2024 college football Week 0 picks against the spread, odds, lines, trends: Top Vegas expert unveils picks

The long wait is over as the 2024 college football season begins with the Week 0 college football schedule on Saturday, Aug. 24. It might be a much smaller slate than a normal week, but a pair of familiar foes square off when Georgia Tech takes on Florida State at noon ET. The Seminoles are coming off an undefeated regular season and they'll enter the first matchup of the year as 11.5-point favorites according to the Week 0 college football odds. Should you back FSU to cover the spread in a game set to be played in Dublin, Ireland?

There are three other games on the slate as well, so there are multiple Week 0 college football lines to choose from. SMU travels to take on Nevada on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET and the Mustangs are massive 27.5-point favorites. Before locking in any college football picks for Week 0 of the 2024 season, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall .

For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years.

An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.

Now, using his Tech Corner technique that evaluates all the trends, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for Week 0 and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick .

Top college football predictions for Week 0

One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 0: He says the trends point to SMU covering against Nevada in that 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Mackey Stadium.

SMU won nine of its last 10 games last season and the Mustangs have won five consecutive games on the road. Quarterback Preston Stone returns after his solid 2023 season was cut short due to a broken fibula in November. He finished the 2023 season with 3,197 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also added 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Stone was a big reason why the Mustangs averaged 38.7 points per game last season, which ranked eighth in college football.

Nevada, meanwhile, has won just two of its last 20 games overall and the Wolf Pack have lost 10 of their last 11 at home. They've also covered the spread just three times in their last 12 games at home. See which other picks to make here .

How to make college football picks for Saturday, Aug. 24

Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he's found a critical 12-3 betting trend in the big FSU vs. Georgia Tech matchup. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine .

So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming trend do you need to know about in the week's biggest game? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles , and find out.

College football odds for Saturday, Aug. 24

See full Week 0 college football picks, odds, predictions here

Saturday, Aug. 24

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (+11.5, 56.5)

Montana State at New Mexico (+8.5, 53.5)

SMU at Nevada (+27.5, 57.5)

Delaware State at Hawaii (-37.5, 55.5)