Week 1 of the college football rolls on, as we take a look at our best bets for the afternoon slate.
With plenty of games on the slate, we have a Group of 5 best bet from Mike Ianniello, an Alabama vs. Florida State pick from Stuckey and more.
Let's dive into our college football best bets and NCAAF picks for Saturday afternoon's Week 1 games.
College Football Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 2:30 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
 | All Day | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Ianniello's Best Bet From Group of 5 Card
Indiana had a miraculous 2024 season, posting an 11-2 record in the first year under head coach Curt Cignetti.
But the Hoosiers lost a ton of production from last year’s stacked roster. They did a good job filling those holes in the transfer portal (especially on offense), but I especially worried about the defensive front (which returns only Mikail Kamara).
Creating Havoc was the strength of the Hoosiers’ defense last season, and if they take a step back in that department this year, it will really open up the door for Old Dominion star quarterback Colton Joseph.
Joseph took over as the full-time starter in Week 6 of last season, and he took the offense to another level. Across eight starts, the redshirt freshman threw for 1,627 yards with 11 touchdowns while adding 647 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He ranked fifth among Sun Belt players in total offense, and he could improve this season with more experience under his belt.
On the other side of the ball, Old Dominion has arguably the best linebacker corps in the Group of Five. All-American linebacker Jason Henderson returns after a season-ending injury in Week 1 last season, and he is joined by fellow returnees Mario Thompson, Jahleel Culbreath, and Koa Naotala to form a stout group that should slow down this Indiana rushing attack.
The team was excellent at not wasting possessions last season. They had the best red-zone offense in the country, consistently capitalizing on scoring opportunities. That will be key when trying to stay within a considerable number against a Big Ten opponent.
Head coach Ricky Rahne’s teams have shown they are not afraid of the moment in early-season games.
In 2022, the Monarchs upset Virginia Tech in the season opener and lost by two at Virginia on a game-winning field goal.
In 2023, they lost by three to Wake Forest after leading in the fourth quarter.
Last season, Old Dominion largely outplayed South Carolina in Columbia, but four turnovers gave the Gamecocks easy touchdowns to escape with just a four-point win.
Indiana ran up the score against all its non-conference opponents last year, but I still think the Hoosiers are getting too much love in this spot. The Hoosiers are patching a lot of holes, while the Monarchs have stars on both sides of the ball that consistently stepped up against higher-level competition.
Check out all of Mike's Group of 5 best bets in his weekly column:
Pick: Old Dominion +24.5 (-118, DraftKings)
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Stuckey's Best Bet From BBOC Podcast
By Stuckey
I project the Seminoles as 11-point underdogs on Saturday, so I’m looking to bet them at +14 or better.
I think new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and new quarterback Thomas Castellanos could have some success running against Alabama’s defense. Hopefully, they’re grinding tape of the Alabama-Oklahoma game from last season, when Jackson Arnold ran all over the Tide.
Ultimately, I expect Florida State to throw the kitchen sink at Alabama in front of the Seminole faithful.
Alabama’s defense has no holes, but there are some questions on the offense, including the offensive line and the injury to running back Jam Miller.
Listen to the entire BBOC Week 1 preview episode here:
Pick: Florida State +14 (-110, BetMGM)
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Our Featured Bet Labs System
This game aligns with one of our Bet Labs PRO betting systems, Big Spread Low Total Overs.
Large home favorites in non-conference matchups often create conditions for higher scoring than the market anticipates.
When the point spread is wide but the total is set low, it signals expectations of a dominant performance by one side while undervaluing their ability to score quickly and consistently.
Non-conference games can feature mismatches in talent and depth, leading to offensive surges and late scoring from backups against overmatched defenses.
This combination often pushes the total Over despite conservative pregame projections.
James Franklin typically lays it on his lower-level non-conference opponents — his teams are 9-3 ATS against Group of 5 or FCS opponents and 4-0 ATS as a favorite of 35 or more.
There’s a chance Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton put up 55 by themselves.
Like our Bet Labs systems? Get an Action PRO subscription! Click here:
Pick: Over 54.5 (-110, BetMGM)
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Duck's Full Action App Card
Need more picks for Saturday? Our guy Duck is always super active in the Action Network App, and he's been on a heater, winning 18 of his past 21 college football bets!
If you haven't already, make sure you download the free award-winning Action Network App to track all your bets and tail all of your favorite experts:
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