The 2024 college football season began with a limited schedule in Week 0, setting the stage for a thrilling schedule of college football this weekend in Week 1. There will be games every day from Thursday to Monday, with three matchups between ranked teams. In Week 1 college football odds, No. 1 Georgia is a 13-point favorite against No. 14 Clemson on Saturday, and the Bulldogs enter the season as national championship favorites. In other matches, No. 20 Texas A&M (-3) hosts No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday night, while No. 13 LSU (-4.5) plays No. 23 USC on Sunday.
No. 10 Florida State is bouncing back from a Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech to host Boston College on Monday night as a 17-point favorite. The Seminoles were also favored by double digits against the Yellow Jackets, so should you discount the Seminoles in your Week 1 college football betting? Before locking in any college football predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 season, be sure to check the latest college football predictions from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates FBS college football games 10,000 times. Since inception, the model has generated well over $2,000 in profits for players who spend $100 on the top rated college football picks against the spread. The model also just finished a season with a profitable 13-9 record on its top rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed this model has seen significant profits.
Now, the site has looked at the latest college football odds for Week 1 and has finalized its predictions for every FBS matchup: Click here to see all the predictions.
Top college football predictions for Week 1
One school the model has highly rated for Week 1: No. 8 Penn State (-8.5), which is coming off a big win against West Virginia at noon ET on Saturday. The Nittany Lions have come close to making the College Football Playoff multiple times under coach James Franklin, finishing in the top 10 four times. They've recorded double-digit win totals two straight years and finished third in the Big Ten last season after losses to Ohio State and Michigan.
Starting quarterback Drew Aller returns with 2,631 passing yards and 25 touchdowns to lead an offense ranked 12th in points allowed per game (36.2). Penn State is even better on defense, ranking third nationally in points allowed per game (13.5). The Nittany Lions are strong on both offense and defense, and West Virginia just can't keep up. That's why the model predicts the Nittany Lions to cover the spread in over 60% of simulations. See here for other picks the model likes.
Another prediction: Western Kentucky (+31.5) takes on No. 5 Alabama inside the spread on Saturday with a 7 pm ET kickoff. The Hilltoppers have had success under head coach Tyson Helton, who has a 40-26 record in five seasons. His teams have gone to a bowl game in all five seasons and have won four of those games.
Experienced quarterback TJ Finley has faced many SEC teams in his career, having transferred to Western Kentucky after stints at Louisiana State, Auburn and Texas State. He'll be facing a rebuilt Alabama secondary this season, one of several position groups that have been depleted since Nick Saban's retirement. The model expects the Crimson Tide to take some hits early in the season, but that's enough for the Hilltoppers to cover the spread more than 50% of the time. See the rest of the model's picks here.
How to predict college football for Week 1
The model also predicts who will win and cover each FBS matchup in Week 1, predicting some underdog teams to win. Full predictions for every matchup are available exclusively at SportsLine.
So, which teams will win and which underdogs will win so you can make college football picks with confidence? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to find out which teams will win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that's generated over $2,000 in profits since inception.
Week 1 college football odds
See all of our Week 1 college football picks, odds and predictions here
Thursday, August 29
North Carolina vs. Minnesota (+1, 50.5)
Coastal Carolina vs. Jacksonville State (-2.5, 55.5)
Friday, August 30
FAU vs. Michigan State (-13.5, 47.5)
Temple vs. Oklahoma (-42.5, 59)
Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin (-24, 56.5)
TCU vs. Stanford (+9, 61.5)
Saturday, August 31
Clemson vs. Georgia (-13.5, 49)
Penn State vs West Virginia (+8.5, 51.5)
Miami (FL) vs. Florida (+2.5, 54)
Akron vs. Ohio State (-50.5, 57.5)
Colorado State vs. Texas (-32.5, 59.5)
Western Kentucky vs. Alabama (-31.5, 59.5)
Fresno State vs. Michigan (-21.5, 45.5)
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M (-3, 46.5)
UCLA vs. Hawaii (+14, 55.5)
September 1st (Sunday)
USC vs. LSU (-4.5, 63.5)
Monday, September 2
Boston College vs. Florida State (-17, 50.5)
