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UKWeek 0 College Football Picks
Our college football picks for Week 0 are your first chance to wager on the 2025 season. Ten teams, including two schools in the Top 25, will suit up on August 23rd for the first official games of the year.
Keep reading to see my NCAAF picks for the opening weekend of the year. I will break down the latest Week 0 odds and give my predictions for the most anticipated matchups.
Week 0 College Football Odds (Top 25)
See the table below for the latest Week 0 college football odds, courtesy of Bovada.
| Matchup | Favorite | Underdog | Point Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| #22 Iowa State vs. #17 Kansas State | #17 Kansas State (-160) | #22 Iowa State (-105) | #17 Kansas State -3.0 (-115) |
| Fresno State vs. Kansas | Kansas (-510) | Fresno State (+370) | Kansas -13.0 (-105) |
| Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky (-410) | Sam Houston State (+305) | Western Kentucky -10.0 (-110) |
| Stanford vs. Hawai’i | Hawai’i (-135) | Stanford (+115) | Hawai’i -2.5 (-115) |
Idaho State is also scheduled to take on UNLV in Week 0, but odds are currently not available for that matchup.
The matchup between #22 Iowa State and #17 Kansas State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, is the most anticipated game of Week 0. The Cyclones and the Wildcats are the only two ranked teams playing this week. Kansas State, the designated home team, is a -160 favorite in this game.
Hawai’i (-135) is also a small favorite this weekend or its matchup against Stanford (+115). Kansas (-510) and Western Kentucky (-410), on the other hand, are heavy favorites over Fresno State (+370) and Sam Houston State (+305), respectively.
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Best Week 0 College Football Picks
Week 0 only features five games, but there are still plenty of exciting college football picks to bet on this weekend.
Straight Up/ML picks
My college football predictions kick off with the Jayhawks, the biggest favorite of Week 0 at -510. Kansas will take on Fresno State to start the season.
Last year, Kansas opened the season with a dominant 48-3 win over Lindenwood. However, the Jayhawks could not keep the momentum and lost their next five games. Kansas finished with a 5-7 record.
Fresno State, on the other hand, went 6-7, including a double-overtime loss in the Idaho Potato Bowl. They had a better record, but four of the Bulldogs’ six wins last season came against conference opponents.
Kansas is not a dominant force, but the Big 12 is a better conference than the Mountain West. Like last season, I expect the Jayhawks to start their season with a dominant win over a team from a lesser conference.
Best ATS picks
Spread betting is another great way to wager on all the best Week 0 action. My top ATS pick for the first opening weekend of college football is for Hawai’i (-2.5) to cover against Stanford.
The Rainbow Warriors went 5-7 last season, including a losing record in the Mountain West Conference. On the other hand, this is a home game for Hawai’i. Last year, four of their five wins came at home
Stanford also struggled, winning just three games in 2024. Also, the Cardinals only won one road game last season. Their starting quarterback, Ashton Daniels, who led the team in passing and rushing last year, transferred to Auburn.
Hawai’i’s home field advantage will be the difference maker in this game. The Rainbow Warriors will win and cover against the lowly Cardinals this weekend.
Top CFB Upset Picks/twi
My top upset pick for Week 0 is for #22 Iowa State to take down #17 Kansas State in Ireland. This battle of Big 12 teams is the only matchup with ranked teams in Week 0.
Including their win in the Rate Bowl, the Wildcats earned a 9-4 record last season. However, all four of their losses came in conference play.
It is also worth noting that while the Wildcats are 17th in the AP rankings, they are only 20th in the Coaches Poll.
Iowa State, on the other hand, went 11-3 last season and is 21st in both the AP and Coaches’ polls. The Cyclones ended their season winning two out of three, including beating Kansas State and taking down Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The Cyclones lost their top receivers to the NFL Draft, but their top running backs are returning. Also, despite being the home team, the Wildcats will not have a home-field advantage for this game.
Top Week 0 College Football Prop Bets
College football props are another fantastic way to wager on the opening games of the season.
Iowa State averaged 31.1 PPG last season, and they scored 29 points in their win over the Wildcats last season. The Cyclones had to replace their best receivers this offseason. However, I still expect Iowa State to score over 23.5 points (-115) against Kansas State in Week 0.
Western Kentucky (-10.0) is a heavy favorite over Sam Houston. Rather than betting their moneyline, I recommend taking the Hilltoppers to win both halves at +190 odds. Western Kentucky has won back-to-back years against Sam Houston, winning both halves in each game.
Finally, I like the value of Kansas’s first score to be a field goal at -106. The Jayhawks face an easy opening opponent, and their first score of the season has been a touchdown each of the last four years.
Betting on College Football in Week 0
Week 0 is quickly approaching, and now is the best time to wager on your picks at top college football betting sites. See the guide above for my best bets for opening weekend, including my favorite wager: Hawai’i -2.5 (-115) against Stanford.
You can bet on all your Week 0 college football predictions at Bovada. The site offers up-to-the-minute odds on every highly anticipated game. It also has great betting tools, and new members can get up to $750 in extra funds with the crypto welcome promotion.
