We're back.
Our staff has been waiting all Summer for this very moment: To dive deep for some Week 0 winners.
We have four best bets for the five-game FBS slate, including picks from experts Collin Wilson, Doug Ziefel and Michael Calabrese.
Read on for our college football picks, best bets and Week 0 predictions for Saturday, August 23.
College Football Best Bets for Week 0
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
 | 12 p.m. | |
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. | ||
Collin Wilson's Best Bet for Week 0
There are avenues for both teams to move the ball.
Kansas State has question marks in the secondary. I suspect quarterback Rocco Becht will attack through the air, given the Wildcats’ front should be able to shut down the Cyclones’ rushing attack.
Iowa State is sure to use the three-tight-end package with pre-snap motion and misdirection. The Cyclones should beat Kansas State at the second level through the short passing game.
The Wildcats' offensive line should control the line of scrimmage against the Cyclones' new three-man front, meaning running back Dylan Edwards and quarterback Avery Johnson should generate plenty of quality drives and scoring attempts.
These two teams have played in barn burners recently, combining for 60-plus points in the past two head-to-head matchups.
Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is also known for higher-scoring first halves during College Football Week 0 kickoffs. Dating back to 2022, the Air Lingus College Football Classic has seen at least 28 points scored in the first half.
The combination of fresh defenses with missed tackle assignments against offensive plays that have been scripted all summer has created explosive plays for teams such as Northwestern, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.
Look for scoring to start early, as Mother Nature may have a few rain showers to help in destabilizing defensive players on a slick track.
Kansas State will control the line of scrimmage on offense, while Becht will find multiple ways to attack a subpar Wildcats secondary.
Check out the rest of Wilson's Week 0 card here:
Pick: 1H Over 24.5 (-110, DraftKings)
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Doug Ziefel's Top Player Prop Pick for Week 0
By Doug Ziefel
Fresno State running back Bryson Donelson is set to thrive in a new-look offense for Fresno State.
New head coach Matt Entz enters after a season as an assistant coach at USC, but was a dominant head coach for five years prior at North Dakota State.
Under Entz, NDSU went 60-11 and won two FCS National Championships. His offense was a heavy rushing attack; he's expected to implement that scheme with the Bulldogs' bevy of backfield talent.
Donelson is at the forefront of that crowded backfield as he thrived down the stretch. Donelson racked up 263 yards over the final three games of the 2024 season, which included a two-touchdown performance in their bowl game against Northern Illinois.
In addition to all this, Donelson will likely be trusted in the red zone as the new starting quarterback, E.J. Warner, has a history of throwing interceptions as the field shrinks.
Finally, the matchup is not bad, given all the opportunities Donelson should have here. Kansas has a lot of unproven pieces in the second and third levels, which could mean some big runs against a unit that ranked 82nd nationally in yards per rush allowed last season.
Check out the rest of Ziefel's Week 0 player prop picks here:
Pick: Bryson Donelson Anytime Touchdown (+130, bet365)
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BBOC Group of 5 Deep Dive's Best Bet for Week 0
My first best bet of the 2025 season is the Sam Houston State-Western Kentucky Over.
I’d play it at 64.5 or better.
This season should be crazy for Bearkats, who lost their head coach, defensive coordinator, and the top 16 tacklers from last year’s rock-solid defense. They are going to take a monster step back on that side of the ball.
On the other side of the ball, the offense returns solid dual-threat quarterback Hunter Watson, and new head coach Phil Longo should immediately up the tempo, as the Hilltoppers played at a plodding, ball-control pace last season.
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky lost the top 12 tacklers from last year’s defense, and the Hilltoppers brought in a new defensive coordinator. They may also take a monster step back.
A few years ago, the Topps brought in an offensive coordinator-quarterback combination from Houston Baptist. Bailey Zappe went on to set the FBS record for passing yards and touchdowns in a season.
This year, they’re pulling a similar move, bringing in offensive coordinator Rick Bowie and quarterback Maverick McIvor from Abilene Christian, who punched a ticket to the FCS playoff last season behind nearly 4,000 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns.
Bowie and McIvor will run their “IndyCar Tempo” offense. The Wildcats ran over 1,000 plays on offense last season.
That had a dual effect, as their offense scored a lot, but they left their defense on the field far too often. Abilene Christian allowed over 3,000 rushing yards last season and seldom got stops, which could be a bad recipe for stopping a dual-threat quarterback.
I project this total at 67.5. I think the market is off by a full touchdown on a game that’s yearning for a shootout. McIvor should cook against a green Sam Houston defense, while Watson should rush for over 100 yards.
Listen to the whole Group of 5 Deep Dive Week 0 episode here:
Pick: Over 61.5 (-105, DraftKings)
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Our Featured Bet Labs System Pick for Week 0
Here's our favorite Action PRO Bet Labs Betting System for Week 0, powered by our own Evan Abrams:
This system identifies games where strong winds can disrupt passing accuracy, limit explosive plays, and force offenses to lean more heavily on the run. When wind speeds climb into double-digits, deep throws become risky, and special teams often struggle to flip field position.
Windy conditions have long been a great equalizer in college football, especially in the first half, when teams are still settling into rhythm. This betting system angle captures how winds can suppress scoring, especially early, before fatigue or desperation shifts play calling.
Well, we're expecting heavy winds on the Island when the Rainbow Warriors host the Cardinal on Saturday:
As a few of our experts have noted on BBOC this week — specifically, Duck and Wilson — Stanford's offense was going to start slow regardless of the weather. The Cardinal have essentially zero returning experience, and new general manager Andrew Luck has turned over the coaching staff. With no continuity and a long week of travel, we expect the offense to get off to a sluggish start in the first half-dozen possessions.
At the same time, Hawaii's defense might be pretty good. The top five tacklers from last year's squad return. Linebackers Jamih Otis and Logan Taylor, alongside defensive end Jackie Johnson III, lead arguably the best front seven in the Mountain West. The Rainbow Warriors ranked in the top 30 nationally in Defensive Line Yards last season, and they should again with all the returning production.
The inexperienced, sluggish Stanford offense might be forced to run directly into that stacked box, as quarterback Ben Gulbranson might not be able to throw effectively into 15 MPH cross-field winds.
We all have high hopes for Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado in Tommy Chang's run-and-shoot offense, especially with a talented pass-catching corps and a reasonably experienced offensive line. On any typical day, the Bows would be able to carve up Stanford's defense, but I struggle to see that happening in windy conditions.
I like this system, and I love this wager.
Pick: 1H Under 24.5 (-114, FanDuel)
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Stuckey's Full Action App Card for Week 0
Need more action for Week 0? It's always wise to see what our own Stuckey is betting on each Saturday.
Farmaggedon should be a blast, and Stuck thinks the Wildcats get the job done. He talked about that and much more in BBOC's Week 0 Betting Preview.
Here's a little Wildcat-related tidbit from the show:
I'm super, super low on the Cyclones.
Given who they lost from last year’s team, I think their defense takes a step back. More importantly, their offense lost two 1,000-yard receivers and their two best offensive linemen from last year’s team.
Iowa State is going to try to run the ball with multiple tight end sets, but I worry about the offensive line’s ability to run block. Meanwhile, Kansas State’s front seven should be strong against the run.
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