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

The Week 0 college football schedule will span 11 time zones, starting with a kickoff in Dublin, Ireland and finishing with a contest in Honolulu. The former features No. 10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech at noon ET, while the latter has Hawaii vs. Delaware State at midnight ET. The Seminoles, coming off a 13-1 season, are favored by 10.5 points, per the Week 0 college football spreads. Meanwhile, Hawaii is a massive 40.5-point home favorite over FCS school Delaware State, which is coming off a 1-10 season.

The other matchups on Saturday's Week 0 college football schedule include New Mexico vs. Montana State (-11.5) and SMU vs. Nevada (+24.5). Which teams should you lean towards with Week 0 college football bets to open up the season on a winning note? 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 on the road against Nevada in an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS Sports Network. SMU was a solid 7-4 ATS as favorites last season, while Nevada struggled to protect its home field, going 2-4 ATS at Mackay Stadium. Over the last two years, the Wolf Pack are just 3-9 versus the spread in home games.

SMU ranked eighth in scoring last year with 38.7 points per game, and it returns three All-AAC First-Team members on offense as it moves to the ACC. On defense, the Mustangs bring back DB Isaiah Nwokobia , who led the American in interceptions, as well as pass rusher Elijah Roberts , who was second in the conference in sacks. With balance on both sides of the ball, Marshall has the Mustangs getting a four-TD win and covering as big favorites. He also likes the Under (56.5) in this matchup, noting that the "Mustangs on 10-5 Under run since late 2022." 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 (+10.5, 55.5)

Montana State at New Mexico (+11.5, 54.5)

SMU at Nevada (+24.5, 56.5)

Delaware State at Hawaii (-40.5, 57.5)