College Football Betting Trends Week 0: Key Notes & Predictions for Saturday

College football is back with a five-pack of games on Saturday, and before locking in any bets on the weekend's schedule, let's break down the latest college football betting trends for Week 0.

🗓️ College football Week 0 schedule

There are five FBS games in Week 0, headlined by a top-25 conference clash from across the pond:

• No. 17 Kansas State vs. No. 22 Iowa State (in Dublin), noon ET (ESPN)
• Idaho State at UNLV, 4 p.m. ET (MWC Digital)
• Fresno State at Kansas, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Sam Houston at Western Kentucky, 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN)
• Stanford at Hawaii, 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

👉 Check out the college football odds and predictions for more Week 0 analysis and picks

🏈 Kansas State vs. Iowa State preview

📊 Latest Kansas State vs. Iowa State odds

🔢 Kansas State vs. Iowa State betting trends

• Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings with Kansas State outright
• The Cyclones were 8-6 and the Wildcats were 4-9 against the spread last season
• Iowa State has excelled in underdog spots, going 5-1 ATS over its last six under Matt Campbell
• Kansas State was 1-6 ATS away from home in 2024
• Underdogs are 2-1 SU in the last three season openers played in Dublin

🔮 Kansas State vs. Iowa State prediction

The Wildcats have struggled against the Cyclones since Chris Kleiman took over in Manhattan. Kansas State has won just twice in six tries with the aforementioned at the helm. However, I believe this is the game Avery Johnson will kick off his Heisman Trophy long shot odds charge.

This is one of the sport's most storied, underrated rivalries, with 108 all-time meetings in the books. However, only twice during that span have games been played away from either Ames or Manhattan. Kansas State is 2-0 in those games - played in Kansas City in 2009-10 - and looks to improve to 3-0 in Week 0.

✅ Best bet: Kansas State -3 (-110 via Caesars)

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🏈 Idaho State vs. UNLV preview

📊 Live Idaho State vs. UNLV odds

🔢 Idaho State vs. UNLV betting trends

• UNLV covered at a 64.29% clip in two years under Barry Odom
• Idaho State is 0-5 SU against Mountain West opponents since 2021, losing by an average of 31.8 points per game
• New Rebels head coach Dan Mullen was 103-61 SU and 86-78 ATS in his 13 years at Mississippi State and Florida
• The Bengals' last victory over a Mountain West team came in 2017 (30-28 win at Nevada)
• UNLV is 3-0 all-time against Idaho State, outscoring its Big Sky opponent 186-39 in that span

🔮 Idaho State vs. UNLV prediction

Barry Odom breathed new life into this UNLV program. It's been left in the capable hands of Dan Mullen as the former departs for the greener pastures in West Lafayette, Ind. Mullen brought in a myriad of talented transfers, who debut in their new threads against an Idaho State team that surrendered 117 points in the final two weeks of last season.

✅ Best bet: UNLV -26.5 (-110 via ESPN BET)

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🏈 Fresno State vs. Kansas preview

📊 Live Fresno State vs. Kansas odds

🔢 Fresno State vs. Kansas betting trends

• Kansas finished 5-7 ATS overall and 3-3 ATS at home* last season
• Tim Skipper covered at a 50% clip as Fresno State's interim head coach last season
• The Jayhawks are 4-0 SU and ATS in opening games under Lance Leipold
• Fresno State and Kansas combined to go 12-11-2 to the Under during the 2024 campaign

* Kansas played its home games in Kansas City with David Booth Memorial Stadium undergoing renovations

🔮 Fresno State vs. Kansas prediction

Should you side with the familiar tandem of Leipold and Jalon Daniels at home, or the unknown of Matt Entz and E.J. Warner on the road? The answer should be obvious. Warner is too turnover prone to trust in a tough road environment, and Daniels is too good to slip up in this spot.

✅ Best bet: Kansas -12.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

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🏈 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky preview

📊 Live Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky odds

🔢 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky betting trends

• Sam Houston was 7-6 ATS last season
• Western Kentucky is 43-35-2 ATS under Tyson Helton, including 7-7 last year
• The Conference USA contenders combined to go Under at a 62.96% clip in the previous campaign
• The Hilltoppers are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS versus the Bearkats since the latter joined the FBS
• Sam Houston and Western Kentucky's previous two meetings have gone Under the total

🔮 Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky prediction

Helton has a knack for turning FCS transfers from Texas into stars in Bowling Green, Ky. - just ask Bailey Zappe. His newest recruit, Abilene Christian transfer Maverick McIvor, makes his FBS debut in this Conference USA clash.

Phil Longo also makes his FBS debut as a head coach for a Sam Houston team that's been unable to beat the Hilltoppers in the last two seasons. I believe the wait for that elusive win will have to wait another year, as I trust the experience of the home team more than I do a road underdog.

The Bearkats returning zero defensive starters ultimately scares me off the Under, which seems like an obvious bet based on the trends. There are too many changes on both sidelines for me to bank on previous results.

✅ Best bet: Western Kentucky -10.5 (-108 via DraftKings)

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🏈 Stanford vs. Hawaii preview

📊 Live Stanford vs. Hawaii odds

🔢 Stanford vs. Hawaii betting trends

• Stanford was 9-14-1 ATS overall under Troy Taylor, covering in just two of its last seven away from home
• The Cardinal's interim, Frank Reich, finished with an ATS record of 40-44-4 in the NFL
• Hawaii has gone 23-12 to the Under in its last 35 games
• The Rainbow Warriors have covered the spread in their last eight contests at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex
• Hawaii is 0-4 SU all-time against Stanford, with all four games being played in Honolulu

🔮 Stanford vs. Hawaii prediction

I like Hawaii in this spot, but it's hard to ignore the black mark on their program's resume that is its history against Stanford. The Rainbow Warriors have also looked directionless in recent years. Further, we have yet to see how Frank Reich's coaching style translates to the college game.

I'm going to play it safe and lean Under 51 points. Hawaii is 23-15 to the Under during Timmy Chang's three-year tenure thus far, and 51 points is a lot to ask of two oft-inconstent offenses.

✅ Best bet: Under 51 (-110 via Caesars)

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❓College football trends FAQs

How do college football spread odds work?

When betting on college football, the favorite needs to win by a certain number of points to cover the "point spread" - also known as the betting line. Conversely, the underdog needs to lose by fewer than the points displayed in the spread or win outright to cash. For example, a 3-point favorite would need to win by more than a field goal to reward bettors.

How do college football moneyline odds work?

When betting on college football, the underdog will have the "longer" odds and is typically priced at "plus-money" odds that indicate the profit on a $100 bet. For example, a team with +150 odds would turn a $100 bet into a $150 profit - or a $10 bet into a $15 profit - according to our odds converter.

Where can I find the best college football betting odds?

Shop around our best college football betting sites to find the best odds for your college football picks. Our best sports betting sites for all sports include BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings.

🏆 College football odds pages

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