College Football Week 1 Odds & Picks: Thursday (2024)
Gear up for another awesome weekend of college football action with BettingPros! We’ll have you covered with all of our top picks for the week along with our projected spreads and totals to help guide your college football bets. Below are our top picks and predictions for this week’s college football games on Thursday.
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Top College Football Odds & Picks: Week 1
North Carolina vs. Minnesota
The Tar Heels hit the road for the Twin Cities, looking to get back on track after a disappointing 7-win campaign. While QB Drake Maye has moved on to the NFL, the cupboard is not bare, as QBs Max Johnson and Conner Harrell are expected to continue battling for the most reps into the season. Johnson, who has excelled at times in the SEC with stops at LSU and Texas A&M, might be the best bet. Minnesota turns to former FCS New Hampshire QB Max Brosmer under center. This Golden Gophers team was shaky on offense last season, but it has some decent skill-position players to hang for a while. On defense, the Gophers struggled, especially in the secondary, and that might be the difference in this game. UNC pounded Minnesota 31-13 at Kenan last season, and while this one isn’t likely as lopsided, the Tar Heels are a good bet to run it back and get the job done on the road.
Pick: UNC -2 (-110)
-Daniel Dobish
North Dakota State vs. Colorado
Colorado began the 2023 season as the belle of the ball as it got out to a surprising 3-0 start. But the reality hit the Buffs in the face as they lost eight of their last nine games. They struggled to run the ball, which made it easier for defenses to focus on the pass, and their defense couldn't stop anyone. North Dakota State, on the other hand, is a perennial FCS national championship contender. While they are coming off a down year (11-4), the bones are there to make another title run. Look for the Bison to keep Shedeur Sanders and the offense off the field as NDSU pounds the ball downfield all day long.
Pick: NDSU ML (+260)
-Travis Pulver