NCAAF Week 0 Predictions: Odds, Preview & Best Bets

The time has arrived for the start of the 2026 college football season. For the first time since January when Indiana ran the table to win its first national championship, fans will get to make their own NCAAF picks in the Week 0 slate of games, which amounts to an appetizer before the first course of the season. The small tasting consists of eight games featuring FBS squads with USC the only preseason ranked team in action.

The Trojans opened as a huge 38.5-point NCAAF betting line favorite and is one of two teams in the NCAAF today that is favored by at least 30 points.

WHERE ARE YOU BETTING FROM?

Select your state and download the app.

Ohio Ohio New Jersey New Jersey Kentucky Kentucky

NCAAF Today: Weekly College Football Schedule

There are only eight games on the Week 0 slate, but several of the matchups are intriguing. First, two schools are making their debuts at the FBS level in search of the almighty NCAAF dollar, that can only be had at the highest level of college football. Sacramento State was denied inclusion in the Pac-12 and Mountain West, which would seem to be a natural fit. But this is college football in 2026 so stick the Hornets in the MAC where their nearest opponent is like 2,000 miles away. The gold standard in the FCS, North Dakota State makes the transition and will tangle Jacksonville State at home. All Week 0 NCAAF games will be played on Saturday, August 29

Biggest NCAAF Games Today

• We typically don’t see conference games in the early part of the season and especially in Week 0, but the ACC will have an early leader when defending regular season champion Virginia hosts NC State. The contest was originally going to be played in Brazil but logistical hurdles prevented that from happening.
• There is an international game that is on track to take place. NCAAF today begins with a matchup between North Carolina and TCU in Dublin, Ireland. The Heels open Year 2 of the Bill Belichick era with a lot less fanfare surrounding the program. The Frogs won last year’s meeting 48-14.
• The only nationally ranked team in the preseason polls is in action in Week 0. An expected contender for the Big Ten title, USC begins its quest for a first CFP berth against regional neighbor San Jose State. The Trojans are the biggest favorite on the NCAAF today board laying 38.5 points.

NCAAF Scores Today

• Over their last three meetings USC has beaten San Jose State by a combined score of 142-38 so there’s a good chance the NCAAF score in this matchup is once again lopsided. The Spartans did cover the 30.5-point NCAAF betting line in the most recent game, losing 56-28 in 2023.
• The outcome of last season’s opener set the tone for the remainder of the year for North Carolina and TCU. In his much-anticipated college coaching debut, Bill Belichick and the Heels were roasted, 48-14. UNC limped to a 4-8 record while the Frogs went 9-4 with a bowl win over USC.
• Another season-opening rematch has Hawai’i playing Stanford on the Farm. The Cardinal have been atrocious winning no more than four games in the past seven seasons and turned to former QB Tavita Pritchard to run the club. Led by Timmy Chang, one of the top slingers in NCAA history, the Rainbow Warriors will look to replicate their 23-20 win. You can also expect an aerial show in this NCAAF today matchup.

NCAAF Odds for This Week

The way programs change so drastically in college football these days it’s hard to get a grasp on teams until they actually play a game. One thing is for sure and that’s that the power programs will always have a massive edge over their counterparts in the Group of 6. That’s playing out in Week 0 with both USC (-38.5) and Florida State (-31.5) massive NCAAF betting line favorites in their home openers. Playing for the first time at the FBS level, NCAAF odds have Sacramento State catching 9.5-points against Eastern Michigan. Every other game on the slate has early NCAAF lines of 7-points or less.

How to Read NCAAF Betting Lines

• Reading NCAAF betting lines requires understanding of three main types of wagers; the point spread, moneyline and the total (over/under).
• The spread is designed to even the playing field between two unequal teams. The minus (-) sign indicates the favorite with the team needing to win by more than that number to win the bet. The underdog is shown with a plus (+) sign. They can with the game outright or lose by fewer points than the number to cash a winning ticket.
• The moneyline is a straight bet on the game winner. There is no point spread, but the payouts are adjusted based on who’s expected to win. The minus (-) number is the amount you must risk to profit $100. The plus (+) number is the amount of profit on a $100 wager.
• The total is a bet on the combined number of points scored regardless of who wins the game. If the teams score more than the set number the OVER wins. If fewer points are scored than the number the UNDER is a winner.

NCAAF Lines Movement to Watch

• Movement in the NCAAF betting lines is triggered by roster announcements, public perception, late schedule adjustments and betting volume.
• The NCAAF lines for the ACC matchup between NC State and Virginia shifted because the game was moved to Charlottesville instead of its original location in Brazil. This development gives the Cavs true home field advantage locking them in as a definitive favorite.
• Early money is backing TCU in its game with North Carolina pushing the NCAAF line from 6.5-points to 7.5-points crossing the key number 7. The Heels are not inspiring market confidence pushing more action toward the Frogs.
• The NCAAF odds total in the New Mexico State vs. FSU game has climbed to 53.5 points with bettors favoring a high-scoring game. Bettors are hesitant to back an FSU squad coming off several rough seasons on the point spread, but an offense looking to make a statement is worth the risk.

NCAAF Predictions for This Week

If all our NCAAF predictions were accurate there would be no sportsbooks on the planet. All bettors can do is make what they believe are the best wagers and hope for the best. Making an informed bet isn’t a crap shoot, it requires time and patience, but can be very rewarding in the long run. I think it’s safe to say USC will beat San Jose State rather comfortably, but giving 38.5 points on the NCAAF odds is extreme.

The teams played a few seasons ago with the Spartans staying within the 30.5-point spread and our NCAAF predictions for Week 0 have a similar outcome. The Trojans will more than likely sit starters in the second half after building a big lead allowing the Spartans to stay close and get a few scores to close the gap. Additionally, experts are backing TCU to cover the 7.5-point NCAAF odds point spread in their contest with UNC in Ireland.

NCAAF Game Predictions

• North Carolina recently announced Billy Edwards Jr. as its starting quarterback. The move didn’t inspire bettors, who continue to flock toward TCU. The veteran transfer started at Wisconsin last season before an early injury put him on the shelf. More continuity on the roster makes the Horned Frogs our pick, 27-14.

• Last year’s regular season ACC champion Virginia gets a home game in its opener against conference foe NC State in what was originally an international matchup. UVA has some new pieces on offense, but their defense that was among the best in the ACC last season is intact helping the Cavs to a 24-17 triumph.

• With nothing left to prove at the FCS level, North Dakota State made the leap and will host Jacksonville State in Week 0. JSU recently made the transition winning nine games in each of its first three years at the FBS level. However, the Bison have a monstrous home field advantage and should prevail in this rematch of the 2015 FCS National Championship.

Upset Watch for This Week

At home and playing a team debuting at the FBS level has Eastern Michigan as a 9.5-point favorite. Sac State was one of the more successful teams in the Big Sky the last few years and has the ability to exploit what was a porous EMU run defense last season. The Hornets can light up the scoreboard putting them as an upset watch in our NCAAF predictions.

NCAAF Picks and Best Bets

The NCAAF best bets for Week 0 are tilted heavily toward programs with continuity and situational advantages. College football experts have identified TCU as a top betting pick even though their NCAAF odds have continued to rise. With so many unknowns ahead of the games expect the NCAAF lines to continue to move. Sharp action is exploiting roster turnover and chemistry issues across the Week 0 matchups.

Best NCAAF Spread Picks

• Roster turnover and changes to the coaching staff haven’t spiked attention in the Tar Heels. There is pressure on Bill Belichick to win after going 4-8 last season, including a 48-14 loss at home to TCU. TCU’s overall roster stability makes them the preferred side to win and cover the NCAAF line.

• Blowing a chance at the Big Ten by beating San Jose State isn’t what USC wants. Lincoln Riley will give his cast of offensive stars enough snaps to build a big lead then he’ll call off the dogs. I don’t see the Trojans covering the 38.5 points with second- and third-stringers against an underrated and motivated SJSU group.

Best NCAAF Over/Under Picks

• UNLV is the preseason pick to win the Mountain West and compete for a Group of 6 CFP spot. They have a high-profile quarterback in Jackson Arnold to lead a stable and explosive offense. Memphis, meanwhile, enters with an entirely new roster after welcoming more than 20 transfers. Defense wasn’t a strength for either side last season making the OVER on the NCAAF odds total a good bet.

• While Virginia breaks in several new starters on offense, the rock of a defense that stymied ACC opponents a season ago returns nearly intact. It’ll be hard for NC State to crack the group, consistently keeping the scoring down and making this game a NCAAF pick to cash the UNDER.

NCAAF Best Bets This Week

• One NCAAF best bet is backing TCU at -7.5 on the college football betting line.
• Two programs making the move to the FBS have also been identified as NCAAF picks in Week 0. North Dakota State (-7) has been nearly unbeatable at home over the last decade and Sac State (+9) isn’t getting the recognition as it transitions. Both teams have been strong at the FCS level and can cover the spread in their contests.

NCAAF Futures Market Update

The NCAAF futures odds at the top of the national champion market have been close all summer. Ohio State and Notre Dame are the top two favorites with Oregon and Georgia close behind. Texas and defending national champion Indiana are also hanging out with shorter than 10/1 odds. Just outside the top six is Miami after making a run to the title game last season. The Canes are counting on the momentum of their playoff run to carryover to an ACC title and another shot at hoisting the trophy. Since the odds are so tight, you can expect them to fluctuate during the course of the season.

National Championship Futures

• Ohio State +550
• Notre Dame +600
• Oregon +700
• Georgia +800
• Texas +850
• Indiana +900
• Miami (FL) +1100

Heisman Trophy Futures

Notre Dame is situated high on the championship NCAAF futures because of CJ Carr, who looks to improve on a stellar freshman campaign where he completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns. Carr rose to the top of the Heisman Trophy futures and is one of seven QBs among the eight players that boast NCAAF odds of 15/1 or shorter to win the Heisman Trophy. The only non QB in that group is Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith.

• CJ Carr +700
• Arch Manning +850
• Darian Mensah +950
• Dante Moore +1100
• Julian Sayin +1300
• Jeremiah Smith +1500
• Josh Hoover +1500
• Trinidad Chambliss +1500

Final NCAAF Betting Thoughts

One player listed further down the Heisman Trophy odds list is USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. The only player on the list in action in Week 0, Maiava can make an impression against an overmatched San Jose State defense. During his time at UNLV, Maiava and the Rebels were upset by SJSU during the 2023 season.

In the national championship market Oregon and Notre Dame offer the best structural value on the board ahead of the season. Study your NCAAF picks and lock them in before teams start playing games and the lines become more erratic.