College football odds, picks, predictions for Week 1, 2024: Proven model backs Penn State with the best bets

While many teams are expected to enter the 2024 college football season as clear favorites, the Week 1 college football season schedule also presents some major hurdles for several ranked teams. No. 20 Texas A&M is a 3-point favorite against No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday night in the Week 1 college football odds, so this game could be pivotal for the College Football Playoff. Another highly ranked Week 1 matchup is No. 1 Georgia against No. 14 Clemson on Saturday afternoon, with the Bulldogs at -13 in the Week 1 college football spreads. Clemson is expected to challenge for the ACC title, so an upset win on Saturday would put the Tigers on the road to the CFP.

This week’s full schedule also includes games on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday, so fans and bettors can enjoy five days of football in a row. Which games should you target in your Week 1 college football betting? Before you commit to any college football picks for Week 1 of the 2024 season, be sure to check out the latest college football predictions from SportsLine’s proven model.

The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has produced well over $2,000 in profit for $100 bettors on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It’s also had a profitable season, going 13-9 on top-rated spread picks. Everyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.

Now it’s turned to the latest Week 1 college football odds and set picks for each FBS matchup. Click here to see all the picks.

Top College Football Predictions for Week 1

One of the college picks the model rates highly in Week 1: No. 8 Penn State (-8.5) is coming off a clean sweep of West Virginia at noon ET on Saturday. These teams also met to open the 2023 season, with Penn State covering the spread as a 21-point favorite with a 38-15 win. The Nittany Lions have now covered the spread in six straight games against Big 12 opponents, and are 15-4-1 in their last 20 games overall.

West Virginia has struggled against Big Ten teams, going 2-6 against the spread in its last eight such games. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar had 25 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions last season and could improve even further under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnecki. The Nittany Lions outgained the Mountaineers by 170 yards in last year’s opening game and are covering the spread in well over 60% of the model’s simulations this year. See what other picks the model likes here.

Another prediction: Western Kentucky (+31.5) stays within the spread when it kicks off at 7 p.m. ET Saturday at No. 5 Alabama. The Hilltoppers have been successful under head coach Tyson Helton, who has a 40-26 record in five seasons. His teams have appeared in bowl games in all five seasons, winning four of them.

Veteran quarterback TJ Finley transferred to Western Kentucky after stints at LSU, Auburn and Texas State, so he has faced many SEC teams over the course of his career. He faces a revamped Alabama secondary this season, one of several position groups that have suffered turnover since Nick Saban’s retirement. The model expects the Crimson Tide to have some bumps and bruises to start the season, enough to keep the Hilltoppers covering the spread a good 50% of the time. You can find the rest of the model’s picks here.

How to Make College Football Picks for Week 1

The model also predicted who will win and who will perform best in each Week 1 FBS matchup, and it projects several underdogs to win outright. You can get every pick for every game only at SportsLine.

So which college football picks can you make with confidence, and which underdogs will win outright? Check out the latest college football odds below, then head to SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all based on a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception, and find out.

College Football Odds for Week 1

Here you will find all the tips, odds and predictions for college football in week 1

Thursday, August 29

North Carolina at Minnesota (+1, 50.5)

Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State (-2.5, 55.5)

Friday, August 30

FAU at Michigan State (-13.5, 47.5)

Oklahoma Temple (-42.5, 59)

Western Michigan at Wisconsin (-24, 56.5)

TCU at Stanford (+9, 61.5)

Saturday, August 31

Clemson vs. Georgia (-13.5, 49)

Penn State at West Virginia (+8.5, 51.5)

Miami (Florida) in Florida (+2.5, 54)

Akron at Ohio State (-50.5, 57.5)

Colorado State at Texas (-32.5, 59.5)

Western Kentucky at Alabama (-31.5, 59.5)

Fresno State at Michigan (-21.5, 45.5)

Notre Dame at Texas A&M (-3, 46.5)

UCLA in Hawaii (+14, 55.5)

Sunday, September 1st

USC vs. LSU (-4.5, 63.5)

Monday, September 2

Boston College at Florida State (-17, 50.5)