College Football Week 1 Predictions, Picks & Odds

Week 0 of the 2022 NCAA college football season was a hit, but now it’s time for the real fun to begin with Week 1. All of the biggest and top schools begin their new season this weekend, bringing several must-see games that fans will want to check out.

There’s a lot to take in this week and Betting News has you covered. We’ve gathered the latest odds from BetOnline Sportsbook for each of the biggest NCAAF Week 1 games, as well as predictions and picks for each of them.

NCAA College Football Week 1 Odds

Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Monday, Aug. 29.

Oregon vs. Georgia Odds

• No. 11 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Oregon Ducks +17.5 (-115), Georgia Bulldogs -17.5 (-105)
• Total: OVER 51.5 (-110), UNDER 51.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oregon Ducks +610, Georgia Bulldogs -950

One of the biggest games of the week pits the Oregon Ducks against the Georgia Bulldogs. After losing in last year’s Pac-12 Championship Game, the Ducks have brought in Dan Lanning as their new head coach. He spent the previous four years helping coach Georgia’s defense, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can beat his former squad.

Meanwhile, Georgia is fresh off a 2022 CFP National Championship run and is looking to start the campaign off right. The Bulldogs lost several players this season, but they should still be fine after a top-three recruitment showing this offseason. Plus, they still have several key returning players, such as quarterback Stetson Bennett.

While both schools are among the best in the nation, Georgia shouldn’t have too much of an issue here.

Prediction: Georgia 39, Oregon 22

Best Bet: Over 51.5 Points (-110)

Utah vs. Florida Odds

• No. 7 Utah Utes vs. Florida Gators
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 7 p.m. ET
• Spread: Utah Utes -2.5 (-110), Florida Gators +2.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 50.5 (-110), UNDER 50.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Utah Utes -138, Florida Gators +118

Utah begins its quest to win back-to-back Pac-12 titles when the Utes face Florida this week. QB Cameron Rising will help get them there after throwing for 2,493 yards and 20 touchdowns to five interceptions last season. It’ll also be interesting to see if Utah’s defense is as stout as it was last fall, giving up 23.0 points per game (No. 32).

On the other hand, Billy Napier hopes to start his Florida coaching career off on a high note. He won a pair of Sun Belt titles at Louisiana and is even a two-time conference coach of the year. Unfortunately, I think that Utah will be too much for him in the end, leading to a close defeat for the Gators.

Prediction: Utah 32, Florida 28

Best Bet: Utah -2.5 (-110)

Cincinnati vs. Arkansas Odds

• No. 23 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Cincinnati Bearcats +6.5 (-115), Arkansas Razorbacks -6.5 (-105)
• Total: OVER 51.5 (-112), UNDER 51.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Cincinnati Bearcats +190, Arkansas Razorbacks -235

Cincinnati looks to remain as one of the top AAC teams after losing key players — like cornerback Sauce Gardner and QB Desmond Ridder — in the offseason. The important thing is that the Bearcats brought back defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, who helped the school have a top-10 scoring defense in 2021.

KJ Jefferson is a terrific quarterback and should help the Razorbacks get off to a hot start. He’ll be paired with one of the best running systems in the nation, which should give the Bearcats some issues, especially with all of the talent they lost.

While Cincinnati is capable of pulling off an upset, I’m raiding with the Razorbacks to pick up the win in a close game.

Prediction: Arkansas 27, Cincinnati 24

Best Bet: Under 51.5 Points (-108)

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Odds

• No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +17.5 (-118), Ohio State Buckeyes -17.5 (-104)
• Total: OVER 58.5 (-110), UNDER 58.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +610, Ohio State Buckeyes -950

When it comes to this Week 1’s top college football matchups, this is one of the more lopsided affairs. Despite both schools being ranked in the top five, it’s Ohio State that’s favored at -950 odds on the moneyline — an implied probability of 90.5%.

Notre Dame should be solid this year, but it’s still an independent program compared to the goliath that is the Buckeyes. Ohio State is hungry after last year’s disappointing showing and is projected to have one of the best offences in the country. Although things might be close at the start, this meeting should end in a Buckeyes victory.

Prediction: Ohio State 38, Nore Dame 24

Best Bet: Over 58.5 Points (-110)

Florida State vs. LSU Odds

• Florida State Seminoles vs. LSU Tigers
• Date: Sunday, Sept. 4 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Florida State Seminoles +3.5 (-115), LSU Tigers -3.5 (-105)
• Total: OVER 51.5 (-110), UNDER 51.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Florida State Seminoles +124, LSU Tigers -162

Florida State opened up the 2022 NCAAF campaign with a huge 47-7 victory over Duquesne in Week 0. The Seminoles racked up an astonishing 406 yards on the ground, which could be trouble for an LSU team that gave up 149.8 rushing yards per game last fall (No. 56).

Meanwhile, the Tigers enter this new campaign after going 6-7 overall in 2021. Having said that, Brian Kelly’s team has the potential to shock some people this year, but it might not be this week. Florida State has already had a game to get back to form and it could take some time before things pick up for LSU.

Prediction: Florida State 28, LSU 23

Best Bet: Florida State ML (+124)

NCAA College Football Week 1 Predictions & Picks

Utah State vs. Alabama Odds

• Utah State Aggies vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Utah State Aggies +41.5 (-120), Alabama Crimson Tide -41.5 (+100)
• Total: OVER 62.5 (-105), UNDER 62.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Utah State Aggies N/A, Alabama Crimson Tide -50000

Utah State may have opened things up with a Week 0 victory, but the Aggies aren’t on the Crimson Tide’s level. Expect Alabama to win big, however, finishing with the under seems more likely.

Prediction: Alabama 49, Utah State 10

Best Bet: Under 62.5 Points (-115)

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech Odds

• No. 4 Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
• Date: Monday, Sept. 5 @ 8 p.m. ET
• Spread: Clemson Tigers -21.5 (-105), Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +21.5 (-115)
• Total: OVER 48.5 (-110), UNDER 48.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clemson Tigers -1700, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +890

Clemson hasn’t had many issues with Georgia Tech recently, winning each of the last seven meetings between the two ACC rivals. Considering that the Tigers have held the Yellow Jackets to just 13.0 PPG over that stretch, back Clemson again.

Prediction: Clemson 32, Georgia Tech 12

Best Bet: Under 48.5 Points (-110)

Colorado State vs. Michigan Odds

• Colorado State Rams vs. No. 8 Michigan Wolverines
• Date: Monday, Sept. 5 @ 8 p.m. ET
• Spread: Colorado State Rams +27.5 (-110), Michigan Wolverines -27.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 58.5 (-110), UNDER 58.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Colorado State Rams +1300, Michigan Wolverines -3000

This is another Week 1 NCAA college football matchup that you don't want to overthink. Michigan is on another level compared to Colorado State, but 27.5 points is a bit too high of a spread for my liking.

Prediction: Michigan 36, Colorado State 18

Best Bet: Colorado State +27.5 (-110)

UTEP vs. Oklahoma Odds

• UTEP Miners vs. No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: UTEP Miners +31.5 (-120), Oklahoma Sooners -31.5 (+100)
• Total: OVER 56.5 (-110), UNDER 56.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: UTEP Miners +4800, Oklahoma Sooners -7000

Even with a new coaching staff, Oklahoma shouldn’t have much of an issue dealing with UTEP. If the Miners had a tough time with North Texas last week, they’re in for a rude awakening as far as the Sooners are concerned.

Prediction: Oklahoma 42, UTEP 9

Best Bet: Oklahoma -31.5 (+100)

Houston vs. UTSA Odds

• No. 24 Houston Cougars vs. UTSA Roadrunners
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Houston Cougars -4.5 (-110), UTSA Roadrunners +4.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 61.5 (-115), UNDER 61.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Houston Cougars -190, UTSA Roadrunners +160

This matchup has the potential to be a competitive, back-and-forth kind of game. Although UTSA could pull off the upset at home, I’m sticking with a well-rounded Houston group to pick up the road victory.

Prediction: Houston 28, UTSA 21

Best Bet: Houston -4.5 (-110)