One night of the Week 1 college football schedule is set and Utah was the big winner on Thursday, defeating Florida 24-11 despite not having starting quarterback Cam Rising (ACL). The action continues on Friday with Louisville vs. Georgia Tech (7:30 p.m. ET) as one of four FBS duels. The Week 1 college football odds according to SportsLine consensus list the Cardinals as 7.5-point favorites to make Jeff Brohm’s debut as coach at his alma mater.
There’s plenty of action on Saturday as well, followed by LSU vs. Florida State (+2), highlighting Sunday’s three-game schedule. Clemson vs. Duke (+13) wraps up the Labor Day Weekend schedule Monday night. Before making any college football picks for Week 1 of the 2023 season, be sure to check out the latest college football predictions from SportsLine’s trusted model.
The SportsLine projection model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its launch, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of nearly $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Everyone who has pursued it has achieved tremendous success.
Now it has turned its attention to the latest college football odds for Week 1, setting picks for every FBS matchup. Head here to see each selection.
The best college football predictions for Week 1
One of the college football picks the model recommends for Saturday: Purdue (-3.5) covers against Fresno State in a 12 p.m. ET kickoff at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers are hoping for an easy transition at quarterback as Texas transfer Hudson Card takes over for Aidan O’Connell, who was drafted by the Raiders.
Although there were some early issues on offense, new Purdue coach Ryan Walters is known for his defensive background. SportsLine’s model projects the Boilermakers to hold Fresno State to 24 points, well below their 2022 average (30.6 ppg). Fresno State won 10 games last year but needs to replace quarterback Jake Haener and several key players. That line has moved from -6.5 to -3.5, and the model has Purdue as the favorite at that number, saying the Boilermakers are covering more than 50% of the time.
Another prediction: Western Kentucky cruises to a blowout win as an 11.5-point home favorite against South Florida on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Western Kentucky boasts an explosive offense led by quarterback Austin Reed. Reed finished last season with 4,744 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Reed threw for 377 or more yards in four of his final five games last season and could have a field day against a South Florida defense that gave up 516.6 yards per game in 2022. The Bulls have lost ten straight games in 2022, and they’re 0-18 in their last 18 away games. SportsLine’s model projects Western Kentucky to score 53 points on Saturday, helping the Hilltoppers cover the spread in well over 70% of simulations. See which other teams like the model here.
How to make college football picks for Week 1
The model has also determined who will win and cover in every other FBS matchup in Week 1, and it calls for multiple underdogs to win outright. Only at SportsLine can you get every pick for every game.
So which college football picks can you make with confidence and which underdogs will win outright? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams are winning and covering the spread, all using a proven computer model that has returned nearly $2,500 in winnings over the last seven seasons -dollars and find out.
College football odds for week 1
Complete college football picks, odds and predictions for Week 1 can be found here
Friday, September 1st
Miami (OH) to Miami (-16.5, 45.5)
Central Michigan in the state of Michigan (-14, 45)
Louisville at Georgia Tech (+7.5, 49.5)
Stanford, Hawaii (+3, 55)
Saturday September 2nd
East Carolina in Michigan (-17.5, 56)
Arkansas State in Oklahoma (-35, 58)
Colorado at TCU (-20.5, 60.5)
Virginia vs Tennessee (-28, 57.5)
Ohio State at Indiana (+30, 60)
Boise State-Washington (-14.5, 58.5)
Washington State and Colorado State (+12, 54.5)
North Carolina vs South Carolina (+2.5, 64.5)
MTSU at Alabama (-39, 51.5)
Texas Tech in Wyoming (+14, 52)
West Virginia at Penn State (-20.5, 50.5)
Carolina Coast at UCLA (-14.5, 65)
Sunday September 3rd
Northwestern at Rutgers (-6.5, 40.5)
Oregon State at San Jose State (+16.5, 54.5)
LSU vs. Florida State (+2.5, 58)
Monday, September 4th
Clemson at Duke (+12.5, 55.5)