Predictions and betting guide, best bets Week 0 of the college football season could not have gone better for fans of the Virginia Cavaliers. A dominant 34-8 conference win over NC State showed the rest of the ACC that the Hoos are a force to be reckoned with for the second consecutive year.

While a single game cannot tell the story of an entire season, it can provide helpful insights. My top takeaway from the UVA-NC State game is that game experience matters, especially early in the season. As I documented last week, Virginia entered the season with the most career snaps played at the FBS and FCS level of any Power 4 conference program. UVA’s roster had 344 more career starts than NC State, and the disparity showed in many ways throughout the game.

With so many unknowns early in the season, I am going to rely heavily on game experience and returning production to guide my gambling choices. Whether it is maintaining composure through the noise of the road crowd, avoiding costly penalties and turnovers, or executing complex schemes, experienced players are more reliable as teams try to figure out their identities.

A word of caution for those of you who like to supplement your football watching experience with betting: don’t overextend yourself in Week 1. This is good advice regardless of the time of year, but it is especially important with so little data to go on. Just as you would not want to spoil a nice dinner by filling up on bread, there’s nothing worse than blowing your college football season budget before Labor Day.

As there are fewer marquee games between top ranked teams in Week 1, you will need to navigate some large point spreads. As Stuckey from Action Network points out, the 42 games taking place this weekend between FBS opponents have an average line of 19.2 points. However, even blowouts can be compelling when you have money on the line.

With Virginia resting comfortably atop the ACC standings, I have five college games for you to consider this weekend.

College Football Week 1 Picks

Oklahoma State -13 at Tulsa (-120): While Virginia is the most experienced team in terms of career snaps, Oklahoma State is second. The Cowboys have more career starts and games played than the Cavaliers, which should serve coach Eric Morris well as he navigates his first year in Stillwater. The Pokes have moved completely past the Mike Gundy era with a full roster and coach reset; Morris has 91 new players on the roster and 40 new staff members.

While that turnover might scare you away from picking OSU in Week 1, I am willing to take a chance because of the quality of the incoming players. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker is the most important piece that Morris brought with him from North Texas, the nation’s top ranked school in total offense and points per game in 2025. Mestemaker led the FBS in passing yards last season (4,379) and finished tied for second in passing touchdowns (34). However, Morris also managed to bring over his top running back, Caleb Hawkins, and leading receiver, Wyatt Young, from the Mean Green roster. Given that Oklahoma State finished last year 134th in the FBS in points per game (14.2), no program improved its offense more in the offseason.

Tulsa’s victory over Oklahoma State last season was the final nail in the coffin of the Gundy era and should provide extra motivation for the Cowboys to not take this game for granted. With the schools only about an hour apart, expect a lot of rejuvenated orange-clad visitors to fill up the stands of H.A. Chapman Stadium. Playing at home hasn’t been much of an advantage in this series anyway, as the visiting team has covered the spread in the last five meetings. I expect the Cowboys to extend their streak of winning season openers to 12 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.

Colorado +7 at Georgia Tech (-130): This is another game with a major difference in starting experience. Coach Prime once again dipped into the transfer portal and brought 43 new athletes to Boulder. On paper, it looks like a significant infusion of talent and experience into a roster that sorely needed it following a 3-9 season.

However, the most important player for the Buffaloes this season is a returner. Former 5-star quarterback Julian Lewis takes over as the full-time starter after showing flashes last season in four games. His biggest struggle in 2025 was taking sacks, but much of that was due to a porous offensive line which has been completely remade. The wide receiver group for Colorado should be at the upper level of the Big 12 with Danny Scudero, the nation’s leading receiver in yards last season, coming in from San Jose State.

I’m on the record as being bearish on Georgia Tech’s chances this year. Haynes King is the most important Yellow Jacket football player since Calvin Johnson, and it is asking a lot of Alberto Mendoza with 25 career pass attempts to fill his shoes. As UVA has demonstrated, maintaining coaching continuity is major plus. Brent Key had to replace both his offensive and defensive coordinators in the offseason. Key still has a great rushing tandem in Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley, and Mendoza has a lot of potential, but in this early season game, I am taking the side with 168 more collective starts.

South Dakota State +14 vs. Northwestern (-125): There are 48 games this weekend between FBS and FCS opponents. This matchup provides one of the best chances for an upset. South Dakota State, ranked second in the FCS standings, is riding high after dismantling Stetson 70-7 on Saturday. The Jackrabbits outgained the Hatters by 363 yards and averaged 11.2 yards per play.

Second-year head coach Dan Jackson managed to retain many of his most important skill players from a team that went 9-5 in 2025. Senior quarterback Chase Mason is healthy after a mid-season injury derailed a 2,000-yard, 15-touchdown campaign. Most of his offensive line remains intact, and he still has two of his top three receivers and leading tight end back from a season ago.

Despite putting together a winning season in 2025, David Braun still has a long way to go to turn Northwestern into a Big 10 contender. The Wildcats rank 50th in the Power 4 experience chart and must replace much of the offensive and defensive lines. One player with a lot of game experience is starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, who has struggled with inefficiency and turnovers throughout his career. Chiles has completed over 60% of his passes just once in his last six starts.

The Jackrabbits will not be cowed by playing a power conference school. South Dakota State has two victories over FBS programs (in 2015 and 2021) and has covered six of the last seven games against FBS competition. Northwestern may ultimately win the game, but I expect it to be close down the stretch.

Liberty +7 at James Madison (-125): Interested in Virginia sports but don’t want to watch James Franklin and the Hokies annihilate VMI? A much more interesting game will be played up the road from Charlottesville in the Battle of the Blue Ridge. Head coach Billy Napier hopes to revive his career at James Madison, a program that has served as a stepping stone for Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney the last three years.

While the Dukes seem to win regardless of who is in charge, Napier faces a difficult rebuild. According to Bill Connelly’s estimates, JMU ranks 136th in the FBS in returning production with only five starters from 2025 still on the roster. Napier has not named a starting quarterback, but most people expect the job to go to redshirt sophomore JC Evans. Despite being a dynamic runner, Evans has only completed 1 career pass across six games. His primary competition, Camden Coleman, was a much more accomplished passer during his time at Richmond but did not see the field last season.

Liberty simply has fewer question marks heading into the season. Both quarterbacks vying for starting reps - Deshawn Purdie from Wake Forest and Jaylen Henderson from West Virginia - have experience playing at the power conference level. Similarly, both passers will be improvements over Ethan Vasko, relegated to third on the depth chart after throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in 2025. The offensive line returns four starters, which should help limit negative plays and support the deepest running back class Jamey Chadwell has assembled in his four years at Lynchburg.

The Flames were among the unluckiest teams in the country last year, losing four straight one-score games (including three in overtime) to end the season. If that luck evens out, Liberty will be a favorite in Conference USA and have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff. Liberty has won five of its last eight road openers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull the upset this Saturday in Harrisonburg.

Miami (OH) at Pittsburgh Over 48.5 (-110): Both schools have reason for optimism to start the season. Pittsburgh is a darkhorse to contend in the ACC, with quarterback Mason Heintschel entering his first full season as the starter. Meanwhile, the RedHawks are the betting favorite to win the MAC following a 7-7 campaign that took them to the conference championship game and the Arizona Bowl.

The most intriguing matchup in this game will be the Panthers’ front seven against transfer running back Rodney Nelson. At Monmouth in 2025, Nelson had 294 carries for 1,805 yards and 19 total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Pat Narduzzi assembled one of the most formidable rushing defenses in the country, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry. Even if the defense takes a step back this year, Pittsburgh figures to have one of the best rushing defenses in the ACC. The Panthers’ secondary is not nearly as talented, and that’s where I think quarterback David McComb will find some traction.

Even if he struggles, Pittsburgh is likely to light up the scoreboard. Over the last four season openers, Narduzzi’s squad has averaged 49.75 points per game. If the RedHawks can find a couple scores, that likely will be enough to hit the over.

Other leans: Akron +25 at Wake Forest; Western Kentucky -1.5 at Nevada; Duke -7.5 vs. Tulane.

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Michael McGraw is a Virginia graduate and contributor to The Sabre. The opinions expressed in this article are not directly associated with The Sabre and are intended for recreational use only. Sports betting should be a fun activity, not a stressful one. Please do not bet more than you can afford to lose.