered when placing our wagers; however, there are first-year starters and those who have seen little action beyond garbage time from the previous season. We cannot predict how they will fare, so tread cautiously in the opening week and use it as a springboard to rank your team for next week.
Iowa State vs. Kansas State (-3)
Saturday, August 23, 2025 – 12:00 PM EDT at Aviva Stadium
This is the first of five games today and will kick off in Dublin, Ireland. Remember, a casual bettor who doesn’t do their homework will see Kansas State listed as the team on the right and assume they are at home.
Au contraire. No, this game is being played overseas, and jet lag is a thing for all of us, but fortunately, the teams and the coaching staff have had plenty of time to adjust to the time change in the Emerald Isle.
These are Big 12 rivals and duked it out last season in Ames, Iowa, where the Cyclones handed the Wildcats a 29-21 loss and rolled to an 11-3 season, including a win over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Kansas State would shake off that loss to Iowa State and defeat Rutgers in the Rate Bowl, en route to a 9-4 campaign.
Let’s also understand that Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings with the Wildcats and has covered in all those matchups. We’re getting a field goal head start, so I say take the points and run!
Expert Pick: Iowa State +3 (-110) at BetMGM
Idaho State vs. UNLV (-25½)
Saturday, August 23, 2025 – 4:00 PM EDT at Allegiant StadiumÂ
These teams have little in common with each other. Idaho State plays for the lightly regarded Big Sky Conference, while UNLV toils in the Mountain West. The Bengals ended with a forgettable 5-7 record last year, while the Rebels rolled to an 11-3 record and copped a win in the LA Bowl over California. A decent season if you ask me.
Furthermore, these teams have not met often in the past, having played against each other just three times, once in 2006, 2015, and most recently in 2022. UNLV smoked Idaho State all three times, easily covering as double-digit favorites, including a 52-21 victory as 23-point home favorites three years ago.
I’m not sure what’s changed between now and then in terms of the quality of the programs. UNLV had a legitimately good season last year, while Idaho State struggled in a lackluster conference. I’m not a fan of laying double digits, especially in season openers, but I’ll make an exception here.
Expert Pick: UNLV -25½ (-110) at BetMGM
Fresno State vs. Kansas (-12½)
Saturday, August 23, 2025 – 6:30 PM EDT at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
The Jayhawks are more popular for what they do on the hardcourt than the gridiron, but football is king, and Kansas fields a team that it hopes will be competitive. And although they play in the Big 12, the Jayhawks are not a powerhouse, floundering to a 5–7 mark last season.
Fresno State is not exactly a national powerhouse either, stumbling to a 6-7 record last season, including a 28-20 OT loss to Northern Illinois in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Although this won’t be the most popular game on Saturday’s slate, I do believe the Bulldogs have enough bite in them to keep this one within the generous margins.
Let’s grab the points and bet on the underdog in this one.
Expert Pick: Fresno State +12½ (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Start a Sportsbook Account
It’s football season, and the lines on the college football picks Week 0 will be moving. We’ve outlined three solid games on the menu, but if those lines disappear, then don’t say I didn’t warn you. These are dynamic lines, and it would be a shame to get UNLV at -27 or -28 when you could have had them at -25½ today over at BetMGM.
So, get into the game and make sure you open an account at a nationally known sportsbook like Caesars or BetMGM. If you need a sportsbook you can trust, then look no further than these two. Make sure to have multiple outs because the more sportsbooks you shop at, the better your lines and odds will be.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
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