College Football Best Bets for Week 0

Week 0 of the college football season is finally here, and if the chaos of Thursday’s FCS games was any indication, we are in for an electric 2026. We have an eight-game FBS slate this Saturday, and I’m highlighting my absolute favorite spots to bet. I’ll be dropping these picks weekly and tracking them all for full transparency.

You can also follow our experts in the Bet Tracker.

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. TCU Horned Frogs (Ireland)

(TCU -9.5, O/U 46.5, DraftKings Sportsbook)

College football in Ireland has a rich history dating back to 1988. After sporadic Dublin games in 2012, 2014 and 2016, the series became a permanent Week 0 staple in 2022. Aside from Notre Dame’s 42-3 dismantling of Navy in 2023, these overseas matchups tend to be intense, one-possession affairs with three of the last four decided by a mere 3 points.

It feels like a large portion of the market is driving the hype train on TCU this week. Between overseas travel dynamics, early-season kinks, roster change and public bias inflating the line, the Horned Frogs have several factors working against them. I’m not at all convinced they comfortably cover a rising number. 

This is a vastly different TCU team than the one that handed UNC a 48-14 beating last season. While the Tar Heels are navigating plenty of roster turnover themselves, they retain a level of core continuity at key positions that TCU simply lacks right now. Expect the Frogs to operate at a far less frenetic tempo than in years past as they transition to life under Ivy League transfer Jaden Craig. 

Craig was a legendary performer at Harvard, leaving as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. The talent is undeniable, but jumping from the FCS to a Power 4 starter’s role carries a steep learning curve. Additionally, the Frogs must replace all-world wideout Eric McAlister, whose out-of-eligibility departure leaves a massive 1,190-yard hole in the offense. 

Compounding those on-field questions is a cloud of off-field drama hovering over the program. One of the Frogs top defenders, Jacob Fields, was recently dismissed from the team after a locker room incident that sent wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma to the hospital. To make matters worse, TCU sparked additional negative press by revoking the credentials of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram over its coverage of the altercation. At the end of the day, we are talking about college kids, and these non-stop distractions only heighten the pressure on a team attempting to replace a lot of its core.

Say what you will about the Heels and their own offseason media circus, but they fielded a top-40 defensive unit last year and have a bona fide star in returning WR Jordan Shipp. They also bring valuable continuity to the backfield, with key cogs Benjamin Hall and Demon June returning to anchor the running game. At quarterback, Maryland/Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. was named the starter; while he may not be an elite player at the position, he is more than competent enough to manage the game and distribute the ball to his playmakers.

The market has also taken notice, driving the total down toward 46.5 points. In a game expected to feature lower scoring and fewer possessions, variance increases. When you factor in the travel, a new starting quarterback, off-field distractions, and a lower game total, expecting TCU to cover a double-digit spread is simply asking too much. Give me the Tar Heels and the points. 

Best Bet

UNC +9.5 (-115)

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. North Dakota State Bison

(NDSU -6.5, O/U 46.5, FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Bison have been an FCS powerhouse for quite some time, and now they’re making the move to the FBS level as a member of the revamped Mountain West Conference. I don’t use the word powerhouse lightly either as this is a program with an FCS-record 10 national championships. Needless to say, this is a team with a rabid fanbase, and they have thrived under the “giant killer” moniker, boasting a 9-5 record against FBS schools since 2004. 

Jacksonville State commands respect as another program that successfully transitioned from the FCS ranks, even earning back-to-back C-USA Championship Game appearances. The Gamecocks do have to replace star running back Cam Cook after he departed for the Power 4, but they return an experienced signal-caller in Caden Creel, one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in the G6. Their biggest test will come up front, as only a single starter returns on the offensive line. For an offense whose entire identity relies on establishing a dominant ground attack, that lack of upfront continuity is a red flag.

The 19,000-seat Fargodome will be rocking as it hosts its first ever FBS matchup. We all know a boisterous home crowd can impact a game dramatically and make no mistake about it, they’ll be a huge factor.

The Bison had to replace key pieces on their roster just like everyone else but they do return three members of the offensive line, two of which have multiple accolades. The Bison are a bit of an “O-line factory” having four members of their offensive line drafted to the NFL in the 2020s. Senior Nathan Hayes will run the offense after spending four years as the backup QB. Hayes possesses sneaky mobility, and I expect him to exploit JSU’s defense behind this elite, veteran protection. 

Last year, the defense held five opponents to single-digit scoring and they’ll be returning multiple starters from that group which gives them balance on both sides of the ball. I trust the Bison to win the all-important trench war and catapult themselves to a 7-plus-point win off the back of their energetic crowd. 

Best Bet

NDSU -6.5 (-117)