The must-see Week 1 slate headlined by Texas vs. Ohio State and LSU vs. Clemson on August 30 is still over a week away, but the 2025 college football season starts with a solid Week 0 this Saturday.
The noon battle of ranked Big 12 rivals Iowa State and Kansas State in Dublin will draw the most attention, but the CFB games on tap this weekend also include Dan Mullen’s UNLV debut vs. Idaho State and an intriguing matchup between Fresno State and Kansas.
Below are the Week 0 betting odds, kickoff times and broadcast information, plus our early, abbreviated take on the best bets for each game.
Kansas State vs. Iowa State Odds, PreviewDKFDbet365KSU spread-3 (-110)-3.5 (-102)-3 (-110)ISU spread+3 (-110)+3.5 (-120)+3 (-110)KSU ML-155-152-160ISU ML+130+126+135Total49.5 (o-108; u-112)49.5 (o-114; u-106)49.5 (o-110; u-110)How To Watch Kansas State vs. Iowa StateEarly Kansas State vs. Iowa State Best Bet
This an exciting matchup to kick off the season, and that’s not just because it’s the first live college football game in months.
K-State’s Avery Johnson and Iowa State’s Rocco Becht are both talented, entertaining quarterbacks who are expected to make this a shootout. In last year’s meeting between these teams, Iowa State took advantage of two fumbles by KSU that set up touchdown drives of 30 yards or shorter and won 29-21 at home.
Johnson is one of the best running quarterbacks in the nation, and if he can avoid turnovers after throwing 10 interceptions a year ago, the Wildcats will have a real shot to not only take down Iowa State, but win the Big 12 this year.
The Cyclones are usually solid under head coach Matt Campbell, but I expect ISU to struggle offensively early this year after losing top receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, as well as tackle Jalen Travis, to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Best bet:
Kansas State -3 (-110 at DraftKings)Idaho State vs. UNLV Betting Odds, PreviewDKFDbet365Idaho St. spread+24.5 (-110)+25.5 (-105)+24.5 (-110)UNLV spread-24.5 (-110)-25.5 (-115)-24.5 (-110)Idaho St. ML+1400+1400+1400UNLV ML-3200-3500-3000Total64.5 (o-110; u-110)64.5 (o-115; u-105)64.5 (o-110; u-110)How To Watch Idaho State vs. UNLVKickoff: 4 p.m.TV: Mountain West NetworkEarly Idaho State vs. UNLV Best Bet
The story here is former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Dan Mullen’s debut in Vegas. Division I-AA Idaho State appears overmatched on paper after a 5-7 (3-5 Big Sky) season in which the Bengals allowed just under 38 points per game.
Between Mullen, who is one of the top offensive minds in college football, and talented former UVA quarterback Anthony Colandrea, UNLV should have a potent offense right away, and I expect the Rebels to put up big numbers in this game, if not cover the massive spread.
Best bet:
UNLV Team Total Over 45.5 (+100 at FanDuel)Fresno St. vs. Kansas Betting Odds, PreviewDKFDbet365Fresno St. spread+12.5 (-108)+13.5 (-110)+13 (-110)KU spread-12.5 (-112)-13.5 (-110)-13 (-110)Fresno St. ML+350+365+390KU ML-455-490-525Total50.5 (o-112; u-108)50.5 (o-114; u-106)50.5 (o-110; u-110)How To Watch Fresno State vs. KansasKickoff: 6:30 p.m. EDTTV: FOXEarly Fresno State vs. Kansas Best Bet
Kansas could be a fringe contender in the Big 12 if sixth-year senior QB Jalon Daniels can play his best ball this year.
Case in point: After a 1-5, turnover-plagued start in 2024, Daniels and the Jayhawks won four of five games, with wins over Houston, Iowa State, BYU and Colorado. The only loss in that stretch was a 29-27 nailbiter on the road vs. Kansas State.
Fresno State is an intriguing team to watch this year in its first season with Matt Entz as head coach. The Bulldogs hired Entz from USC, where he spent 2024 as assistant head coach for defense after winning two FCS national titles (2019, 2021) as head coach of North Dakota State. Fresno State’s offense will be led by E.J. Warner, the son of former Rams star Kurt Warner.
Right now, the Bulldogs — who have the fourth-shortest odds at DraftKings to win the Mountain West after Boise State, UNLV and San Jose State — strike me as a solid bet to cover as road underdogs.
Best bet:
Fresno State +13.5 (-110 at FanDuel)Sam Houston vs. Western Ky. Odds, PreviewDKFDbet365Sam Hou. spread+10 (-112)+10.5 (-110)+10 (-110)WKY spread-10 (-108)-10.5 (-110)-10 (-110)Sam Hou. ML+295+300+300WKY ML-375-385-380Total60.5 (o-110; u-110)60.5 (o-118; u-104)60.5 (o-110; u-110)How To Watch Sam Houston vs. Western KentuckyEarly Sam Houston vs. Western Ky. Best Bet
Another intraconference matchup takes place in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where two teams that went 6-2 in Conference USA last year kick off the 2025 season in primetime.
Western Kentucky got a 31-14 road victory over Sam Houston a year ago, but the Hilltoppers are replacing last year’s quarterback, Caden Veltkamp. This year’s starter at QB for WKU, Maverick McIvor, threw for 3,847 yards and 30 touchdowns for Abilene Christian last year.
Taking the under in a game involving Western Kentucky is always a bit of a risk, but 60.5 is a massive total, and it’s unlikely that McIvor and Co. will be humming in Week 0, so let’s go with these teams getting just enough stops to cash the under.
Best bets:
Under 60.5 (-104 at FanDuel)Stanford vs. Hawaii Betting Odds, PreviewDKFDbet365Stan. spread+2.5 (-112)+2.5 (-104)+2.5 (-110)Haw. spread-2.5 (-108)-2.5 (-118)-2.5 (-110)Stan. ML+110+114+115Haw. ML-130-137-135Total51.5 (o-108; u-112)51.5 (o-110; u-110)51.5 (o-110; u-110)How To Watch Stanford vs. HawaiiKickoff: 7:30 p.m.TV: CBSEarly Stanford vs. Hawaii Best Bet
The third and final Mountain West team in action on Saturday is Hawaii, which hosts Stanford.
Generally, we would recommend fading a team featuring a QB making only his second college start, but Micah Alejado could be a breakout star this fall.
A year ago, in his only start as a freshman, Alejado torched New Mexico in UH’s regular season finale for 469 yards and 5 TDs on 37-for-57 passing. He also ran for 54 yards on 10 carries in that game, while avoiding being intercepted or sacked.
With a full offseason under his belt, Alejado should be able to start off strong against a Stanford team that lost eight of its last nine games in 2024 after a 2-1 start.
The Cardinal recently named former Oregon State quarterback Ben Gulbranson their starting QB. Gulbranson started eight games for the Beavers in 2022, but made just four starts combined in 2023 and 2024 before transferring to Palo Alto this offseason.
Hawaii should be able to win this game at home.
Best bet:
Hawaii -2.5 (-108 at DraftKings)
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