Most Bet College Football Teams Week 0 & Where Sharp Money Is Actually Going

• Which college football teams are the public betting in Week 0?
• CFB public betting splits show Kansas and Western Kentucky getting hammered by the public
• Sharp money is fading the public in multiple Week 0 games on Saturday (Aug. 23)

College football returns Saturday with five Week 0 games, and the betting public has already picked their sides. ESPN BET has supplied us with data showing where the money is flowing, and the sharp vs. public splits are telling different stories.

Kansas and Western Kentucky are getting pounded by public bettors, while sharp money has taken contrarian positions in multiple games. The biggest discrepancies between tickets and handle reveal where the smart money is hiding.

Let’s analyze the Week 0 college football public betting splits and determine the sharpest CFB bets this weekend.

Most Bet College Football Teams (Week 0)

Data provided by ESPN BET on Aug. 20, 2025. Check out the top college football betting apps for Week 0.

Kansas Getting Public Love, Sharp Fade

Kansas is the most public play of Week 0, with 76.7% of bets and a massive 86.7% of handle backing the Jayhawks at -13. When tickets and handle align this strongly, it usually means both squares and big bettors agree.

The line opened at -12.5 and moved to -13 despite some resistance. But here’s the interesting part: early in the week, the line actually dropped from -14 to -12.5 before bouncing back. That initial drop suggests sharp money hit Fresno State early, even if public money eventually won out.

The Jayhawks are debuting their renovated stadium after not playing a true home game since November 2023. They’re also breaking in mostly new skill position players around quarterback Jalon Daniels. Public bettors love the narrative, but sharps see value in the points with Fresno State.

Sharp Money Slams Hawaii

The sharpest play of Week 0 might be Hawaii -2.5. While only 46.1% of bets are on the Rainbow Warriors, they’re getting a whopping 79.6% of the handle. That’s a classic sharp vs. public split.

The line tells the whole story. Stanford opened as 2.5-point favorites, but the line completely flipped to Hawaii -2.5. That’s a 5-point swing driven primarily by sharp action. The public sees Stanford’s Power Five pedigree and takes the points, but big money knows better.

Stanford enters with interim coach Frank Reich after firing Troy Taylor in March. They’re dealing with massive roster turnover and a 5-hour flight to Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors return 14 starters and have been preparing for this game all summer.

Western Kentucky Splits Signals Caution

Western Kentucky shows the biggest red flag of Week 0. The Hilltoppers are getting 62.9% of bets but only 48.6% of handle on the spread. When handle percentage is lower than bet percentage, it usually means sharp money is on the other side.

The moneyline tells an even more extreme story: 80.3% of bets are on WKU, but only 36.3% of handle. Sharp bettors are either backing Sam Houston or staying away entirely. The line moved from -10.5 to -10, confirming the sharp position.

Sam Houston returns eight offensive starters from a 10-3 team. Western Kentucky added over 40 transfers and features 16 of 22 starters making their team debuts. Continuity matters in Week 0, and sharps are betting on it.

CFB Totals Reveal Sharp Positions

The totals market shows even more dramatic sharp vs. public splits. The Sam Houston/Western Kentucky Under is getting just 19.7% of bets but 63.7% of handle. That’s one of the sharpest plays you’ll see.

Similarly, the Stanford/Hawaii Under is getting 47.5% of bets but 90.1% of handle. The total dropped all the way from 55.5 to 50.5, confirming the sharp position. Big money expects defensive struggles or sloppy Week 0 offense in both games.

The public loves overs, especially in season openers. They’re hammering the Over in Kansas/Fresno State (78.8% of bets) and Iowa State/Kansas State (72.4%). Sharp money isn’t fighting those as aggressively, but the unders in late games are where the value lies.

Dublin Matchup Stays Balanced

The Iowa State vs. Kansas State game in Dublin shows the most balanced action. Kansas State is getting 58.7% of bets and 58.4% of handle, suggesting both sharps and squares agree on the line.

The line opened at Kansas State -3 and has stayed there despite some early movement. It briefly touched -4 before settling back, indicating two-way sharp action. This looks like the most efficient line of Week 0.

Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings and covered all five. But Kansas State’s ground game with Dylan Edwards matches up well against Iowa State’s 84th-ranked rush defense. When sharp money can’t pick a side, it usually means the line is right.

Where CFB Sharp Money is Going

Based on the handle vs. ticket disparities, here’s where sharp money has likely taken positions:

Sharp Plays:
• Hawaii -2.5 (46% tickets, 80% handle)
• Sam Houston +10 (37% tickets, 51% handle)
• Under 60.5 Sam Houston/WKU (20% tickets, 64% handle)
• Under 50.5 Stanford/Hawaii (48% tickets, 90% handle)

Public Plays Getting Faded:
• Kansas -13 (line moved from -14 to -12.5 early)
• Western Kentucky ML (80% tickets, 36% handle)

The sharp strategy for Week 0 is clear: fade the public on big favorites, back home underdogs with continuity, and bet unders in games with roster turnover. The public loves points and overs in season openers, but history shows Week 0 games are often sloppier than expected.