It’s really here now. The first full week of college football 2025 is upon us. All 136 FBS teams will be in action in Week 1 of the new seasons. Week 0 kicked it off last week with just four games on the schedule.

There are a number of great games in Week 1 of the new season. We’ll get some early looks at some of the favorites to win the CFP Championship in January. No. 1 Texas plays at No. Ohio State in an opening week showdown. Arch Manning will debut as the Longhorns new starting quarterback against the reigning national champions.

The first weekend of the 2025 college football season coincides with the Labor Day weekend and, as a result, fans get a full five days of action. There are 17 games on Thursday to kick off the weekend games. On Friday night, we get the first look at Colorado without Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and without the all-purpose Travis Hunter. Both are now in the NFL. The Buffaloes will host Georgia Tech.

Stay with ScoresandStats throughout the entire 2025 college football season. Our team of NCAAF experts will keep you updated on all the latest news, analysis, and picks and predictions. Each week through the season from Week 0 through the College Football Playoffs, make ScoresandStats your go-to spot for all things college football betting.

College Football Week 1 Schedule

College Football Week 1 Odds

Keep an eye on the latest College Football odds from the top sports betting sites and monitor how the lines change throughout the week.

Week 1 will kick off with a number of College Football Teams playing on Thursday and Friday nights. Things really heat up on Saturday when No. 1 Texas travels to No. 3 Ohio State. The Buckeyes are an early 3-point home favorite and the total is set at 50.5

As far as college football Week 1 spreads go, a number of Week 1 games have some very large ones. The biggest on the board pits unranked Nevada at No. 2 Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 45.5-point favorites over the visiting Wolf Pack. It’s one of several point spreads of over four touchdowns. Georgia is favored by 38.5 against Marshall, for example.

Make sure you check ScoresandStats top handicappers each week of the college football season. They can help you understand how to approach some of these big point spreads and game totals.

Surprisingly, college football Week 1 totals do not feature many above 60. The highest total on the board is 63.5 in a game between Boise State and South Florida. The Broncos finished fifth in scoring last season averaging 37.3 points per game. The Bulls were a top-50 scoring team, averaging 32.2.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Minnesota and Buffalo will play on Friday night and the game total is set at 45.5. Virginia plays South Carolina on Sunday with the same total, but the lowest total of the weekend goes to Miami (OH) and Wisconsin. The Badgers are well-known for playing outstanding defense and the RedHawks have been one of the best defenses in the MAC for years. That game total is 41.5.

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College Football Week 1 Predictions

Let’s take a look at the featured College Football Week 1 games and make our NCAAF picks for each game.

Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears Odds

It’s Year 3 of the Hugh Freeze era and it’s time to show up. This is a huge game for freeze and Auburn. They missed a bowl game last year and a win here would set them up for success early in the season with Week 2 and 3 games at home against Ball State and South Alabama.

These two teams don’t have much history. They’ve played four times and three of them occurred when Ralph “Shug” Jordan was the head coach at Auburn. Jordan-Hare Stadium, home of the Tigers, bears his name.

Last season, Baylor went 8-5 overall, 6-3 in Big 12 play. The Bears were a strong bet against the number late last season. Baylor covered in six of their last seven games, scoring 37 or more points in six of the seven. Head coach Dave Aranda is a defensive guy, but the Baylor offense could be really special in 2025.

QB Sawyer Robertson finished in the top 10 in the nation in QBR. The Bears offense finished 19th in the nation in both scoring (34.4 ppg) and total offense (440.1 ypg).

Auburn is one of the most talented teams in the nation. They upgraded at quarterback with Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold and the defense was outstanding. They finished 28th in points allowed (21.3 ppg) and they were also top 30 in run defense allowing 117 yards per game.

Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears Predictions

It’s do or die for Baylor head coach Dave Aranda. After a rough start last year, the Bears rebounded to win their final six games of the regular season. If Aranda and Baylor are going to make a statement, it’s right here against an SEC opponent on their home turf.

Auburn’s offense struggled last year and probably will again early this season as they get used to new QB Jackson Arnold. The defense will carry this team early in the season, but they go up against a Baylor offense with 8 returning starters, including Robertson at quarterback.

Baylor finished 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games. Auburn went 0-4 ATS in its four road games last season. Playing at home, Aranda’s defense will be prepared to stop Auburn and the Baylor offense should be the difference in this upset.

Bet: Baylor +110, Baylor +2.5 (-110), Under 56.5 (-110)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Colorado Buffaloes Odds

Georgia Tech has been a nice surprise the past two seasons under head coach Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets have won seven games in back-to-back seasons. Georgia Tech also has some big wins over some ranked opponents. Last year, it was Miami that went down 28-23 in early November and the Yellow Jackets lost to in-state rival Georgia 44-42 in overtime in the regular season finale.

QB Haynes King returns to lead the ACC’s second-leading rushing offense. It’s a versatile offense that can score, but the defense needs to improve from last year. The Yellow Jackets gave up 27.2 points per game last season. As a result, Georgia Tech was a .500 team (6-6-1) against the spread.

Colorado will be in its first season without QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/DB Travis Hunter. Both are in the NFL now. How will head coach Deion Sanders deal with the losses? He’ll have exactly one returning starter on offense and three on defense.

The Buffaloes were actually one of the better cover teams in the FBS last season. They finished 9-4 SU and 9-4 ATS. Doing so this season is going to be very difficult as Sanders reloads with a number of new players from the transfer portal.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Colorado Buffaloes Predictions

It’s on the road in Boulder, but the Yellow Jackets clearly have the edge here. Remember last year, even with all of their talent, Colorado barely beat North Dakota State in their season opener and then they got drilled by Nebraska 28-10 in Week 2.

With an unproven quarterback – Sanders brought in Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and has freshman Julian Lewis – and just one starter on offense, the Georgia Tech defense should get off to a good start in 2025.

The Yellow Jackets offense could be something special. Key is big on establishing the running game and if they can do that against a Buffaloes defense with just three returning starters, they can open the 2025 season with a win. Georgia Tech is favored on the road for a reason.

Bet: Georgia Tech -175, Georgia Tech -3.5 (-110), Over 57.5

Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Odds

It’s the game of Week 1. It could even be a preview of the CFP national championship game in January. The new season begins the Arch Manning era at Texas. The keys to the Longhorns offense are his. It’s a pretty solid offense too. Texas brought in a couple transfers that should make life easier for Manning.

What really stands out for Texas though, is its defense. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski put one of the best units in the country out there last season. He’ll return six starters, the best of which might be LB Anthony Hill Jr., widely regarded by many as the best linebacker in the country.

Ohio State must also replace its quarterback and the likely candidate is redshirt freshman Julian Sayin. He’ll have three returning starters on the offensive line plus a new TE in Max Klare, who starred at Purdue last season.

Despite losing a number of stars, the Buckeyes defense should be very good once again. All-American candidate Caleb Downs returns at safety. This could be an epic early season battle as both defenses should be way ahead of the offenses in Week 1.

Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Predictions

This game will come down to two things – quarterback play and defense. As it stands, the Longhorns will have the advantage at quarterback. Manning is a star in the making. Texas may also have the advantage on defense.

The Longhorns defense returns six starters. They lost Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron, but they have more candidates to win the award in CB Malik Muhammad and S Michael Taffe. Texas will have the advantage of playing against a first-time quarterback starter. The Buckeyes will likely start Julian Sayin, a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school.

Sayin will have talented receivers to throw to – Carnell Tate and All-American candidate Jeremiah Smith. They also have the luxury of opening the season at home in a game that could be a national title game preview. It’s never easy to go on the road and, don’t forget, this will be Manning’s first start too.

Bet: Ohio State -142, Ohio State -3 (-110), Under 50.5 (-110)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State Seminoles Odds

When you hear 9-4, you typically don’t associate that with Alabama football. That’s what happened last year in the first season after Nick Saban. Head coach Kaleb DeBoer and the Crimson Tide were upset early in the season at Vanderbilt. Then, they lost to rival Tennessee at Rocky Top and dropped a late-season game at Oklahoma.

The three SEC losses were the most since 2010, Saban’s fourth year in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer and company hope to rebound and it all starts in Week 1. The Tide will break in a new quarterback, most likely Ty Simpson. Alabama returns the bulk of the offensive line and two wide receiver starters from last season – Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard.

The defense returns seven starters and a win at Florida State in Week 1 sets them up for success. On the other side, a win over Alabama would re-right the ship in Tallahassee. No one could have predicted the Seminoles would go 2-10, but it started badly and ended worse.

Florida State lost to Georgia Tech in Week 0 last year in the game played in Ireland. It’s important to win your first game and head coach Mike Norvell understands why. FSU went on to lose its first three games, which set the tone for the rest of the season. They’ll look to set the tone in Week 1 against Alabama.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State Seminoles Predictions

No one expected Mike Norvell’s Seminoles to fall off the face of the earth like they did last season. A disappointing 2-10 season was the result of a Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech and once the losing set in, it was a hard habit to break.

FSU could be in for another round of disappointment. The Seminoles get Alabama in Year 2 of the DeBoer era in their first game of the 2025 season. Norvell has just one offensive starter from a year ago, but that could be a good thing. The Seminoles finished next to last in scoring out of 134 FBS teams last year, averaging just 13.1 points per game.

Even with former BC QB Tommy Castellanos, don’t expect much from FSU. The Crimson Tide will break in a new quarterback too – Ty Simpson – but he’ll have two returning starting wide receivers and three on the offensive line.

The Alabama defense should remain strong. The Tide finished ninth in scoring defense last year, allowing 18.3 points per game. DeBoer returns seven starters plus LB Deontae Lawson and S Keon Sabb, both of whom missed most of last season with significant injuries. The Tide are simply too talented for the Seminoles in Week 1.

Bet: ML pass, Alabama -12.5 (-115), Over 50.5 (-110)

LSU Tigers vs. Clemson Tigers Odds

It’s the battle of the Tigers. Clemson figures to be right in the thick of the CFP race. Most experts have them listed as a top 10 team this season. The Tigers return a ton of talent, most notably QB Cade Klubnick.

Clemson won the ACC last season and made the playoffs. They are favored to win the conference again. The Tigers return eight starters on an offense that finished 18th in the nation in scoring last year, averaging 34.7 points per game.

The defense has six starters back and head coach Dabo Swinney went out and hired defensive coordinator Tom Allen away from Penn State. That move alone could pay big dividends for Clemson this fall.

LSU went 9-4 last season and it’s now Year 4 for head coach Brian Kelly. He’s gone 29-11 in three seasons, which is great, but Kelly hasn’t played for championships yet. This is his best roster. QB Garrett Nussmeier returns for his senior season and the Tigers avoid Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn on the regular season schedule.

LSU Tigers vs. Clemson Tigers Predictions

Kelly has now lost five of his last six games against AP Top 25-ranked opponents. Clemson is the preseason No. 5 team in the country. Kelly and LSU are ranked No. 7. Clemson went 10-4 and returns a ton of offensive talent.

LSU has Nussmeier back but not much else on offense. It will be a huge rebuild for Kelly. The defense has four returning starters and a couple edge rushers picked up in the transfer portal. Playing in Death Valley – that would be the one in South Carolina and home to Clemson – will be a huge advantage for Swinney and his Tigers.

Clemson went 6-8 ATS last season, failing to cover in six of its last eight games. With all the Tigers experience on both sides of the ball, they should be more prepared heading into this season.

These two teams haven’t played since 2020. It was the 2020 national championship game. Joe Burrow would lead LSU to a national title. There is no Joe Burrow, no Justin Jefferson, no Ja’Marr Chase this season. The more experienced home team prevails here. Klubnick and the offense should help push this total Over.

Bet: Clemson -142, Clemson -3 (-110), Over 56.5 (-110)

Utah Utes vs. UCLA Bruins Odds

UCLA holds the upper hand in this former Pac-12 rivalry. The Bruins are now members of the Big Ten and their first season in the conference didn’t go as planned. UCLA finished 5-7 and was one of the worst offensive teams in the country. UCLA finished 132nd in rush offense (86.8 ypg) and 126th in points per game (18.4).

The Bruins were not great against the spread, going 6-6 ATS last season. Because of their poor offense and a pretty respectable defense, eight of UCLA’s 12 games cashed on the Under. Utah playing in the Big 12, was very similar to the Bruins last season.

They finished with the exact same record – 5-7. The Utes also struggled offensively. QB Cameron Rising tried to come back for a seventh FBS season, but his injuries ultimately led him to retire from playing the game. The Utes averaged just 328.8 yards per game, which was 116th among last season’s 134 FBS programs.

Utah only covered the spread in five games last season, but they did cover in three of their final four. That’s because the offense averaged 32 points per game over the final four weeks. The game total also went Over in three of those final four games.

Utah Utes vs. UCLA Bruins Predictions

Five starters return to the Utah offense, which will have former New Mexico QB Devon Dampier running the offense. The defense also returns five starters and all Kyle Willingham teams are built around strong defense and solid running games. Dampier rushed for over 1,100 yards last year at New Mexico.

UCLA’s offense will undergo an overhaul. Tino Sunseri will call the offense and former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava will be under center. The Bruins return just three offensive starters. That could be a good thing since UCLA’s offense was so awful last year.

Utah has the advantage on offense, defense, and, especially, on the sideline. Whittingham has been the Utah head coach since 2005. His teams are well-coached, disciplined, and they don’t make a lot of mistakes. For a Bruins team in another year of transition, the only advantage they have is playing at home. That won’t be enough.

Bet: Utah -185, Utah -4 (-112), Under 50.5 (-110)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Odds

Can the Fighting Irish get back to the national championship game this season? The answer probably lies in the hands of some new players at key positions. The Irish had a season to remember in 2024. An upset loss to Northern Illinois early in the season was the only blemish during the regular season.

Like Notre Dame, Miami will replace some players in key positions, namely No. 1 NFL draft pick QB Cam Ward. The Hurricanes paid a ton of NIL money to bring in former national championship QB and Georgia Bulldog Carson Beck. Will he be worth it?

The Hurricanes stumbled down the stretch last season, losing three of their last four games to finish 10-3. They will return just three starters on offense. It will be very difficult to approach the 43.9 points per game that Miami scored last season.

The defense should be the strong point, at least early on, for the ‘Canes. New coordinator Corey Hetherman led Minnesota to the fifth-best total defense in the country last season. As good as the Hurricanes were last year, the defense gave up 30 or more points in five of eight ACC games. Miami went just 6-7 ATS in 2024.

The Irish played 16 games last season. They went 14-2 SU. Good teams win; great teams cover. Notre Dame was great last season, going 13-3 ATS. The Irish and Hurricanes have a strong rivalry too. Notre Dame has the upper hand, winning 17 of 26 meetings. The last time the two teams played was in 2017. Miami won 41-8.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Predictions

Two elite teams will break in new quarterbacks. It will be C.J. Carr for the Irish and Beck for the Hurricanes. Carr will have the advantage of having an All-American RB in Jeremiyah Love and his backup Jadarian Price. The pair ran for 1,871 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. Notre Dame also returns four offensive line starters. They’ll have the advantage on offense.

The Hurricanes will start Beck, but Miami must replace its top five receivers and a starting running back. The one area that is strong heading into the season is the offensive line. The Hurricanes went to the transfer portal to build the defense. With a new coordinator, the ‘Canes should be better than in 2024.

Miami won’t be able to match last year’s offense. The defense will have a hard time with the Notre Dame running game. The Irish will shorten the game with a heavy dose of their run game. Despite playing on the road, Notre Dame is favored for a reason. They’re the better team in Week 1.

Bet: Notre Dame -135, Notre Dame -2.5 (-115), Under 54.5 (-110)

TCU Horned Frogs vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Odds

Of course, the big news here is legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick taking over at UNC in the offseason. Even bigger news surrounds his relationship with his 24-year-old girlfriend. The Tar Heels offseason was similar to a reality show.

Can they play football this fall? We’ll find out early as the Tar Heels take on a pretty good and improving TCU defense. The Horned Frogs return six starters to a defense that got better as the year went on last season. They gave up 24.6 points per game, but gave up 13 or less in four of their final seven games of the season.

North Carolina will have an entirely new offense led by former South Alabama QB Gio Lopez. Only six starters total – four on offense, two on defense – return. The defense should be very much improved. That, of course, is due to the Belichick influence.

While the UNC defense should be improved, the TCU defense could be even better. As good as both offenses could be, the defenses will be farther along in Week 1. The two teams don’t have much history. They’ve played three times, the most recent during the 1997 season.

TCU Horned Frogs vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Predictions

If you’re planning to see an explosive North Carolina offense, you won’t. The Tar Heels will implement a more pro-style offensive attack with new QB Gio Lopez, who was at South Alabama last season. The strength of the Tar Heels will be defense. Remember, it’s Bill Belichick running the show. His son, Steve, will call the defense.

The younger Belichick will have his hands full. TCU had one of the better offenses in the country last year. They were eighth in passing, throwing for 312.9 yards per game. QB Josh Hoover and his single-season school record 3,949 passing yards return. The defense returns six starters and should be much better in Year 2 under DC Andy Avalos.

Belichick is a legend in the NFL. College football is a different animal. He’ll struggle early, especially on offense, as they play outside of the ACC to begin the season. That’s where TCU will excel with Hoover back to lead the offense. TCU went 9-4 last year, winning its last four games in a row. The Horned Frogs covered each of those four games too. TCU was a 2.5-point favorite at Cincinnati at the end of last season. The Frogs won by a touchdown.

Bet: TCU -142, TCU -2.5 (-115), Under 59.5 (-110)

Best College Football Week 1 Bets

Each week throughout the 2025 NCAAF season, the ScoresandStats college football experts put their heads together and come up with their best bets. Of the 7 to 10 games previewed each week, our handicappers will pick two or three of the bets they feel most confident in. Week 1’s best bets are as follows:

• TCU -2.5 @ North Carolina
• Notre Dame -135 @ Miami
• Texas @ Ohio State Under 50.5

Head coach Bill Belichick has been an outstanding coach at the NFL level. Will that translate to college football? Not necessarily. The Tar Heels offense will leave something to be desired early in the new season. TCU returns a ton of starters, including QB Josh Hoover who threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season. The Frogs will have enough to beat the Tar Heels on the road.

Notre Dame has tons of experience and a running game that will not be stopped by Miami’s defense. That running game, and Notre Dame’s defense, will shorten the game and give the Irish the edge.

The game of the day pits Ohio State against Texas. Fans will be expecting tons of offense with Arch Manning at quarterback for Texas. It will be the defenses that rule though. Defenses are always ahead of offenses early in a new season and the Buckeyes and Longhorns have two of the best units in college football. The line at 50.5 tells you the books expect a lower-scoring game. Don’t be surprised if this line drops below 50 before game time.