2023 college football Week 1 picks against the spread, betting odds, lines: Top Vegas expert unveils picks

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The Week 1 college football schedule marks the beginning of the end for a couple of storied programs as Oklahoma and Texas are departing the Big 12 for the SEC next season. Neither is expected to receive much of a challenge in their season openers as they are both favored by at least 35 points in their respective games per the Week 1 college football odds. Meanwhile, USC is another school on the move as it will leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024. The Trojans began their season last week, but they are also a massive favorite in the Week 1 college football lines, giving 38 points to Nevada.

This game provides another opportunity for Caleb Williams to strengthen his case to repeat as Heisman winner after tossing four touchdowns versus San Jose State in Week 0. Will these three historic programs easily take care of business, or should you fade them with Week 1 college football bets? Before locking in any college football picks for Week 1 of the 2023 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. He now supplies his unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis to SportsLine members.

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, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for Week 1 and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick.

Top college football predictions for Week 1

One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 1: No. 12 Tennessee (-28) covers against Virginia in Nashville at noon ET on Saturday. This game is a neutral-site contest in theory, but in reality UT fans will flock to the game as it's just a three-hour drive from campus while UVA sits eight hours away. However, expected fan support is just part of the reason why Marshall favors Tennessee.

These teams are polar opposites when it comes to the offensive side of the ball as the Vols led FBS with 46.1 points per game last year, while the Cavaliers (17.0 PPG) ranked 126th out of 131 programs. UVA topped 20 points just twice all season -- one of which was against an FCS school -- while Tennessee topped 20 points in nine different quarters in 2022.

Virginia is breaking in a new QB who has never taken a snap at the FBS level, while Tennessee returns sixth-year senior QB Joe Milton, who has started at both UT and Michigan. Crowd support, style of play, recent betting trends and the QB edge all have Marshall backing the Volunteers (-28) to cover. See which other picks to make here.

How to make college football picks for Week 1

Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he's found an alarming 19-9 trend that leads to an edge for one overlooked team. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.

So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming trend points to one side? 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.