The Week 1 college football schedule has arrived, and there are plenty of big-time matchups unfolding over Labor Day Weekend. One of the most intriguing comes early on Saturday when top-ranked Georgia takes on No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta at noon ET. These programs have combined for four national titles in the past eight seasons, and both are hoping for another run this year as the expanded College Football Playoff era begins. The latest Week 1 college football odds via SportsLine consensus list the Bulldogs as 13.5-point favorites.
Other Week 1 college football lines of note include No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3), No. 19 Miami (-2.5) at Florida and No. 13 LSU (-4.5) against No. 23 USC in Las Vegas. Which games should you target for Week 1 college football bets? Before locking in any college football picks for Week 1 of the 2024 season, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall.
For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce’s vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.
Now, using his Tech Corner technique that evaluates all the trends, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for Week 1 and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick.
Top college football predictions for Week 1
One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 1: He’s taking Colorado State (+32) to stay within the large spread at No. 4 Texas at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
With Quinn Ewers at quarterback and the program transitioning to the SEC, the hype is sky high for the top-five ranked Longhorns this season. They’re overwhelming favorites on the money line to win, but this spread might be a bit inflated, based on recent trends.
Colorado State is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 as an underdog. Texas didn’t cover against both home non-conference foes in 2023, nor did the Longhorns cover when favored by 30 or more in two chances last year. Marshall says the trends are pointing to a CSU cover in what could be a game the Longhorns slightly overlook with Michigan looming. See which other picks to make here.
How to make college football picks for Week 1
Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he’s found an alarming 19-2 betting trend in the big LSU vs. USC matchup. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.
So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming trend do you need to know about in one of the week’s biggest game? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles, and find out.
Week 1 college football odds
See full Week 1 college football picks, odds, predictions here
Thursday, Aug. 29
North Carolina at Minnesota (+1.5, 50.5)
Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State (-3, 54.5)
North Dakota State at Colorado (-9.5, 60.5)
Friday, Aug. 30
FAU at Michigan State (-14, 45)
Temple at Oklahoma (-42.5, 59.5)
Western Michigan at Wisconsin (-23.5, 56.5)
TCU at Stanford (+9.5, 60)
Saturday, Aug. 31
Clemson vs. Georgia (-13.5, 48.5)
Penn State at West Virginia (+8.5, 51.5)
Miami (Fla.) at Florida (+2.5, 54)
Akron at Ohio State (-48.5, 58)
Colorado State at Texas (-31.5, 60.5)
Western Kentucky at Alabama (-32, 59.5)
Fresno State at Michigan (-20.5, 45.5)
Notre Dame at Texas A&M (-3, 46.5)
UCLA at Hawaii (+14, 54.5)
Sunday, Sept. 1
USC vs. LSU (-4.5, 64.5)
Monday, Sept. 2
Boston College at Florida State (-16.5, 50)
