College Football Upset Picks: Our Best Underdog Bets for Week 0

The eight-game slate on Week 0 looks more and more like it could be filled with blowouts. Two weeks ago, five of the games featured spreads within one possession. That is down to four, and North Dakota State could also be a two-score favorite at some point.

There is no need to get drastic in your Week 0 search for some college football upset picks. If looking for an outright underdog, stay selective and patient as part of your college football Week 0 bets.

🏈 Best college football upset picks for Week 0

See all of our experts' college football picks for Week 0 based on the latest college football odds.

🔮 Best college football underdog bets this week

Hawaii (+160) over Stanford

If this matchup were on a neutral field, it would likely be priced as a pick ’em. On the road, Hawaii is a 3.5- to 4.5-point underdog, depending on which of the best sports betting sites you're using. In a vacuum, that makes sense. Playing at home should be worth about three points.

But Stanford do not really enjoy a genuine homefield advantage, does it? We can all acknowledge this reality. This spread and corresponding moneyline are both inflated.

As soon as Stanford’s offense stumbles with Davis Warren at the helm, Hawaii's offense should take control of the game thanks to the explosive and delightful play of Micah Alejado. For two incomplete teams, that much of an edge behind center should be decisive.

NC State (+165) over Virginia

If you're looking for an underdog in Week 0 and not satisfied by the idea of Hawaii, consider NC State.

This ACC tilt - which is not in Rio de Janeiro as originally planned - should be dictated by the two defenses. Instead, it'll be in Charlottesville, Va.

Neither NC State nor the Virginia Cavaliers are returning offenses of note, despite the Wolfpack still having CJ Bailey at quarterback. So, a defensive slog could come down to Bailey making plays at the end of the game. That could be worth a +165 ticket.

I wrote more about this game in my early NC State vs. Virginia prediction.