College Football Odds, Lines and Picks for Week 0 – August 28th

• College Football opens August 28, with six games on the docket
• After years of struggle Nebraska’s Scott Frost and UCLA’s Chip Kelly hoping to turn the corner
• All the odds can be found below along with some best bets for Week 0

Considering the staggered uncertainty of the college football season a year ago, it’s an absolute delight knowing that it’s essentially business as usual this season.

All schools will start and presumably play a full schedule. That also means, like last year, we’re inevitably going to see the exclusive list of teams competing in the College Football Playoff, yet again.

But instead of worrying about that end of year stuff, and that expanded playoff format that’s not even on the horizon (unless you think 2026 is close), let’s get to some opening day wagers – and some of our favorite picks you should be targeting.

College Football Week 0 Odds

Odds as of August 25th at FanDuel

Nebraska vs Illinois

Two coaches on either ends of the spectrum make up a lot of this storyline. Nebraska’s Scott Frost is under siege – a 12-20 mark over three seasons will do that to you. So will NCAA investigations into improperly using analysts and consultants during games and practices, and also conducting workouts that were prohibited during COVID.

Scott Frost was frustrated during the press conference, I think the NCAA leak fresh on his mind….hope he can get focused for Illinois. Shout out Huskers Online for the vid (although their mic has nasty feedback all video) pic.twitter.com/4rJgr4B92H

— Big Red Homestead (formerly Backseat Sports) (@BigRedHomestead) August 23, 2021

On the other end, Illinois’ Bret Bielema makes his return to the Big Ten, after spending the last eight years in coaching stints at Arkansas and the NFL with the Patriots and Giants.

Nebraska brings back veteran QB Adrian Martinez,  who threw for 1,055 yards and 4 TD in seven games last season, adding another 521 yards on the ground on 5.7 yards a tote.

Les Trojans ne se laissent pas distancer : RB Markese Stepp réduit le score sur ce TD au sol qui conclut un drive de 80 yards. Rien est joué.

USC 14, Oregon 21pic.twitter.com/lH6h5r8rxF

— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) December 19, 2020

Transfer Markese Stepp is expected to make a big impact at running back. The sophomore had only 45 rushing attempts in five games a with the Trojans a year ago, though he did punch in a score in the Pac-12 title game against the Oregon Ducks.

Illinois put up just two wins in eight games last season, but one of them was a 41-23 demolition over Nebraska.

Mike Epstein (@Dat26Kid) ran for over 60 yards on this drive, including this TD.

It's 28-10 @IlliniFootball: pic.twitter.com/vIrTbhsrdD

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 21, 2020

Both Mike Epstein and Chase Brown eclipsed 100 yards rushing, and combined for three TDs. The backfield is intact for the opener.

So is a defense that surrendered just under 35 points a game a season ago. But how about this: Nebraska is 5-11 ATS when Frost’s teams have been favored.

The pick: Illinois +6.5 (-110)

Hawaii vs UCLA

After two years of stagnant offense, Chip Kelly’s Bruins finally found some traction last year. UCLA jumped from 98th in 2019 to 37th in yards per play in 2020, and 20th in points per game after a woeful 79th in 2019.

One thing they haven’t been able to do, however, is win a nonconference game. They open this campaign with three kicks at it, and it could come as early as Saturday against Hawaii.

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson ➡️ RG Demetric Felton Jr. TD Bruins !
Un tackling performant chez les Trojans. 👏

UCLA 14, USC 0pic.twitter.com/pZ4hSZz3bH

— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) December 13, 2020

A two-headed rush attack of senior Brittain Brown and junior Zach Charbonnet is expected to be potent, and coupled with dual-threat pivot Dorian Thompson-Robinson, should keep the Rainbow Warriors on their heels.

But under second-year coach Todd Graham, Hawaii was better on defense than on offense in 2020.

CALVIN TURNER JR. 💪🏼#HawaiiFB 10
Aztecs 31 pic.twitter.com/QNMECLdxFH

— Spectrum Sports HI (@specsportshi) November 14, 2020

If they can provide some resistance and Calvin Turner Jr can turn in some big plays, this might be closer than that 17.5-point spread.

But instead of dabbling in the spread, the total seems more appealing. In their last five games, Hawaii has gone under the total four times. UCLA has only hit the over in two of their last four.

The pick: Under 68.5 (-112)

UConn vs Fresno State

Your guess is as good as mine about how UConn will look after sitting out the 2020 year. From their previous season before COVID, they had a lot of work to do.

The Huskies surrendered better than seven yards per play defensively, and 3.5 points per drive — the 128th and 129th-ranked marks in FBS, respectively. They also couldn’t score, topping 21 points just three times all year. That’s a bad combo.

Fresno State wins 38-17 over Colorado State

Jake Haener finishes with 311 yards & 3 TDs

pic.twitter.com/W7BVpM8N4G

— WestCoastCFB (@WestCoastCFB) October 30, 2020

The Bulldogs are trying to build on a 3-3 campaign and make their mark in the Mountain West. They’re returning 20 starters, most notably quarterback Jake Haener. He was the engine behind a unit that led the conference in total offense and passing offense.

Haener put up 336.8 yards a game passing last year, and he’ll have a full stable of receivers plus stud RB Ronnie Rivers. They’ll be going against a team that hasn’t played in 638 days.

Have a day, Ronnie Rivers! His fourth touchdown puts Fresno State ahead 34-27. #GoDogs pic.twitter.com/tfGawC9ar6

— Adrian Luevano (@a_luevano) November 7, 2020

And the last time they did, UConn surrendered 40.5 points a contest.

The Bulldogs are a solid 4-1 ATS in their last five openers. The Huskies are trending the other way, going 1-6 in their last seven season starters.

The pick: Fresno State -27.5 (-110)