College Football Picks Today: Best Bets for Week 1 (Saturday. Aug 30)
By John Hyslop in College Football
Published:
- Football is finally back with College Football’s Week 1 on Saturday, August 30
- Obviously, we need to show the books what time it is, and we’re definitely going to do that
- See below for both of my Week 1 nukes that the books will never see coming
Great news, guys, we made it! It’s Week 1 of the College Football season, and I have a feeling we’re all going to do a ton of gambling over the next few months.
While it’s a special time for all of us, we need to do one thing that will make it even more special. That one thing is to use every profit boost we can possibly use. I’m not saying just to bet something because we have a boost, but if we are going to bet something, why not check to see if there is a boost? Let’s face it, every single one of us could use a little boost from time to time.
Lucky for us, we should all have boosts for the Texas/Ohio State game as well as the LSU/Clemson game. I think we should use them. Feels right.
Saturday College Football Picks (Week 1)
All odds as of Aug. 30 from FanDuel. Claim the FanDuel promo code to sign up and tail our picks.
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Week 1 College Football Pick #1 – Texas Could Be Nasty
When I was a kid, we never got games like Texas/Ohio State at noon on the first (real) Saturday of the season. It just didn’t happen. It was always a good team vs a BS team. We still watched it anyway, but if we’re being honest, two top-three teams playing each other is just better. It just makes for a tougher climb for both squads as well as a tougher bet for us gamblers. Iron sharpens iron.
For Texas, they’re climb starts against the same team that ended their season seven months ago.
The strategy here is simple: fade the team that won the whole thing last year. Sure, Ohio State will still be Ohio State, but Texas now has its quarterback of the future, Arch Manning, taking over. Had he been on the field the last time these teams met, things may have been different.
Arch is an upgrade over Quinn Ewers in every facet of the game, and my guess is that linesmakers will have to adjust the numbers on Texas moving forward. We can just throw our FanDuel boost on the Longhorns’ moneyline and get a sweet, sweet plus money move to start the day. Feels easy.
- The Bet: Texas Longhorns ML (+136) at FanDuel (With Boost)

Week 1 College Football Pick #2 – Clemson Might Never Lose
The tough part about the beginning of the football season is the fact that we’ve never seen these teams play. I know we saw them last year, but it’s all different this time around. Things change. It happens.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the expectations of the Clemson Tigers football program.
I wish there were a shred of data to go on, but it’s Week 1 of a new College Football season. We may think we know, but we don’t know. But here’s the thing, I think Clemson might be the best team in the nation.
Cade Klubnik could be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and he has weapons all over the place this time around. This feels like one of those situations where we watch this game, then immediately wonder why the hell the Tigers were only favored by 4.5 points. That doesn’t feel like enough.
- The Bet: Clemson Tigers -4.5 (+142) at FanDuel (With Boost)
John has spent the past 20+ years betting sports on a daily basis and is considered by many to be a walking sports betting encyclopedia. From obscure player props to sides and totals, if there is an angle, John will find it.