It’s finally here! College football is back and there is nice lineup of games to whet fans’ appetite for next weekend when the entire nation begins play. A Big Ten matchup in Dublin, Ireland, might be the marquee game of the week.
With 11 games on the schedule, where can bettors get off to a good start in 2022? Here’s a look at the best CFB Week 0 point spread predictions.
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Nebraska vs. Northwestern Picks
The Cornhuskers and Wildcats kick off the 2022 season in Dublin. Both teams are coming off 3-9 seasons. All of Nebraska’s losses last season came by nine points or less.
Head coach Scott Frost needs to turn things around and fast. He’ll have former Texas QB Casey Thompson as his starter and the Huskers have plenty of skill position players to make the offense click.
Northwestern won just one Big Ten game last season just like Nebraska. They have an NFL-ready OL in Peter Skoronski, but they need to figure out the quarterback situation. Either Ryan Hilinki or Brendan Sullivan will run the offense.
With Nebraska now favored by 13.5, sharp money has been flying in on the Wildcats. Follow it.
PICK: NORTHWESTERN +13.5
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
These are two teams that are built similarly. Both rely on running the football to establish their offense. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will not announce a starting quarterback until game time, but it’s likely to be Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito.
Regardless, with the Illini at home and a more talented roster, this could get ugly. RB Chase Brown was a 1,000-yard rusher last year. Josh McCray added 549 yards. This spread opened at 8.5 and is now up to 11. Bielema will have the better quarterback too. Back the Illini to cover.
PICK: ILLINOIS -11
North Texas Mean Green vs. UTEP Miners
North Texas vs. UTEP Picks
North Texas upset the Miners 20-17 last season in Conference USA play and look to win for the seventh time in 10 games against UTEP. The Mean Green is a 1-point road favorite.
UNT is 5-0 ATS in its last five conference games and 6-1 ATS in its last seven overall. The Mean Green has won the last five games in a row against UTEP.
The Miners had a winning season last year, but lost five of their last six games. North Texas returns starting QB Austin Aune who gives the Green the advantage here.
PICK: NORTH TEXAS (-1)
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Hawaii football legend Timmy Chang takes over the Rainbow Warriors program and makes his debut against Vanderbilt. Hawaii lost a number of players to the transfer portal as the head coaching change worked itself out.
Vandy has a new coach as well in former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea. The Commodores had the worst scoring offense among Power 5 schools last year and they allowed the third-most points of any Power 5 program last season.
This line opened at 4.5 and is now up to Vandy -8. It’s hard to travel across the country and then some to Hawaii. The Warriors will come out and fight for their new head coach. Hawaii is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games in August and 3-1-1 ATS in its last five home games. Back the Warriors at home.
PICK: HAWAII +8