College Football Week Zero Odds and Best Bets

Best bets and analysis for the first slate of college football games.

The kickoff of the 2022 NCAA college football season commences with an 11-game slate Saturday.

Alabama (+190) and Georgia (+330) are the betting favorites at SI Sportsbook to win the national title, well ahead of the field in the futures market. However, fans of the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will have to wait until Sept. 3 to see their teams in action.

Bettors can wager on ranked teams Sept. 1 as No. 12 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Pittsburgh and No. 22 Wake Forest all play in a loaded prime-time slate.

College Football Betting Previews: SEC | Big Ten | 2023 No. 1 Pick | Heisman | Big 12 | ACC | Pac-12 | Notre Dame

Despite no ranked teams being in action this weekend, respected money in Vegas has found three matchups to target—two home underdogs and one road favorite!

Over the last two seasons, the respected money betting information from Las Vegas shared at SI Betting has posted a 46-33 (56.6 %) ATS record on NCAA football.

Bet on College Football at SI Sportsbook

Kevin D. Liles/Sports Illustrated

Nevada (0-0) vs. New Mexico State (0-0)

Spread: Nevada -9 (-110) | New Mexico State +9 (-118)
Moneyline: Nevada (-376) | New Mexico State (+250)
Total: 50.5 – Over (-118) | Under 50.5 (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages: NEV 67% | NMST 33%
Game Info: Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 | 10 p.m. ET | ESPN
Editor’s Note - Odds are subject to change.

This line has dropped since opening with New Mexico State as a 12.5-point home underdog against Nevada to the Wolf Pack now laying nine points at SI Sportsbook.

Respected money has pushed this number down in Vegas since its opening in May, despite public money strongly supporting Nevada.

Both teams will have new head coaches this season as Nevada heads into Mountain West action with Ken Wilson at the helm. Jay Norvell, who coached the Wolf Pack for five seasons, left to join Colorado State. The Wolf Pack, who have just six returning starters, face a 2022 season with a new quarterback. Previous signal-caller Carson Strong and star wide receiver Romeo Doubs both left for the NFL.

New Mexico State also welcomes a new coach in Jerry Kill.

Despite the new men in power, this game will be won in the trenches. The Aggies have a major edge over a suspect Nevada offensive line which projects to rank among the worst units in the Mountain Westthis upcoming season.

New Mexico State was just 2-10 straight-up (SU) last year but, more importantly for bettors, it posted a highly profitable 6-2-1 against the spread (ATS) mark.

The Wolf Pack are clearly on upset alert against New Mexico State. Grab the points with the home underdog.

BET: New Mexico State +9 (-118)

GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK

North Texas (0-0) vs. UTEP (0-0)

Spread: North Texas -1 (-110) | UTEP +1 (-118)
Moneyline: North Texas (-118) | UTEP (-110)
Total: 54.5 – Over (-118) | Under 55 (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages: UNT 51% | UTEP 49%
Game Info: Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 | 9 p.m. ET
Editor’s Note - Odds are subject to change.

The line has dropped one point from the initial opener of North Texas as a two-point road favorite against UTEP. Bettors at SI Sportsbook now find a line currently displaying UTEP as just a one-point home underdog.

According to my Vegas sources, the line is expected to flip with the Miners as small favorites by kickoff Saturday.

North Texas has won the last five meetings dating back to 2017 but respected money in Vegas believes UTEP will end the drought against its Conference USA rival. A deeper dive reveals that over the last two seasons, the Miners have only come up short against the Green Wave by a combined total of just five points.

Expect junior quarterback Gavin Hardison to finally seal the deal against the conference foe. Playing this game before a sold-out crowd at the Sun Bowl will give UTEP the edge its need to finally end the losing streak to North Texas.

BET: UTEP +1 (-118)

Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Vanderbilt (0-0) vs. Hawaii (0-0)

Spread: Vanderbilt -8 (-118) | Hawaii +8 (-110)
Moneyline: Vanderbilt (-333) | Hawaii (+240)
Total: 53.5 – Over (-118) | Under 53.5 (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages: VAN 41% | HAW 59%
Game Info: Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 | 10:30 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Network
Editor’s Note - Odds are subject to change.

The line has steamed since opening with Vanderbilt as a six-point road favorite following consistent sharp support in favor of the Commodores. SI Sportsbook, despite finding the public backing Hawaii, has been forced to move the line through the prime number of a full touchdown demand to Vanderbilt as an eight-point favorite.

Hawaii first-year head coach Timmy Chang will inject enthusiasm into his alma mater but his lack of coaching experience makes the Rainbow Warriors a target to fade.

Vanderbilt is coming off a disappointing 2-10 season, which included the dubious distinction of going 0-8 in SEC play. However, Clark Lea’s Commodores find a massive edge in overall talent in this matchup as Hawaii is in the midst of a major rebuild in 2022 after a significant number of players left the program.

Hawaii, on its third head coach since 2019, has lacked stability at the top of the program, which results in a season wins total betting projection of only 4.5 wins.

Vanderbilt, despite a porous 0-6 record in its final six games of last season, rewarded backers with an impressive 5-1 ATS mark over that span.

Despite the Commodores being favored for the first time in the eight games dating back to the October of last season, respected money is not afraid to lay points. 

BET: Vanderbilt -8 (-118)

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2021 SI Betting NCAA Football: 14-12 ATS
2020 SI Betting NCAA Football: 32-21 ATS

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Frankie Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program ever offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Frankie is SI Betting's Senior Analyst and provides his significant experience and resources in the sports betting scene. You can follow Frankie on Twitter @Frankie_Fantasy for his latest betting and fantasy insights from Las Vegas.

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