College Football Odds Week 0: 8 Picks Revealed
College football odds Week 0 are attracting plenty of attention as the 2026 season prepares to get underway with a slate of intriguing matchups on Saturday, Aug. 29.
The opening weekend features eight FBS games, including a headline matchup between North Carolina and TCU in Dublin, Ireland. No. 14 USC is also in action against San Jose State, while Florida State hosts New Mexico State and Virginia welcomes NC State to Charlottesville.
According to the latest lines published by CBS Sports, USC is the biggest favorite on the board at 38.5 points. Florida State is next at -31.5, while several other games feature spreads of fewer than 10 points.
For bettors and college football fans, however, the most interesting opportunities may come from the closer matchups.
The odds discussed below are based on the lines available in the CBS Sports report on Aug. 25. Sportsbook lines can move before kickoff, so bettors should always check the current number before making a decision.
College Football Odds Week 0: Full Saturday Slate
The Week 0 FBS schedule features eight games. The current spreads and totals listed by CBS Sports are:
| Matchup | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina vs. TCU | TCU -7.5 | 47.5 |
| San Jose State at USC | USC -38.5 | 60.5 |
| NC State at Virginia | Virginia -5.5 | 53.5 |
| Jacksonville State at North Dakota State | NDSU -6.5 | 46.5 |
| Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan -9.5 | 52.5 |
| New Mexico State at Florida State | Florida State -31.5 | 53.5 |
| Hawaii at Stanford | Stanford -3.5 | 48.5 |
| Memphis at UNLV | UNLV -5.5 | 56.5 |
CBS Sports notes that the odds are subject to change.
The NCAA’s official Week Zero schedule also confirms the major Saturday matchups, including UNC-TCU, USC-San Jose State, NC State-Virginia, Hawaii-Stanford and Memphis-UNLV.
UNC vs. TCU Leads the College Football Odds Week 0 Board
The first major FBS game of the 2026 season sends North Carolina to Dublin to face TCU.
The matchup is scheduled for noon ET at Aviva Stadium and will be televised on ESPN. North Carolina’s official schedule confirms the international opener.
TCU enters the game as a 7.5-point favorite, with the total set at 47.5 points in the CBS Sports odds report.
The matchup has an additional storyline because North Carolina is beginning the season under head coach Bill Belichick. That makes the game one of the most closely watched contests of Week 0 even before the betting angle is considered.
For bettors, the relatively modest spread creates an interesting question: can TCU win by at least eight points, or can North Carolina keep the game within one score?
The answer may depend heavily on how quickly each team settles into the season.
Early-season games can be difficult to handicap because there is limited current-season information. New players, transfers and changes in offensive or defensive schemes can all make preseason assumptions less reliable.
That makes the 7.5-point number particularly important. A late move toward either side could significantly change the value of the wager.
Virginia vs. NC State Could Be One of Week 0’s Best Bets
One of the strongest model-backed selections highlighted by CBS Sports is Virginia -5.5 against NC State.
CBS Sports reports that SportsLine’s model projects Virginia to cover the spread in this matchup. The report points to Virginia’s strong against-the-spread performance in 2025 and NC State’s struggles as a road underdog.
The game has also undergone a significant change from its original plans.
Virginia and NC State were initially scheduled to play in Rio de Janeiro. The contest was later moved to Charlottesville, with the game remaining on Aug. 29 at Scott Stadium. Virginia officially confirmed the relocation and the 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
That change could matter.
Instead of traveling internationally for the opener, Virginia now gets to play in front of its home crowd. The Cavaliers’ official schedule lists the game for 3:30 p.m. ET at Scott Stadium.
The CBS Sports model also sees historical value on Virginia. The report says the Cavaliers covered nine times in 2025, while NC State went 0-4 against the spread as a road underdog.
Those statistics do not guarantee a result. Still, they provide context for why the model favors Virginia against the current number.
New Mexico State Gets a Massive Number Against Florida State
The largest potential underdog opportunity highlighted in the CBS Sports report comes from New Mexico State.
Florida State is listed as a 31.5-point favorite, but SportsLine’s model reportedly recommends New Mexico State +31.5.
A spread of more than four touchdowns creates a very different type of betting decision.
The question is not simply whether Florida State is the better team. The Seminoles could win comfortably and still fail to cover if New Mexico State stays within the number.
CBS Sports points to Florida State’s late-2025 struggles. The Seminoles went 2-7 over their final nine games of the season, according to the report. The article also notes questions surrounding quarterback Ashton Daniels, who transferred to Florida State after previous stops at Stanford and Auburn.
New Mexico State, meanwhile, reportedly covered in three consecutive games as an underdog and in five of its last seven games when receiving points.
The model’s simulations give the Aggies a strong chance of covering the enormous spread, according to CBS Sports.
For anyone examining the college football odds Week 0 market, this is one of the clearest examples of why spread betting differs from simply predicting the winner.
USC Is a Huge Favorite Against San Jose State
USC enters Week 0 as the only ranked team playing in the FBS Saturday slate, according to CBS Sports.
The Trojans are ranked No. 14 and are listed as 38.5-point favorites against San Jose State. The total is 60.5.
Such a large spread makes the matchup difficult to evaluate using the moneyline alone.
USC can be expected to have a significant talent advantage, but the betting question is whether the Trojans can win by at least 39 points.
Large spreads can become especially complicated if a favorite builds a substantial lead early. Coaches may rotate players, slow down offensively or take fewer risks once the outcome appears secure.
That is why bettors considering USC should pay close attention to the spread rather than simply assuming the favorite will cover.
North Dakota State Begins Its FBS Era
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State is another matchup that deserves attention.
North Dakota State is listed as a 6.5-point favorite over Jacksonville State, with the total at 46.5.
The matchup is historically significant because North Dakota State is moving into FBS competition after establishing itself as one of the dominant programs at the FCS level.
CBS Sports notes that the Bison have won 10 championships at the FCS level.
That experience creates an unusual betting situation.
North Dakota State has a long record of success, but FBS competition presents a different level of depth and week-to-week competition. Jacksonville State also has recent experience at the FBS level.
The 6.5-point spread therefore gives bettors an opportunity to weigh North Dakota State’s established program culture against Jacksonville State’s experience in the subdivision.
Hawaii vs. Stanford Has the Smallest Spread
Stanford is currently a 3.5-point favorite against Hawaii, making it the smallest spread among the eight FBS Week 0 games listed by CBS Sports.
The total is 48 points.
That relatively narrow number makes the game one of the more balanced contests on the board.
Close spreads can be particularly sensitive to late news. Injuries, quarterback announcements, weather and unexpected lineup changes can all have a larger effect when the market is already projecting a competitive game.
For that reason, bettors should avoid treating the opening number as a final prediction.
Memphis vs. UNLV Could Produce Plenty of Points
The Week 0 schedule closes with Memphis visiting UNLV in a late-night matchup.
UNLV is favored by 5.5 points, while the total is 56.
The total makes this one of the more attractive games for anyone expecting offensive production.
However, totals require a different approach from point spreads. A bettor taking the Over needs the combined score to exceed the posted number, regardless of which team wins.
The matchup could therefore become interesting if both offenses start quickly.
At the same time, first-week offensive timing can be unpredictable. New quarterbacks, receivers and offensive coordinators may need time to establish consistency.
Sacramento State vs. Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan is a 9.5-point favorite against Sacramento State, with the total at 52.5.
The nearly double-digit spread makes Eastern Michigan another favorite that needs to be evaluated carefully.
The key issue is whether the Eagles can create enough separation to win by 10 or more points.
This is also a matchup where the difference between predicting the winner and betting the spread becomes important. Eastern Michigan can win the game while Sacramento State still covers.
That distinction is central to understanding the college football odds Week 0 market.
What the Week 0 Model Says
CBS Sports reports that SportsLine’s computer model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and has been updated for the 2026 season to better account for the transfer portal. The report says the model is 31-19 on its top-rated college football moneyline picks since the 2024 season.
For Week 0, the model specifically highlights Virginia -5.5 and New Mexico State +31.5.
Those recommendations are based on statistical modeling rather than certainty. No model can eliminate the uncertainty involved in sports.
Still, simulations can provide bettors with another way to evaluate a matchup, especially when traditional preseason information is limited.
How to Read College Football Odds Week 0
Understanding the numbers is just as important as identifying a potential pick.
A point spread indicates the margin by which the favorite is expected to win. If Virginia is -5.5, Virginia must win by six or more points for a standard spread wager on the Cavaliers to cover.
The underdog receives the points. If a bettor takes NC State +5.5, the Wolfpack can lose by five or win outright and still cover.
The total works differently.
For example, the UNC-TCU total is 47.5. A wager on the Over requires 48 or more combined points. A wager on the Under requires 47 or fewer.
Because these numbers can change, timing also matters.
A bettor who sees a favorite at -5.5 may get a very different price later if the line moves to -7. Conversely, an underdog may become more attractive if the spread grows.
Week 0 Betting Outlook
The 2026 college football season is arriving with a compact but intriguing opening slate.
The biggest favorites are USC and Florida State. The most closely watched game is arguably UNC vs. TCU in Dublin. Meanwhile, Virginia vs. NC State offers one of the most interesting spread situations, while New Mexico State presents a massive underdog number against Florida State.
The official NCAA schedule confirms that the major Saturday FBS slate begins with North Carolina and TCU at noon ET and continues throughout the day before Memphis and UNLV close the schedule at night.
For bettors, the most important lesson is to separate a team’s chances of winning from its chances of covering.
A heavily favored team can win without covering. An underdog can lose while still producing a winning spread ticket.
That distinction will be crucial throughout Week 0.
As kickoff approaches, bettors should monitor injury news, starting lineups and line movement before making a final decision. The odds cited in this article were available when the CBS Sports report was published and may change before Aug. 29.
Ultimately, Week 0 is less about finding a guaranteed winner and more about identifying where the available number may differ from the expected performance.
For fans returning to college football, that alone makes the opening weekend worth watching.
Responsible betting reminder: Sports betting involves financial risk. Never wager more than you can afford to lose, and check the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction before betting.
