Before all 134 FBS programs take the field in Week 1, the 2024 college football season officially kicks off with Week 0 on Saturday, Aug. 24. The four-game Week 0 college football schedule features one Power-4 matchup in No. 10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech, as well as three games with Big West programs playing host. One of those is Nevada vs. SMU, with the latter making its ACC debut on the heels of an 11-3 season. The Mustangs are 27.5-point favorites in the latest Week 0 college football odds over a Nevada squad coming off back-to-back 10-loss seasons.
As for the reigning ACC champs, the Seminoles are favored by 11.5 points over the Yellow Jackets in a noon ET kickoff from Dublin, Ireland. These opening week contests are always tricky as the spreads can be way off, so who should you back with your Week 0 college football bets? Before locking in any college football picks for Week 0 of the 2024 season, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall.
For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce’s vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.
Now, using his Tech Corner technique that evaluates all the trends, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for Week 0 and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick.
Top college football predictions for Week 0
One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 0: He says the trends point to SMU covering against Nevada. He also likes the Under (56.5). Both programs are coming off notable seasons, albeit in different ways. SMU’s 11 wins last year were its most in 88 years and it also finished in the CFP Final Rankings for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Nevada’s 10 losses last year were tied for its most in school history, also matching the number it had in 2022.
The Mustangs have one of the most underrated QBs in the nation in Preston Stone, who finished last year with a 17:1 TD:INT ratio over his last seven games — all wins. He should pick apart a Wolf Pack defense which gave up 8.8 yards per pass attempt in 2023, which was fourth-most in the nation.
With the additional excitement that will come with playing in its first game as part of a major conference, SMU should make a statement in the opening weekend with a victory of at least 28 points. Marshall also likes the Under (56.5), in part, due to Nevada’s tepid offense which ranked 129th out of 133 FBS teams in scoring last season. See which other picks to make here.
How to make college football picks for Saturday, Aug. 24
Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he’s found a critical 12-3 betting trend in the big FSU vs. Georgia Tech matchup. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.
So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming trend do you need to know about in the week’s biggest game? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles, and find out.
College football odds for Saturday, Aug. 24
See full Week 0 college football picks, odds, predictions here
Saturday, Aug. 24
Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (+11.5, 55.5)
Montana State at New Mexico (+9.5, 53.5)
SMU at Nevada (+27.5, 56.5)
Delaware State at Hawaii (-38.5, 55.5)