The wait is finally over as the 2023 college football season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 26, and bettors can now place wagers on College Football Week 0 odds.
While there are not a lot of great matchups for Week 0, a few big names will be in action. The season begins in Dublin, Ireland, as Navy takes on Notre Dame, followed by the USC Trojans starting their season with a home game against San Jose State.
Most teams will not play their first game until Week 1, but for those looking to place a bet on the college football odds for Week 0, we have you covered, as we list point spreads, totals, and moneyline with a brief preview for each game.
Read more: Best College Football Betting Sites | Heisman Trophy Odds
College Football Odds: Spreads, Totals, Moneylines for Week 0
Here are NCAAF Week 0 odds from the top sports betting apps. Betting lines often vary from sportsbook to sportsbook, so checking out several apps is essential for getting the best numbers for your CFB bets.
College Football Week 0 Schedule + Betting Lines
After a long seven months since Georgia demolished TCU in the National Championship Game, college football is finally back. Here, we provide a quick look-ahead for each game and the college football betting odds for Week 0 from FanDuel.
Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
The Sam Hartman era at Notre Dame begins across the pond, as the Irish take on Navy in Dublin at Aviva Stadium. This is the third time these teams have met in Ireland, with Notre Dame winning the previous two matchups by an average of 33.5 points.
Navy won only four games last season, but the Midshipmen were on the wrong end of many close games, and they are bringing back a lot of production on both sides, including quarterback Tai Lavatai. The Midshipmen are also breaking in a new head coach Brian Newberry. They will still run the triple-option offense, but Navy is expected to open things up more under Newberry.
Both teams are returning a lot and have offenses that can score. The total has gone over in nine of the last 12 meetings between these two, and with Hartman taking the snaps, Notre Dame should be much improved on offense. Look for this game to go well over a seemingly low total.
UTEP Miners vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network)
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks begin their first season as an FBS team with a C-USA matchup against the UTEP Miners. After winning 10+ games in five of the last seven seasons, the Gamecocks have made the jump to the FBS and have a big-name head coach in Rich Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is in his second season as head coach at Jacksonville State, and you can already see his influence as an offensive mastermind. The Gamecocks rushed for over 250 yards last season and scored 36.2 PPG. They have a loaded backfield headlined by seventh-year running back Zion Webb, Anwar Webb, and Louisiana Monroe-transfer Malik Jackson.
The offensive line is also solid, and while UTEP’s biggest strength is topping the run, the offense is shaky, and the Miners are returning only one starter in the secondary. Although this is their first FBS game, look for the Gamecocks to start the season with a big conference win.
UMass Minutemen vs. New Mexico State Aggies (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
One of the worst FBS teams in the country hits the road to take on the New Mexico State Aggies to open the season. UMass has averaged fewer than one win per season since 2019, and while they should improve in Don Brown’s second season as head coach, this is still not a great roster.
New Mexico State is in its first season as a member of C-USA after being independent since 2018. Last season, the Aggies won their first bowl game since 2017, knocking off Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Head coach Jerry Kill has a dynamic offense this season, especially at running back with the two-headed monster of Star Thomas and Jamoni Jones. The program has lost eight starters on defense but added a couple of nice pieces in the transfer portal.
UMass is also an improved roster, but the Aggies should take care of business in the season’s opening game.
Conference previews: SEC odds | Big 10 odds | Pac 12 odds | ACC odds | Big 12 odds
Ohio Bobcats vs. San Diego State Aztecs (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
Ohio head coach Tim Albin led the Bobcats to a 10-win season last year after going 3-9 in his first season. They also were a few injuries away from a chance at winning the MAC last season. While they are losing a lot on defense, the offense is loaded with talent.
Former Ohio State receiver Sam Wiglusz blossomed into one of the best slot receivers in the country last year, with 12 touchdowns on 1,500 yards receiving. He is back, along with a solid offensive line and two experienced quarterbacks in Kurtis Rourke and C.J. Harris. Whichever player earns the starting spot will have one of the most explosive offenses in the MAC to play with.
On the other side, San Diego State is in a weird spot. The Aztecs lost the majority of their production on defense, and quarterback Jalen Mayden is an exciting but wildly inconsistent player. He completed only 59% of his passes and had 10 interceptions last season. However, he is excellent at making plays with his legs and has an experienced skill room to lean on.
The difference in talent between the MAC and the MWC is noticeable, but Ohio is legit and should be able to keep up with the Aztecs. Look for this to be a high-scoring game, as San Diego State’s defense is no longer the threat it has been for years.
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
We have a rematch of a Week 0 matchup from last season, as Hawai’i travels to ‘SEC Country’ to take on Vanderbilt. Last season, the Commodores came to the Big Island and smoked the Rainbow Warriors, 63-10.
In his second season as Vaderbilt’s head coach, Clark Lea won five games, which marks a massive improvement for this program. The problem is they were awful defensively last season, and they are not returning a lot of starters. Luckily, Vanderbilt is bringing back quarterback AJ Swann, and the ‘Dores have a nice skill room for Swann to play with.
They also have an experienced offensive line that took a big step last season. The defense is a big problem, but Vanderbilt has an offense that can keep them in games.
Hawai’i is projected to be one of the worst teams in the MWC. They went 3-10 in Timmy Chang’s first season as head coach, and they are breaking in a ton of new players at offensive line, wide receiver, and running back. The defense is not in a much better situation, and they should be in the basement of the MWC again this season.
San Jose State Spartans vs. USC Trojans (8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network)
Among the lucky few to have the Pac-12 Network available, a lot of eyes will be on this game. As you can see from the betting odds, USC is projected to annihilate San Jose State, and some sportsbooks are not even offering moneyline odds for this game.
USC has the best quarterback in the country in Caleb Williams and a loaded skill room. The defense was why the Trojans missed the College Football Playoffs last season, but they are returning 70% of that unit and added some big-time transfers in Bear Alexander and Anthony Lucas to beef up the defensive line. If the Trojans have learned how to tackle, they could be a lock for the playoffs.
While San Jose State is a pretty solid team, the defense lost a few key players and is in for a long night against Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offense.
Caleb Williams (so far)
• 469/711
• 66%
• 6,449 Passing Yards
• 63 Passing TDs (9 INTs)
• 824 Rushing Yards
• 16 Rushing TDs pic.twitter.com/B3LrItzjc6— College Football Report (@CFBRep) August 11, 2023
FIU Panthers vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network)
The final game of Week 0 features another C-USA matchup. Louisiana Tech struggled last season, but the Bulldogs are bringing in Boise State transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier. They have a talented skill room, but defensively, La. Tech is one of the worst units in the country.
The Bulldogs were worthless against the run, and while they are bringing in a big transfer class on defense, there still is not a ton of experience. They should improve on both sides of the ball, but it is hard to get over just how bad they were on defense.
FIU’s roster is not great, but the Panthers are tough to play against. They go for it on fourth down a ton, and they like to pass the ball, which should result in more big-play opportunities. However, they lost both starting offensive tackles to the transfer portal, and starting running back Lexington Joseph tore his ACL during spring ball.
They should be good on defense, as they are bringing back almost everyone, but if they cannot figure out how to stop the run, they could be in big trouble in this game.
College Football Betting Promos
Check out each sportsbook’s bonus offers before placing a bet on the College Football Week 0 odds. Each sports betting app you sign up with opens you up to hundreds of dollars in bonus bets, which can help you with your bankroll for the NFL preseason.
Here are the best sportsbook bonuses from our favorite sports betting platforms.
📱Sportsbook ⭐️ Why We Like It 💰Bonus Offer
📱Caesars ⭐️ Best Loyalty Program 💰 $1,000 First Bet on Caesars
Use Code TODAY1000
📱BetMGM ⭐️ Best Mobile App Experience 💰Get up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets
Use Code TODAY
📱BetRivers ⭐️ Best Sports-Based Profit Boosts 💰Claim up to $500 with a Second Chance Bet Credit ($100 max in AZ, IA, NY, OH, & WV; $250 in CO & NJ)
Use Code TODAYRIV
📱FanDuel ⭐️ Best for New Players 💰Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
📱bet365 ⭐️ Best Variety of Betting Markets 💰Bet $1, Get $365 in Bonus Bets
📱PointsBet ⭐️ Best for Exotic Bets 💰Get up to $1,000 in Second Chance Bets
📱DraftKings ⭐️ Best Ongoing Promotions 💰Claim up to $1,400 in Bonuses
About the Author
