College Football Odds Week 0: 5 Best Picks for 2026
The College Football Odds Week 0 slate is finally here, and the 2026 season will begin with eight FBS games spread across two continents. The action starts in Dublin, Ireland, before moving across the United States and ending late Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The opening weekend features several intriguing betting opportunities. North Carolina and TCU will launch the season overseas, while No. 14 USC enters as the biggest favorite on the board against San Jose State. Florida State is also heavily favored against New Mexico State, while closer matchups include NC State at Virginia, Hawaii at Stanford and Memphis at UNLV.
CBS Sports’ SportsLine model has analyzed every FBS matchup using 10,000 simulations per game. The model’s featured Week 0 selections include Virginia to cover against NC State and New Mexico State to cover the massive spread against Florida State.
As always, betting lines can move before kickoff. The numbers below reflect the latest lines reported by CBS Sports and should be checked again before making any wager.
College Football Odds Week 0: Full Saturday Slate
The opening schedule includes eight FBS games on Saturday, Aug. 29. TCU is currently a 7.5-point favorite over North Carolina, while Virginia is favored by 5.5 points against NC State.
Here are the reported lines:
- North Carolina vs. TCU: TCU -7.5, total 47.5
- San Jose State at USC: USC -38.5, total 60.5
- NC State at Virginia: Virginia -5.5, total 53.5
- Jacksonville State at North Dakota State: North Dakota State -6.5, total 46.5
- Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan: Eastern Michigan -9.5, total 52.5
- New Mexico State at Florida State: Florida State -31.5, total 53.5
- Hawaii at Stanford: Stanford -3.5, total 48.5
- Memphis at UNLV: UNLV -5.5, total 56.5
These lines are subject to change as sportsbooks adjust their markets leading into kickoff.
UNC vs. TCU: Bill Belichick Begins the Season
The most prominent game on the College Football Odds Week 0 schedule takes place in Dublin.
North Carolina will face TCU with the Horned Frogs installed as 7.5-point favorites. The matchup carries additional attention because of North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, who enters another season under an unusually bright spotlight.
TCU’s status as a touchdown-plus favorite suggests oddsmakers expect the Horned Frogs to control the game. The total is set at 47.5 points, indicating expectations for a relatively moderate-scoring contest.
However, the overseas setting adds another variable.
Both programs must adjust to an unusual travel schedule and a different game-day environment. For bettors, that makes the opening matchup more difficult to evaluate than a standard home opener.
The model has analyzed this matchup alongside the rest of the Week 0 slate, but CBS Sports directs readers to SportsLine for the complete game-by-game selections.
The UNC-TCU game will kick off the 2026 college football season.
Virginia vs. NC State: Model Likes the Cavaliers
One of the strongest featured plays from the SportsLine model is Virginia -5.5 against NC State.
CBS Sports reports that Virginia recorded nine ATS wins last season, the second-most in the ACC behind national runner-up Miami. The Cavaliers also have a strong trend entering this matchup, going 6-1 ATS across their last seven season openers against unranked opponents.
NC State has a less encouraging recent profile as an underdog on the road.
The Wolfpack went 0-4 ATS as road underdogs during the 2025 season. CBS Sports also notes that NC State is riding an 0-4 ATS streak in season openers.
Those trends help explain why the model prefers Virginia.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in Rio de Janeiro but was relocated to Virginia. That change could also benefit the Cavaliers, who will have the advantage of playing in a more familiar environment.
For bettors looking for a relatively modest spread rather than a massive favorite, Virginia is one of the most interesting options on the Week 0 board.
New Mexico State vs. Florida State: Massive Spread Creates Value
Florida State is one of the biggest favorites of the opening weekend.
The Seminoles are listed at -31.5 against New Mexico State, creating one of the most difficult spread decisions on the board.
On the surface, the matchup looks heavily tilted toward Florida State.
However, SportsLine’s model is backing New Mexico State +31.5.
CBS Sports reports that the Aggies have covered in three consecutive games as underdogs and are 5-2 ATS across their last seven games when their opponent is favored. The model projects New Mexico State to cover in nearly 70% of its simulations.
Florida State also enters the season after a difficult finish to 2025.
The Seminoles went 2-7 over their final nine games last season, including against the spread. The program is hoping an offseason reset can change its trajectory.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels is another major storyline.
Daniels transferred to Florida State after previous stops at Stanford and Auburn. CBS Sports notes that he owns a 5-18 record as a starter and has posted a 116.5 passer efficiency rating since 2023, placing him near the bottom of the FBS over that period.
That does not necessarily mean Florida State will struggle to win.
Instead, the question for bettors is whether the Seminoles can win by more than four touchdowns.
The SportsLine model believes New Mexico State has enough value to stay within the number.
Memphis vs. UNLV Could Produce the Highest Score
The late-night matchup between Memphis and UNLV may be one of the most entertaining games for bettors.
UNLV is currently favored by 5.5 points, with the total listed at 56.5 in CBS Sports’ Week 0 odds.
A separate SportsLine score prediction article provides an even stronger case for points.
The model projects UNLV to defeat Memphis 35-31, producing 66 combined points. It also identifies the Over as its top play, with the total clearing in 62% of simulations.
Memphis has undergone a coaching change, with Charles Huff taking over and bringing 16 transfers from Southern Miss. Despite the personnel changes, the Tigers return more than 90% of their offensive line snaps from last season.
UNLV also enters the season with significant quarterback intrigue.
Dan Mullen’s team added two notable transfer quarterbacks in Jackson Arnold and Alex Orji. The Rebels also return 1,000-yard rusher Jai’Den Thomas.
That combination could create an explosive offensive matchup.
For bettors who prefer totals instead of point spreads, Memphis-UNLV is arguably the most attractive game on the Week 0 schedule.
USC vs. San Jose State: The Biggest Favorite
No. 14 USC is the only ranked team playing during Week 0.
The Trojans are listed as 38.5-point favorites against San Jose State, making them the biggest favorite on the entire slate. The total is 60.5 points.
A spread approaching 40 points creates an unusual betting question.
The issue is not whether USC is likely to win. The Trojans are expected to have a significant talent advantage.
Instead, bettors must determine whether USC can maintain enough intensity to win by six touchdowns.
That makes the matchup less straightforward than the ranking gap might suggest.
For the favorite to cover, USC would need to win by at least 39 points. A slow start, extensive substitutions or a late-game scoring drive by San Jose State could dramatically affect the final margin.
Consequently, the game may be more attractive to bettors interested in the total than those looking to lay nearly 40 points.
North Dakota State Begins Its FBS Era
Another fascinating Week 0 matchup features Jacksonville State visiting North Dakota State.
The Bison are 6.5-point favorites.
North Dakota State brings an enormous championship pedigree into the matchup. CBS Sports notes that the Bison have won 10 championships at the FCS level and are making their FBS debut.
That transition makes this game particularly difficult to price.
North Dakota State has been one of the most successful programs in college football outside the FBS. Moving into the higher subdivision, however, means facing different roster and scheduling challenges.
Jacksonville State will therefore have an opportunity to spoil a historic occasion.
The Bison are still favored by more than a touchdown once the spread moves past six points, but this is one of the games where familiarity and program culture could be especially important.
Hawaii vs. Stanford Provides Another Tight Line
Stanford is a 3.5-point favorite against Hawaii, making this the narrowest spread among the Week 0 favorites.
The total is listed around 48 points in CBS Sports’ reported lines.
Unlike USC-San Jose State or Florida State-New Mexico State, this matchup should remain competitive deep into the game.
That makes the spread more interesting.
A field goal or less can turn on one possession, a turnover or a special-teams play. Bettors should therefore be cautious about putting too much weight on preseason expectations.
The game also represents an important opportunity for both teams.
A strong opening-week performance can provide momentum heading into the rest of the season.
Sacramento State vs. Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan is favored by 9.5 points against Sacramento State, with the total listed at 52.5.
The spread places Eastern Michigan among the more substantial favorites on the Week 0 board.
Yet a nearly double-digit line also creates a meaningful decision for bettors.
If Sacramento State can remain competitive early, the underdog could become an attractive live-betting option. Conversely, if Eastern Michigan establishes control immediately, the Eagles could threaten to cover the full number.
As with many opening-week games, uncertainty surrounding rotations and new personnel can make preseason betting especially volatile.
Best College Football Picks for Week 0
Based on the CBS Sports analysis and SportsLine model selections, several games stand out.
1. Virginia -5.5
Virginia is one of the clearest model-backed plays.
The Cavaliers’ ATS performance last season and NC State’s poor record as a road underdog provide statistical support for the pick.
2. New Mexico State +31.5
The enormous spread makes the Aggies an intriguing underdog.
SportsLine’s model has New Mexico State covering in nearly 70% of its simulations.
3. Memphis +5.5
The score model predicts UNLV to win, but it still favors Memphis against the spread.
The projected 35-31 result leaves the Tigers comfortably inside the number.
4. Memphis-UNLV Over
The 56.5-point total is another model-backed opportunity.
SportsLine’s simulation has the Over hitting in 62% of its projections, with a predicted total of 66 points.
5. Watch TCU-UNC
The opening game of the season is also one of the most difficult to evaluate.
TCU is favored by 7.5 points, but the unusual Dublin setting and the importance of the game make it one of the most compelling matchups to watch before deciding whether to bet the spread.
How to Approach College Football Odds Week 0
The first week of the college football season can be especially difficult for bettors.
Teams have not played meaningful games in months. Rosters have changed through the transfer portal, coaches have changed jobs and many programs have unresolved quarterback competitions.
Consequently, historical trends should be treated as supporting information rather than guarantees.
The same applies to computer models.
A model can identify statistical advantages, but no prediction system can eliminate the uncertainty of a college football game.
That is especially true in Week 0.
The best approach is to compare the available numbers, understand why a model favors a particular team and check for significant line movement before kickoff.
Week 0 Opens a New College Football Season
The College Football Odds Week 0 slate provides an unusually diverse opening weekend.
There is an international game in Dublin, a historic FBS transition for North Dakota State, major favorites such as USC and Florida State, and several close contests where a single possession could determine the outcome.
For bettors, Virginia and New Mexico State are the two most notable CBS Sports model selections. Memphis-UNLV also stands out because of the model’s strong preference for the Over.
Still, the most important reminder is that these are projections, not guarantees.
Lines can move.
Injuries can change the outlook.
And the first Saturday of a new season routinely produces surprises.
The 2026 college football season officially begins Saturday, Aug. 29, and the opening slate should provide an immediate test for both teams and bettors.
With eight FBS games spanning roughly 13 hours and two continents, Week 0 offers plenty of opportunities to watch how preseason expectations translate onto the field.
For anyone following the betting market, the biggest question is no longer when college football returns.
It is which preseason assumptions survive the opening weekend.
Source: CBS Sports and SportsLine analysis of the 2026 Week 0 college football schedule, odds and predictions.
