College football Week 0 picks, predictions against the spread

Place your bets: College Football HQ makes predictions against the spread for the biggest games on the Week 0 schedule

James Parks | Aug 26, 2023

College football Week 0 picks, predictions against the spread /

A pair of old rivals will open up the Week 0 college football action this weekend, although not on the same field. In fact, they'll be almost 5,200 miles away from each other, as Notre Dame opens up against rival Navy in Dublin, while USC kicks off in primetime at the Coliseum against San Jose State. With those and other games on tap, it's time to make our inaugural predictions against the spread for the 2023 season.

How did we do a year ago? College Football HQ went 170-85-2 overall against the spread with a 66.1 percent success rate. Let's get in on the 2023 games.

Lines courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Notre Dame vs. Navy

Line: Notre Dame -20.5

The word: The Middies played ND close in a loss last season, but this year the Irish have transfer quarterback Sam Hartman working behind a stout line and alongside a gifted backfield; Hartman has thrown 77 TD passes in the last two seasons, the most of any Power Five quarterback. Navy was 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 a year ago while the Irish were 6-4 ATS. Notre Dame should spread the field better than in years past while its able run-stop contains Navy's option attack.

ATS pick: Notre Dame wins 36-13 and covers the spread

UTEP at Jacksonville State

Line: UTEP -1

The word: JSU plays its first game as an FBS team after joining Conference USA and head coach Rich Rodriguez returns quarterback Zion Webb, who had 23 combined touchdowns last season. And while UTEP returns a solid offensive line and a quarterback who can produce, Jacksonville State can run the ball with authority, posting over 420 yards and 5.6 yards per carry a year ago and boasts receivers who can stretch the field.

ATS pick: Jacksonville State wins 33-24 in an upset

UMass at New Mexico State

Line: New Mexico State -6.5

The word: UMass, considered the worst team in college football this preseason, returns an offense that posted under 13 points per game, but brings on Clemson transfer quarterback Taisun Phommachanh to liven things up. Meanwhile, Jerry Kill's Aggie team has four receivers back plus its starting QB and will play better defense in the trenches.

ATS pick: New Mexico State wins 24-13 and covers the spread

Ohio at San Diego State

Line: San Diego State -3

The word: The return of Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke and his receivers are a major plus for an offense that averaged almost 32 points per game last season and brings back an experience line to hold it together. And while the Aztecs back seven may struggle to contain the Bobcats' deeper threats, their linebackers should hold against the run and they have the ability to maintain possession on the ground.

ATS pick: San Diego State wins 31-27 and covers the spread

Hawai'i at Vanderbilt

The line: Vanderbilt -17.5

The word: Don't expect another blowout after Vandy smacked the Warriors 63-10 in last year's opener, but the Commodores do return quarterback A.J. Swann and can run the ball well enough against a Hawai'i defense that allowed almost 213 ground yards per game last season.

ATS pick: Vanderbilt wins 33-17 and doesn't cover the spread

San Jose State at USC

The line: USC -30.5

The word: Don't worry about USC moving the football. That should come easily enough with Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams dealing to another batch of elite targets. All eyes are on the Trojan defense. Week 0 is actually a good test against a veteran quarterback in Chevan Cordeiro, who passed for 23 touchdowns and had just 6 INTs a year ago, he's working behind a solid line, and heads an offense that doesn't turn the ball over that much.

ATS pick: USC wins 48-21 and doesn't cover the spread

FIU at Louisiana Tech

The line: Louisiana Tech -11.5

The word: These two played a crazy double-OT thriller with 800 combined yards and a close FIU win a year ago, which makes this number notable, in addition to Tech playing lousy defense to a 3-9 finish last season. The addition of former Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier is the biggest difference this time around, provided the line can keep him clean. If it can, he should work against FIU's secondary.

ATS pick: Louisiana Tech wins 35-32 and doesn't cover the spread

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