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The Week 1 college football schedule wastes no time giving college football bettors games of serious consequence and its an ideal time to break out BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS, which gives new users up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses or $150 in bonus bets if your first bet of at least $10 wins. There are a handful of ranked matchups, but none more consequential than Ohio State vs. Texas. The Buckeyes are the defending national champions and ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 while Texas was also in the CFP last season and check in at No. 1 in the preseason polls.

The latest Week 1 college football odds list Ohio State as a 1-point favorite while the over/under is 47.5. Meanwhile, No. 8 Alabama is favored by 13.5 at Florida State to open the season while that total is at 48.5. Before locking in your Week 1 college football picks on your favorite betting sites like BetMGM, you'll also want to be sure to check out the top college football betting picks from SportsLine's proven computer model. Claim the latest BetMGM promo code here, where new users get up to $1,500 in bonus bets back if their first bet loses: 

The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a betting profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread football picks, and was a profitable 27-16 combined on money-line and over/under college football picks in 2024. Anybody following its college football betting picks on betting sites could have seen strong returns.

Best Week 1 college football picks: 

  • Under 47.5 in Ohio State vs. Texas (-105)
  • Alabama -13.5 vs. Florida State (-115)
  • California money line (+105) vs. Oregon State

Combining the model's three picks into a Week 1 college football parlay at BetMGM would result in a payout of +665 (risk $100 to win $665). Bet it at BetMGM here:

Ohio State vs. Texas: Under 47.5 points (-105)

These were two of the top three defenses in the country last season in yards allowed and both teams have plenty of talent back. Texas has a preseason All-American at every level, with Colin Simmons at edge, Anthony Hill Jr. at linebacker and Michael Taaffe in the secondary. Meanwhile, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs might be the best player in the country regardless of position. Arch Manning and Julian Sayin will have their work cut out with both of these teams hoping to set a physical tone, which is why the model says the under hits 57% of the time.

Alabama -13.5 vs. FSU (-115)

We're only a couple of seasons removed from this game being a potential national championship preview like Ohio State vs. Texas. Now it's only one step above being a loser-goes-home match with Kalen DeBoer coming into the season atop a warm seat after failing to guide Alabama to 10 wins for the first time since 2007 while Mike Norvell's is red-hot coming off a 2-10 season. Ultimately, Alabama has a pretty clear talent advantage despite a solid showing by FSU in the transfer portal, and if DeBoer gets his quarterback room right, the Crimson Tide could easily find their way back to the CFP. Alabama covers in 58% of SportsLine's simulations.

California money line vs. Oregon State (+105)

Justin Wilcox's first eight years at the helm in Berkley have yielded four bowl appearances and the Golden Bears have been generally competitive even when they are shuffling along at around .500. However, Cal drew a path of little resistance from the ACC schedulers this year and there's potential for an awakening in 2025 if it can start off with a win here. This was the second-best scoring defense in the conference last season and Wilcox should be able to scheme up stops this year too. Meanwhile, Oregon State still has a year to wait until the Pac-12 is reimagined and has had trouble recruiting as an independent. The model predicts that Cal wins in 52% of simulations, making this a steal at plus-money.

Want more Week 1 college football picks?

You've seen the model's Week 1 college football best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for every Week 1 CFB game here, all from the model that's simulated every game 10,000 times. 

Also at SportsLine:

You can also see Week 1 college football picks from legendary college football handicapper Bruce Marshall. Visit SportsLine to see his best bets. SportsLine's Emory Hunt, who is 45-32 in his last 77 college football picks, has locked in his best bet for Oregon State vs. California right here.