Week 0 College Football Picks Against the Spread

• The 2023 College Football season begins with seven games on Saturday, August 26th
• Notre Dame is a near three-touchdown favorite over Navy, while San Diego State is a slight favorite over Ohio
• Read below for 2023 Week 0 college football picks against the spread

The 2023 college football season has officially arrived! The action kicks off with seven games in Week 0 on Saturday, August 26th. We’ve got you covered with our top three college football picks against the spread for Week 0.

The headline matchup features Notre Dame and Navy squaring off in Dublin, Ireland. Meanwhile, San Diego State hosts an Ohio Bobcats team that might be without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke. In another game, New Mexico State and the Aggies travel to UMass to face the Minutemen.

Here are the college football Week 0 betting odds and three CFB against the spread picks to consider for your Saturday wagers.

Notre Dame vs Navy Odds 

All odds as of August 23rd at DraftKings Sportsbook. Browse the top sports betting apps for college football against the spread betting. 

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Pick #1: Notre Dame -20.5 (vs Navy)

College football Week 0 typically serves as an appetizer for the Week 1 slate, but Notre Dame vs Navy promises to be a thrilling game. The Fighting Irish are currently favored by 20.5 points in a game set to be played in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

Notre Dame has recruited Wake Forest transfer QB Sam Hartman to lead their offense, and we anticipate the veteran will make an immediate impact. During the 2022 campaign, Hartman threw for 3,701 passing yards and 38 TDs with 12 interceptions.

Hartman is a clear upgrade for Notre Dame over Drew Pine, who struggled to adapt to the Irish’s offensive system. On the other hand, Navy will start with QB Tai Lavatai, who had a lackluster performance last season, completing only 46.2% of his passes and throwing just five TDs with three interceptions.

It’s well-known that Navy relies on its triple-option offense, and Notre Dame will have had the entire summer to prepare for it. Last year, the ND rush defense allowed an average of just 131.3 yards per game, ranking 37th nationally.

Based on the college football win totals, oddsmakers anticipate Notre Dame to show improvement in Marcus Freeman’s second year. We predict Hartman and his team will commence with a dominant three-touchdown victory over the Midshipmen in Week 0.

• Pick: Notre Dame -20.5 (-110)

Ohio vs San Diego State Odds 

Pick #2: San Diego State -2.5 (vs Ohio)

San Diego State is among our top college football teams to bet against the spread in Week 0. The Aztecs will face a Bobcats team that might be missing starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke in this Week 0 clash at Snapdragon Stadium.

Rourke played a pivotal role in helping the Bobcats secure the MAC East Division title last season, averaging 232.6 passing yards per game with 25 touchdowns. Sadly, Rourke’s season ended prematurely due to a severe injury. He suffered a torn right ACL and meniscus during the penultimate regular-season game against Ball State.

Players to watch

Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke

Rourke was one of the best players in the MAC last season. He threw for over 3,000 yards, 25 TDs and only 4 INTs. Rourke completed 69% of his passes as well. Ohio will contend for the MAC this season if they continue to get good QB play. pic.twitter.com/J42Yn3B2sc

— Brendan Moore (@bmoorecfb) August 13, 2023

Rourke’s Week 0 status is currently uncertain, but even if he plays, there’s no assurance he’ll be 100 percent. The Aztecs, on the other hand, are welcoming back their starting QB, Jalen Maiden, who threw for 2,030 yards and 12 TDs with 10 interceptions last season.

Ohio was ranked 70th nationally in total offense last season and defensively allowed the most passing yards in the country. Week 0 is all about familiarity and experience, so we expect Brady Hoke’s team to exploit Ohio’s weak secondary and capitalize on the Bobcats’ quarterback situation.

• Pick: San Diego State -2.5 (-110)

UMass vs New Mexico State Odds 

Pick #3: New Mexico State -6.5 (vs UMass)

Concluding our college football picks against the spread for Week 0 is a recommended bet on New Mexico State -6.5. The Aggies, under the guidance of Jerry Kill, had a notable turnaround last year, securing six wins and the Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green.

New Mexico State’s offense is spearheaded by dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia and wide receiver Kordell David, both of whom are returning after impressive performances last season. Pavia threw for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions in 2022, while David accumulated 343 receiving yards and four TDs.

Aggies we are TEN DAYS away from kick off. Number 10 is worn by our Heisman vote receiving QB Diego Pavia! pic.twitter.com/Gq0ZZeHz7M

— Barstool NMSU🤠 (@barstoolnmsu) August 16, 2023

UMass has faced challenges, particularly with an uncertain quarterback situation. They haven’t even announced their starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against the Aggies. Moreover, UMass’s defense struggled against the run, which is one of NMSU’s strengths.

The Aggies averaged 161.5 yards per game on the ground last season, ranking 57th in the FBS. In contrast, the Minutemen allowed nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. NMSU won this matchup by 10 points last season, and we anticipate the Aggies will rely on their potent run game to secure another convincing win in 2023.

• Pick: New Mexico State -6.5 (-110)