College Football 2024 Week 1 Preview and Picks 

The college football kickoff 2024 season has arrived with just two FBS vs. FBS matchups on the Week 0 schedule on Sat., Aug. 24. The college football schedule kicks into gear Week 1 over Labor Day weekend with 35 contests featuring FBS vs. FBS teams from Aug. 29-Sept. 2 when No. 13 LSU tackles No. 23 USC at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 1 followed by an ACC showcase on Labor Day with Boston College at No. 10 Florida State. 

A total of 96 games kickoff Week 1 including the FBS vs. FCS teams, and I’ll chip-in more Top 25 FBS coverage again this seaons featuring the biggest and most watched and wagered games providing selected Picks, Opinions and Leans. I’ll add additional selections along the way with information you can bet on. 

I cover college football and the NFL throughout the season for a number of media companies and online platforms, including Forbes. I'll be updating the AP Top 25 each week with betting lines, key matchups, insight and odds updates from top online sportsbooks along with additional information you can bet on. 

College Football Playoff

The college football landscape has changed and reset for the 2024 season, and the new 12-team playoff will include 5 conference champions paired with next 7 highest-ranked teams. The stakes will also be greater on a week-to-week basis with far more teams in contention for the College Football Playoff. As the stakes rise and more teams push for the College Football Playoff and top finishes in their conferences, we may see more competitive games throughout the season, potentially impacting how we bet the sport. 

College Football Conference Realignment - Teams In New Conferences

College Football Kickoff 2024 Week 1 Matchups And Top 25

College football game odds and futures from leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Week 1 odds courtesy of BetOnline and point spreads on betting favorites (-) listed. 

Week 0 – Sat., Aug. 24 

Georgia Tech vs. No. 10 Florida State (-10), total 55 (Game in Dublin)
SMU (-24.5) at Nevada, total 56
Opinion: Florida State

Rush to the window on FSU, as Georgia Tech allowed 221 rushing yards per game (5.4 YPR) last year, worst among Power conference teams and ranking No. 130 in FBS (out of 133 teams). Florida State's offensive line ranks No. 1 in the ACC with 5 seniors (4 returning starters). The Georgia Tech defensive front 7 ranks worst in the ACC to start the season along with Boston College, who Florida State plays on Labor Day to conclude Week 1 action.  

Week 1 Thurs-Sat, Aug. 29-31 (select games) 

North Carolina at Minnesota (-2.5), 50 (Aug. 29)
Temple at No. 16 Oklahoma (-43), 59 (Fri., Aug. 30)
TCU (-8.5) at Stanford, 61.5
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (-14), 49 – Atlanta, 12 pm ET ABC/ESPN+
Kent State at Pittsburgh (-24), 54 (Sat., Aug. 31)
Penn State (-8.5) at West Virginia, 51
Akron at No. 2 Ohio State (-50), 58.5
No. 19 Miami (-2.5) at Florida, 54
Colorado State at No. 4 Texas (-32), 59.5
UTEP at Nebraska (-24.5), 48.5
Miami, Ohio at Northwestern (-4), 42.5
Florida Atlantic at Michigan State (-11.5), 46
UNLV at Houston (-1.5), 54
Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama (-31), 59.5
UCLA (-13) at Hawaii, 55.5
Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan (-21.5), 45
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3), 46.5 - 7:30 pm ET ABC/ESPN+
So. Miss at Kentucky (-26), 50.5
Western Michigan at Wisconsin (-24.5), 56
Wyoming at Arizona State (-6), 47.5

Bet on the College Football at one of these Elite-rated sportsbooks!

Sunday, Sept. 1 

No. 13 LSU (-4.5) vs. No. 23 USC, 63.5 – 7:30 pm ET ABC/ESPN+ (Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas)

Monday, Sept. 2 Labor Day 

Boston College at No. 10 Florida State (-20.5), 51.5 

Full Week 1 college football Top 25 schedule and TV/broadcast listings. 

Top 10 Oregon (3) and Ole Miss (6) open vs. FCS teams, along with Missouri (11), Utah (12), Tennessee (15), Oklahoma State (17), Kansas State (18), Kansas (22), NC State (24), Iowa (25) 

Other teams to watch receiving votes for preseason Top 25 include: Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.

Check back just ahead of Week 1 kickoff for select Picks and Opinions. 

I also correspond with top, proven sports handicappers, pro bettors and betting groups. In addition, I provide my insight and proven, winning results in college and pro football to select bettors and another betting group. 

You can read some of my early season 2024 college football Top 25 in Forbes, where I have been a go-to sports betting contributor since 2018. 

I'll be pulling stats and data from leading sources, industry colleagues and football newsletters which provide ATS info and other stats that can be so time consuming to research. But I'll use my own insight, intuition and years of experience and research as a proven football handicapper and point spread prognosticator to try and guide you towards more winners. I like to dig into stats and have provided information and insight for years looking for match-up edges, along with stats and situational plays that can often be overlooked when evaluating the games and matchups. 

Winning bets is always the goal and how we keep score. But developing a process in your handicapping approach, while understanding the betting market and searching for value, should be of great significance. As you shoot for more birdies and green on the gridiron, recognize there are plenty of hazards and rough along the way as you navigate and manage all the information put in front of you each week. 

You can follow some of my select college and pro football picks at OSGA along with Forbes, Vegas Sports Zone and other media sites as I chip-in team coverage, updates and information you can bet on throughout the 2024 CFB and NFL seasons. 

I'll add more college football updates ahead of Labor Day along with picks and information you can bet on. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper with unparalleled success in NFL pointspread prognosis. His College Football Top 25 reports and weekly picks provide additional profit and insight. Fairway is recognized as one of the sports industry's insightful analysts, and he chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports betting insights.