Friday Night College Football Picks – Best Bets for Aug. 29

• Friday night college football brings fewer games than Thursday but better quality matchups
• Power 5 showdowns and key Group of 5 battles highlight the August 29 slate
• See below for my three best bets for Friday night Week 1 college football action

Thursday night gave us quantity with college football games everywhere. Friday night brings quality with key Power 5 matchups and Group of 5 battles worth watching. The August 29 slate features fewer games than Thursday but much better betting opportunities.

Friday’s college football schedule includes over a dozen games, with Auburn-Baylor and Georgia Tech-Colorado headlining the 8 pm slots on FOX and ESPN. UNLV at Sam Houston kicks off at 9:30 on CBSSN, while games like App State-Charlotte and Western Michigan-Michigan State fill out the evening. There’s action from 6 pm until after midnight.

From all these Friday night matchups, three games stand out with the best betting value. Let’s break down my top college football picks and predictions for August 29.

Friday Night College Football Picks – Best Bets for Aug. 29

All college football odds as of Aug. 29 from FanDuel & DraftKings. Claim the FanDuel promo code to sign up and tail our Friday Night CFB picks.

Friday College Football Pick #1: Georgia Tech -4.5

Georgia Tech was one of my top college football win total bets for 2025, and they’ll start proving why on Friday night in Boulder. The Yellow Jackets travel as 4.5-point road favorites against Colorado, and they should cover that spread comfortably.

Haynes King brings elite quarterback play to this matchup. He completed 72.9% of his passes last season, setting an ACC single-season record, while throwing just two picks in 269 attempts. King also rushed for 587 yards and 11 touchdowns. This is a 24-year-old sixth-year senior with all the experience you want in a road opener.

Colorado starts Kaidon Salter at quarterback after his transfer from Liberty. Salter has talent, but has never played at this level of intensity. Colorado’s run defense ranked dead last in FBS last season, while Georgia Tech averaged 187 yards per game on the ground with Jamal Haynes rushing for 944 yards.

The Yellow Jackets return nine starters, including All-ACC guard Keylan Rutledge and linebacker Kyle Efford. They nearly beat Georgia in eight overtimes and knocked off ranked Miami last year. This team knows how to win big college football road games.

I believe the altitude factor is being overblown a bit, considering these are elite athletes with extensive college experience. I predict GA Tech covers this short spread in Denver on Friday night.

• Best Bet: Georgia Tech -4.5 (-110) at FanDuel

Friday College Football Pick #2: App State/Charlotte Under 49.5

The Duke’s Mayo Classic between App State and Charlotte sets up perfectly for an under play. Both college football programs installed new offensive systems with new head coaches and unsettled quarterback situations heading into Week 1.

Neither team returns more than 43% of their production on offense or defense. The rosters feature close to 50 combined transfers across both two-deep charts. That level of turnover rarely produces offensive fireworks in season openers.

App State quarterback AJ Swann averaged less than 200 yards per game in 13 career starts at Vanderbilt. Charlotte’s new coach, Tim Albin, emphasizes offensive and defensive line play, which typically means conservative game plans focused on ball control.

These teams combined to average 50.3 points per game last season with established systems. The total has already dropped from 53.5 to 49.5 in the CFB odds at most sportsbooks. Both coaches prefer smash-mouth, pro-style offenses that limit possessions. This game’s going to be ugly, and that’s exactly what we want for the under in this Week 1 matchup.

• Best Bet: App State/Charlotte Under 49.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Friday College Football Pick #3: UNLV/Sam Houston Over 61

This late Friday night college football game between UNLV and Sam Houston could hit the over before the fourth quarter. Both teams showed terrible defense in Week 0 while their offenses moved the ball at will.

UNLV’s defense allowed 555 total yards to Idaho State, an FCS opponent. The Bengals’ quarterback threw for 380 yards while averaging 12.7 yards per completion against a defense that should dominate at that level. Sam Houston will exploit those same weaknesses.

Sam Houston’s defense looked equally bad, surrendering 401 passing yards to Western Kentucky. The Bearcats allowed 11 of 19 third-down conversions while going just 2 of 14 on their own third downs.

UNLV running back Jai’Den Thomas rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries, with scoring runs of 39 and 70 yards. Phil Longo’s “No Blink” offense at Sam Houston emphasizes tempo and explosive plays.

Both teams cleared this college football total in their season openers. The line’s moved from 59.5 to 61.5, but there’s still value. My projection has this at closer to 70 points.

• Best Bet: UNLV/Sam Houston Over 61 (-110) at FanDuel