The long wait is over as the 2024 college football season kicks off with the Week 0 college football schedule on Saturday, August 24. While it may be a much lighter schedule than a normal week, it will feature a matchup between familiar rivals as Georgia Tech and Florida State face off at noon ET. The Seminoles are coming off an undefeated regular season and are 11.5-point favorites going into their first matchup of the year, according to our Week 0 college football odds. Do you expect FSU to cover the spread in the game taking place in Dublin, Ireland?
With three other games on the schedule, there are multiple college football lines to choose from for Week 0. SMU takes on Nevada at 8 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. The Mustangs are favored by a 27.5-point margin. Before locking in your college football picks for Week 0 of the 2024 season, be sure to check out legendary Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall's college football betting guide.
Based in Las Vegas, Marshall was a longtime figure in the popular sports betting newsletter, The Gold Sheet. With a background in play-by-play commentary and sports information during his collegiate years, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when he was hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as editor-in-chief for many years.
A popular guest on numerous sports talk radio and television shows across the country, Bruce's extensive editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other media outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and is also working on several book projects.
Now, using Tech Corner's methodology for evaluating all trends, Marshall is taking a look at the latest college football odds and rating each matchup for Week 0. Click here to see all our picks.
Top college football predictions for week 0
One of Marshall's top college football picks recommended for Week 0: Trends, he says, point to SMU beating Nevada in a game that kicks off at 8 pm ET at Mackey Stadium.
SMU won nine of its final 10 games last season and the Mustangs have won five straight on the road. Quarterback Preston Stone returns after a strong 2023 season was cut short by a broken fibula in November. He finished the 2023 season with 3,197 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also had 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Stone was a big factor in the Mustangs averaging 38.7 points per game last season, which ranked eighth in college football.
Meanwhile, Nevada has won just two of their last 20 games, the Wolfpack have lost 10 of their last 11 home games and have covered the spread just three of their last 12 home games. For more predictions, click here.
How to predict college football for Saturday, August 24th
Marshall has rated all other matchups and found a 12-3 betting trend on the key matchup between FSU and Georgia Tech: Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.
So which college football games can you confidently pick? And what are the watchful trends to be aware of in this week's biggest games? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to find out which teams you should root for, all from a legendary Las Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles.
College football odds for Saturday, August 24
See all of our Week 0 college football picks, odds and predictions here
Saturday, August 24
Florida State vs Georgia Tech (+11.5, 56.5)
Montana State vs. New Mexico (+8.5, 53.5)
SMU vs. Nevada (+27.5, 57.5)
Delaware vs. Hawaii (-37.5, 55.5)
