College Football Picks Against the Spread Week 1: Best Bets for This Weekend's Top Games

This weekend is loaded with heavyweight games for our college football picks, including a trio of top-10 matchups.

My college football picks against the spread for Week 1 break down the 20 best matchups, including Bill Belichick's Chapel Hill debut and Alabama's season-opening visit to the Sunshine State.

🏈 College football picks against the spread: Week 1

Week 1 ATS picks based on the best college football odds and subject to change; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

✅ My favorite Week 1 ATS picks

Here's a further breakdown of my best college football ATS picks for Week 1:

🐘 Alabama (-13.5) vs. Florida State 

Both Alabama and Florida State are coming off disappointing seasons, but the Crimson Tide still won nine games in Kalen DeBoer's debut season while the Seminoles followed up a 13-1 season by going 2-10. Despite it being the post-Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa, Alabama should be back to being a college football national championship odds contender this season.

That starts by handling business against a Florida State team that Mike Norvell basically imported via the transfer portal. The Seminoles are outside the top 50 in returning production with transfers starting at QB (Tommy Castellanos), four of the five O-line spots, and two of the three receiver spots (true freshman Jayvan Boggs is starting at the other).

Meanwhile, Alabama is No. 2 in SP+ and the only team ranked in the top six in both offense and defense. Even if new starting QB Ty Simpson gets off to a slow start, he's playing behind an O-line led by potential All-Americans Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford and throwing to one of the best wide receiver trios in the country (Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton). And the defense is just as good thanks to LT Overton, Deontae Lawson, and Domani Jackson.

You can bet the best number for this game at bet365, where the Crimson Tide are priced just short of two-touchdown favorites at -110 odds.

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose*

*Deposit required. Mobile app only. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Referral Codes are used for marketing/tracking purposes only.

Claim Now

🐔 South Carolina (-7.5) vs. Virginia Tech

The hype around this South Carolina team is palpable, and rightfully so with LaNorris Sellers back behind center. The Heisman Trophy odds contender has the Gamecocks set to be one of the toughest matchups this Virginia Tech team sees all season, with the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder having a rare combo of power and explosiveness as a runner to go with his rocket launcher of a right arm.

The Hokies will have a lot of new faces around QB Kyron Drones, too, with this team sitting No. 65 in returning production and relying heavily on transfers to replace players who will either be playing on Sundays this fall or starting at other Power Four programs. That doesn't set Virginia Tech up well to stop a South Carolina team that should be dangerous running the ball with Sellers and Rahsul Faison.

However, it's the matchup on the other side of this game that sets South Carolina up to cover this 8-point spread at Caesars. Virginia Tech replaces all five starters along the O-line and has to attempt to block sophomore stud Dylan Stewart for four quarters. He and Sellers have the Gamecocks sitting No. 17 in SP+, while the Hokies are just No. 42.

Bet $1, Get Twenty 100% Profit Boosts

New users only. Must use promo code. Min. $10 deposit. Max. bonus is twenty 100% Profit Boost tokens. Profit Boost tokens expire in 14 days. Void where prohibited. Full terms.    

Claim Boosts

🐸 TCU (-3.5) vs. North Carolina 

In a wide-open Big 12 conference defined by parity, TCU is a dark-horse contender by the College Football Playoff odds with one of the most underrated passers in the country in Josh Hoover. The third-year starter has the Horned Frogs ranked No. 19 in SP+ on offense and poised to spoil Belichick's first game in Chapel Hill.

With Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Joseph Manjack IV (Houston) joining Eric McAlister at wide receiver, Hoover should have no trouble picking apart a North Carolina team ranked No. 93 in returning defensive production and No. 68 in SP+ on defense. The Tar Heels are expected to start double-digit transfers on defense, and it will likely take this unit a while to mesh in Steve Belichick's scheme.

TCU isn't known for its defense under Sonny Dykes, but it has a whole lot more continuity than the Tar Heels, ranking top 40 in returning production. Even with North Carolina's offense expected to be better than its defense, thanks to South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez at QB, UNC could have trouble keeping up with Dykes' air raid attack.

Up To $1,500 First Bet

Bonus bets will expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Claim $1,500

📰 Latest college football news: Week 1

• UNC head coach Bill Belichick named transfer QB Gio Lopez as the team's Week 1 starter versus TCU
• Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards is reportedly out for Saturday's matchup against North Dakota after hurting his ankle in the opener versus Iowa State
• Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III will reportedly miss this weekend's game at Florida State

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.