Thursday Night College Football Gambling Picks

College football is back, and with Week 1 of the 2025 season finally here, it’s time to dive into the action—and the betting slips. Between powerhouse programs looking to make early statements, sneaky underdogs ready to pull off an upset, and plenty of intriguing matchups to kick off the year, this opening weekend is loaded with opportunities for sharp wagers. In this blog, I’ll break down my favorite picks, spreads, and over/unders for Week 1, mixing stats, trends, and a little gut instinct to help you start the season on a winning note.

I have decided I will get mega rich this football with my gambling picks.

BSU @ USF

Thu, Aug 28 • 5:30 PM ET

Boise State -5.5 (-110):

Boise State was the Ashton Jeanty show last year, but quarterback Maddux Madsen deserves some praise as well for getting the Broncos into the CFP. He completed 247 of 396 passes (62.4%) for 3,018 yards and 23 touchdowns with only six interceptions. South Florida's pass defense is ripe for the picking, with this unit ranking 133rd in yards allowed per game through the air last season (291.8). The Bulls went 0-5 when allowing the opposition to complete at least 60% of its throws.

JVST @ UCF

Thu, Aug 28 • 7:00 PM ET

UCF -20.5 (-110):

Happy Scott Frost Day. For the second time in his career, Frost is seen as the prodigal son returning, this time back to where he once "won a national championship." That hype gets the headlines, but betting on UCF to rout Jacksonville State is more a bet on the Gamecocks' offense sputtering. Rich Rodriguez ran a unique scheme in his brief stay, and this offense should struggle in its reset.

BUFF @ MINN

Thu, Aug 28 • 8:00 PM ET

Buffalo +18.5 (-110)

Minnesota claims confidence in first-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, but PJ Fleck is who he is, and every expectation should be that the Gophers run the ball heavily on Thursday. Darius Taylor and AJ Turner (Marshall transfer) should have success, but that ground emphasis will lower the scoring and the final margin. Buffalo's trenches are strong enough to hold their own for the most part, keeping this result from reaching a full three-score

Miami-Ohio @ WIS

Thu, Aug 28 • 9:00 PM ET

WIS -17.5 (-110)

Chuck Martin's squad underwent unprecedented turnover this offseason, and Luke Fickell's squad could really use a confidence-boosting win before the schedule heats up. This is a get right, tune up game for Wisconsin to start the year. Easy money.

NEB @ CIN

Thu, Aug 28 • 9:00 PM ET

NEB -6.5 (-115)

Cincinnati has hardly been an offensive powerhouse. The Bearcats scored 24 points or fewer in each of their last seven contests in 2024 and are returning the same core players, including quarterback Brendan Sorsby. With Nebraska improving under Matt Rhule and no major changes on the Cincinnati side, I’m taking the Cornhuskers to cover in the opener.

u51.5 (-112)

Both defenses are likely running ahead of these developing offenses right now, and I expect that to play out on Thursday. The Under is my clear play, and I’m likely to stick with it unless the total drops significantly before gametime.