College Football Line Movement – Updated Week 0 Odds, Spreads, and Betting Lines
- Week 0 of the College Football season kicks off on Saturday, August 27th
- Nebraska is down to an 11-point favorite over Northwestern after opening -13
- See below for analysis on the biggest and smallest CFB line moves, spreads and totals
We’ve waited long enough. The start of the college football season is officially upon us. The action gets underway on Saturday at Noon ET, with the day’s final contest kicking off at 10:30pm ET.
A lot has changed in the college football odds since the Week 0 opening liners were posted last weekend, so let’s examine the biggest line moves and the reasons behind them below.
College Football Week 0 Betting Lines
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | +26.5 (-105) | +1600 | O 66.5 (-104) |
| Western Kentucky | -26.5 (-115) | -10000 | U 66.5 (-118) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Nebraska | -11 (-113) | -455 | O 51.5 (-112) |
| Northwestern | +11 (-108) | +340 | U 51.5 (-109) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Idaho State | +21.5 (-109) | +1100 | O 52 (-115) |
| UNLV | -21.5 (-112) | -2500 | U 52 (-107) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| UConn | +26.5 (-110) | +1300 | O 59.5 (-110) |
| Utah State | -26.5 (-110) | -10000 | U 59.5 (-110) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Wyoming | +14 (-108) | +460 | O 43.5 (-108) |
| Illinois | -14 (-113) | -670 | U 43.5 (-113) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Duquesne | +40 (-109) | +1600 | O 55.5 (-112) |
| Florida State | -40 (-112) | -10000 | U 55.5 (-109) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Charlotte | +7.5 (-109) | +235 | O 59 (-114) |
| Florida Atlantic | -7.5 (-112) | -315 | U 59 (-107) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Florida A&M | +35.5 (-109) | +1600 | O 57.5 (-120) |
| North Carolina | -35.5 (-112) | -10000 | U 57.5 (+100) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| North Texas | -1.5 (-110) | -122 | O 54.5 (-113) |
| UTEP | +1.5 (-110) | +100 | U 54.5 (-108) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Nevada | -8.5 (-110) | -360 | O 48.5 (-109) |
| New Mexico State | +8.5 (-110) | +265 | U 48.5 (-112) |
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Vanderbilt | -9 (-110) | -400 | O 54.5 (-112) |
| Hawaii | +9 (-110) | +300 | U 54.5 (-109) |
Odds as of August 26th at Barstool Sportsbook.
We’ll start with the Big Ten matchup between Nebraska and Northwestern, which will be coming to us all the way from Dublin, Ireland.
Biggest Week 0 Spread Moves
Nebraska and Northwestern are both coming off disappointing 2021 campaigns. The Cornhuskers and Wildcats finished 3-9, sharing the Big Ten West basement.
Nebraska is in a make-or-break year under head coach Scott Frost, and are still trying to deliver him his first winning season and Bowl appearance. The Cornhuskers project to be much better than a year ago, and opened up as sizeable 13-point favorites over Northwestern.
Did I wait too long? Yes.
Do I still love the play? Yes.
Northwestern +11 is officially on my card
*tweeted from Omaha, Nebraska pic.twitter.com/QnnFEFU1J4
— Zach Reger (@zachreger18) August 26, 2022
Bettors immediately disagreed with that decision. 62% of the early spread tickets and 66% of the money came in this week on the underdog, pushing the line down to Nebraska -11, where it currently sits.
Most of the action was put down by public bettors, although there was reportedly a small sharp play on Northwestern as well. As the week has progressed, however, more Nebraska tickets have been written. The Cornhuskers are a much more public team than the Wildcats, so as kickoff approaches more Nebraska money is likely which could move the spread back in their direction.
The Big Ten tilt didn’t produce the biggest Week 0 spread move, as that honor went to the Wyoming versus Illinois matchup. The Fighting Illini opened up as the 10-point chalk, but that number has soared to -14.
"I think Illinois just has the talent advantage and the running game advantage in the trenches to be able to control this game."@JWerner247 joined @emily_proud to break down Illinois vs. Wyoming in Week 0 🏈 pic.twitter.com/fxCM4Yd3yr
— 247Sports (@247Sports) August 26, 2022
Two reasons have prompted this move. First, the Cowboys have yet to name a starting QB and multiple guys could get snaps. If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.
Secondly, money has come in on Illinois. 71% of the early spread tickets and 74% of the handle backed the Fighting Illini. Now that this line has reached two scores, expect a small buy back on the underdog.
Biggest Week 0 Total Moves
Sticking with the Wyoming versus Illinois matchup, as that game has produced the biggest move total-wise. The over/under opened up at 46 but has since been slashed to 43. Sharp money appears to be behind the move, as 71% of the tickets are backing the over, but 70% of the handle is on the under.
It's starting to feel a lot like game day…
𝙎𝘼𝙏𝙐𝙍𝘿𝘼𝙔 » #Illini vs. Wyoming
Roll the hype video ↓ pic.twitter.com/4LI2AhnIYR
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) August 26, 2022
The Cowboys’ uncertainty at the QB position is prompting the sharp action, as is the strength of the Fighting Illini’s defense. Illinois has a slew of future NFL’ers on that side of the ball, and is fresh off a season where they ranked 31st in the nation in scoring defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Fighting Illini finished 2021 ranked 98th in offensive efficiency, and they actually project to be worse this season per the SP+ rankings. Don’t expect the line to drift back towards the opener.
Biggest and Smallest Week 0 Spreads
Florida State opened up as a 37.5-point favorite over NEC opponent Duquesne this week, and bettors are not hesitating to lay the points. The Seminoles are now up to -40, and the line might not be done moving yet.
𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐃𝐨𝐚𝐤 on Saturday! #OneTribe pic.twitter.com/NH3pczHKmb
— FSU Seminoles (@Seminoles) August 26, 2022
The Dukes lost 45-3 to TCU last season in their previous meeting with a Power 5 school, and their most difficult game prior to that resulted in a 65-13 loss to UMass back in 2018.
As for Week 0’s tightest spread, that belongs to the North Texas versus UTEP tilt. The Mean Green have moved from a 1-point favorite to -1.5, but don’t expect that line to stay put. 71% of the late week money is rolling in on the underdog Miners.
These two teams met late last season, with North Texas prevailing with a last-second winning field goal. We should be in for another nail-biting finish on Saturday as well.
Biggest and Smallest Week 0 Totals
Last but not least, let’s look at the two games that project to be the highest and lowest scoring. Austin Peay and Western Kentucky have a slate-high 66.5 point total, which is down a full point since the opener.
The Hilltoppers ranked second in the nation in scoring offense in 2021, averaging 44.2 points per game. Last year’s starting QB Bailey Zappe has moved onto the NFL, but this team should still find plenty of success with grad transfer Austin Reed. He led Western Florida to a Division II national championship in 2019, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 40 TDs, while running for six more scores.
“A successful debut for me would be a win – that simple.”
Bailey Zappe threw for 424 yards and 7 TDs – the most by a Hilltopper in a game at Houchens-Smith Stadium – in his WKU debut last fall. Here’s what WKU QB Austin Reed said about his hopes for his first start Saturday. pic.twitter.com/yFDn2sLTCv
— Jared MacDonald (@JMacDonaldSport) August 24, 2022
On the other side of the ball, the Hilltoppers allowed 30 points per game in 2021, and didn’t do nearly enough to address some major secondary concerns.
The lowest total on the board is expected to come from the Wyoming versus Illinois matchup that we already discussed. It’s one of only two games on the slate with a sub-51.5 point total, with the other being the Nevada versus New Mexico State contest.
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
