College Football Week 0 Predictions, Picks & Odds

After months of waiting, the 2022 NCAA college football season is finally here. Although the majority of the nation doesn’t play any games for another week, several schools are ready to kick things off on Saturday, Aug. 27 with Week 0.

There are 11 games slated for Week 0, including a wide variety of schools and talent levels. Fortunately, we’ve gathered the betting odds and made some predictions so you have everything you know heading into the first NCAAF games of the 2022 campaign.

NCAA College Football Week 0 Odds — Saturday, Aug. 27

Austin Peay vs. WKU Betting Odds

• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• Spread: Austin Peay Governors N/A (N/A), Western Kentucky Hilltoppers N/A (N/A)
• Total: OVER N/A (N/A), UNDER N/A (N/A)
• Moneyline: Austin Peay Governors N/A, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers N/A

Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook and will be updated when available.

Austin Peay and Western Kentucky kick off Week 0 with a matchup at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. It’s a game that shouldn’t be that tough for the Hilltoppers to win, especially with the Governors being an ASUN Conference school.

Since the odds aren’t available yet, I’m going with a WKU outright victory for now. Once the odds are available, this section will be updated to reflect what the best bet actually is.

Prediction: WKU 31, Austin Peay 22

Best Bet: TBD

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Betting Odds

• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Nebraska Cornhuskers -12.5 (-110), Northwestern Wildcats +12.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 50.5 (-110), UNDER 50.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nebraska Cornhuskers -530, Northwestern Wildcats +490

In one of the bigger matches of Week 0, Nebraska and Northwestern go head-to-head at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The Cornhuskers are the heavy favorites here and it isn’t tough to see why. While Nebraska only won three games last season, one of those victories was a massive 56-7 victory over the Wildcats to start October.

Given that Nebraska is also 7-4 straight up in its last 11 meetings with Northwestern, I like the odds of the Cornhuskers winning here.

Prediction: Nebraska 41, Northwestern 11

Best Bet: Nebraska -12.5 (-110)

Idaho State vs. UNLV Betting Odds

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Idaho State Bengals N/A (N/A), UNLV Rebels N/A (N/A)
• Total: OVER N/A (N/A), UNDER N/A (N/A)
• Moneyline: Idaho State Bengals N/A, UNLV Rebels N/A

Just like the Week 0 opener, there aren’t any available odds for Idaho State vs. UNLV. just yet. Having said that, the Rebels are the clear-cut better team here. UNLV isn’t the best team, but it should be a tougher opponent than what Idaho State is used to facing.

These two schools have only met once, all the way back in 2015, resulting in a massive 80-8 victory for UNLV. While I can’t say it’ll be that big of a blowout again, I fully expect the Rebels to walk away with the victory.

Prediction: UNLV 45, Idaho State 13

Best Bet: TBD

UConn vs. Utah State Betting Odds

• Time: 4 p.m. ET
• Spread: UConn Huskies +27.5 (-110), Utah State Aggies -27.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 59.5 (-110), UNDER 59.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: UConn Huskies +1800, Utah State Aggies -3500

Week 0’s UConn vs. Utah State matchup is, by far, the most lopsided tilt of the week. The Aggies are the defending Mountain West champions while the Huskies are one of the worst schools in the nation this year. Even with Jim Mora behind the bench, there really isn’t much to like about the Huskies here.

Utah State’s -3500 moneyline odds translate to an implied probability of 97.2%, adding to how heavily favored the Aggies are. Since there isn’t much value in an outright victory Utah State victory, I’ll take the total hitting over 59.5 points.

Prediction: Utah State 49, UConn 14

Best Bet: Over 59.5 Points (-110)

Wyoming vs. Illinois Betting Odds

• Time: 4 p.m. ET
• Spread: Wyoming Cowboys +9.5 (-110), Illinois Fighting Illini -9.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 43.5 (-120), UNDER 43.5 (+100)
• Moneyline: Wyoming Cowboys +350, Illinois Fighting Illini -450

This matchup marks the first-ever time that Wyoming and Illinois will collide. The Cowboys’ 2021 NCAAF season was marred by inconsistencies, however, they ended things with a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Kent State. Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini were one of the worst teams in the Big Ten’s West Division and look to bounce back.

Having said that, Illinois being a Big Ten school makes it tougher than what Wyoming is used to taking on. While this game could wind up being close, I’m expecting the Fighting Illini to cover the spread here.

Prediction: Illinois 34, Wyoming 22

Best Bet: Illinois -9.5 (-110)

Duquesne vs. FSU Betting Odds

• Time: 5 p.m. ET
• Spread: Duquesne Dukes N/A (N/A), Florida State Seminoles N/A (N/A)
• Total: OVER N/A (N/A), UNDER N/A (+100)
• Moneyline: Duquesne Dukes N/A, Florida State Seminoles N/A

Another Week 0 matchup without odds for now, this should be another lopsided affair. There’s no doubt that Florida State is the better school here, especially after the Seminoles wound up winning five of their last eight games to close out the 2021 NCAAF season.

At the end of the day, Duquesne just doesn’t have the talent to keep up with an ACC school and that’ll be evident on the scoreboard by the end of the game.

Prediction: FSU 45, Duquesne 10

Best Bet: TBD

Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic Betting Odds

• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Spread: Charlotte 49ers +7.5 (-110), Florida Atlantic Owls -7.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 57.5 (-110), UNDER 57.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Charlotte 49ers +240, Florida Atlantic Owls -290

Fans will be treated to an all-C-USA matchup between Charlotte and Florida Atlantic in Week 0. The Owls have dominated the 49ers in their all-time head-to-head series, winning five of seven matchups — including each of the last three.

Four of Florida Atlanta’s all-time victories over Charlotte have been by at least double-digits and I could see that trend continuing this week. Expect a decisive Owls victory here.

Prediction: Florida Atlantic 35, Charlotte 18

Best Bet: Florida Atlantic -7.5 (-110)

Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Betting Odds

• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Spread: Florida A&M Rattlers N/A (N/A), North Carolina Tar Heels N/A (N/A)
• Total: OVER N/A (N/A), UNDER N/A (N/A)
• Moneyline: Florida A&M Rattlers N/A, North Carolina Tar Heels N/A

Although the odds aren’t available yet, it isn’t hard to see North Carolina as the heavy favorite ahead of its matchup with Florida A&M. Having said that, the Tar Heels must play better than they did last year, especially after the departure of quarterback Sam Howell.

Having said that, Florida A&M could make it interesting if UNC doesn’t hit the ground running. For now, I’m comfortable with backing a Tar Heels win.

Prediction: North Carolina 38, Florida A&M 25

Best Bet: TBD

North Texas vs. UTEP Betting Odds

• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Spread: North Texas Mean Green -1.5 (-105), UTEP Miners +1.5 (-115)
• Total: OVER 54.5 (-115), UNDER 54.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: North Texas Mean Green -120, UTEP Miners +100

The closest Week 0 matchup is shaping up to be the one between North Texas and UTEP. The Mean Green have had the Miners’ number for quite some time now, winning 12 of the last 15 matchups between the two rival schools.

Keeping that in mind, three of North Texas’ last four wins over UTEP have been decided by only three or fewer points. I still expect the Mean Green to cover the spread, but it should be a close contest throughout its duration.

Prediction: North Texas 33, UTEP 29

Best Bet: North Texas -1.5 (-105)

Nevada vs. New Mexico State Betting Odds

• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• Spread: Nevada Wolf Pack -8.5 (-110), New Mexico State Aggies +8.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 50.5 (-110), UNDER 50.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nevada Wolf Pack -360, New Mexico State Aggies +290

Nevada has given New Mexico State issues ever since their first meeting way back in 1992. The Wolf Pack have gone 14-2 against the Aggies since then and have won each of their last four meetings.

Last year, New Mexico lost to Nevada, 55-27, and I’d expect a similar result in Week 0. The Wolf Pack have defeated the Aggies by an average win margin of 32.5 in their last four meetings, which doesn’t bode well for New Mexico’s odds at home.

Prediction: Nevada 47, New Mexico State 19

Best Bet: Nevada -8.5 (-110)

Vanderbilt vs. Hawaii Betting Odds

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Spread: Vanderbilt Commodores -6.5 (-110), Hawaii Rainbow Warriors +6.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 54.5 (-120), UNDER 50.5 (+100)
• Moneyline: Vanderbilt Commodores -250, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors +200

Hawaii entered a major rebuild this offseason after losing a lot of talent to the transfer portal, setting the school up to be a major underdog in Week 0 against Vanderbilt. While the Commodores are far from the shining jewel of the SEC, they’re still good enough to decisively beat the Rainbow Warriors.

I think that Hawaii will have issues right away due to its rebuild and Vanderbilt will take advantage early on, putting the came out of reach and eventually covering the spread in the process.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 42, Hawaii 13

Best Bet: Vanderbilt -6.5 (-110)

Other NCAAF Stories Ahead of Week 0 on Betting News

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• 2022 Heisman Trophy Odds: Stroud and Young Lead the Pack