The wait is over, football fans. Meaningful college football will kick off this Saturday, and the college football betting markets have drawn a ton of action. The betting trends for college football’s Week 0 matchups point to value on some markets — although the best numbers are long gone. Still, you can head over to BetMGM to get some skin in the game at these numbers. Alternatively, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook for an amazing offer giving bettors $200 INSTANTLY just for making a $5 bet.
CFB Week 0 Betting Trends: Picks Against the Spread
Northwestern vs. Nebraska: Cornhuskers Raking in Cash
These teams will head to Dublin for their Week 0 matchup. The trip abroad may render this game more chaotic, but both sharps and the public have been comfortable backing the Cornhuskers. Nebraska has drawn 66% of the handle on just 51% of the tickets, and they are BetMGM’s biggest liability for Week 0. However, the book moved the opening spread of Nebraska -12 in Northwestern’s favor by a half point.
Read a full preview of Northwestern vs. Nebraska here
Wyoming vs. Illinois: Fighting Illini Drawing Bulk of Action
After a wild 2021 season, Illinois must become more consistent in 2022. The Fighting Illini knocked off a pair of ranked conference opponents but also lost to Rutgers and UTSA. They opened as 10-point favorites but have drawn 75% of the cash on 74% of the tickets, leading BetMGM to raise that number up to 13. Illinois’ offense often struggled to put points on the board last year, so the under drawing 74% of the action on 55% of bets should come as no surprise.
Read a full preview of Wyoming vs. Illinois here
Nevada vs. New Mexico State: Aggies & Under the Top Bets
For all Week 0 games, New Mexico State has drawn the second-largest percentage of the handle at 79% on BetMGM. That’s led the book to move the opening spread of New Mexico State +12.5 to just +8.5, the most movement of any Week 0 market. The under has seen similar action, with 83% of the cash coming in on 79% of the tickets moving the total from 55.5 to 48.5.
Vanderbilt vs. Hawaii: Commodores Expected to Cover
Vanderbilt opened as a 6.5-point favorite over Hawaii, but they’ve since drawn 64% of the cash on just 51% of the tickets. Sharps are betting against the Rainbow Warriors after their turbulent offseason. That means Vanderbilt is now available as 9.5-point favorites, which doesn’t offer nearly as much value. The over has drawn 76% of the cash on just 57% of the tickets, but BetMGM felt comfortable dropping the number for 55 down to 53.5 despite their liability.
Read a full preview of Vanderbilt vs. Hawaii here
College Football Week 0 Betting Odds & Trends: Totals
Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic: All the Money Is on the Over
The college football Week 0 betting trends reveal no matchup has been more one-sided than this one. Charlotte has drawn 80% of the handle on just 60% of the tickets, and the over has drawn 93% of the handle on just 75% of the tickets. BetMGM since moved from 57.5 to 60.5, but the spread actually moved against the 49ers, from Charlotte +7 to Charlotte +7.5. Sharps still favor the Owls to win, with 85% of the handle coming in on FAU’s moneyline.
North Texas vs. UTEP: Over Drawing Most of the Action
The under has drawn a ton of action in for this contest, but it looks more like public than sharp money. BetMGM reports that 88% of the handle sits on the under but on 89% of the tickets. That action only moved the total down by a single point, from 55.5 to 54.5. Sharp money seems to favor North Texas against the spread, with the Mean Green attracting 63% of the cash on just 54% of the bets.
Connecticut vs. Utah State: Under the Most Popular Play
Sharp bettors have flocked to the under, with 89% of the money backing it on just 70% of the bets. BetMGM has since dropped this line from 60.5 to 59.5. Interestingly, UConn has been a popular public team against the spread. The Huskies have drawn 54% of the bets but only 24% of the handle as 26.5-point underdogs.
