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Top 5 NCAA Football Games to bet Week 1: Fla/Utah, Ohio State/IU, ECU/Michigan. Vir/Tenn. Colo/TCU

Publish Date: 08/29/2023
Fact checked by: Simon Briffa

Week 1 Top Predictions

Week 1 is here! These are my top five games to bet in no order!

Florida at No. 14 Utah -6.5

Over the last four seasons, Utah has gone 21-1 S/U and 14-8 ATS at home. For Florida with plenty of unanswered questions – how will Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz fare with his first start for Gators against Utah on Thursday Night Football (-6.5 on ESPN)? Florida won this matchup 29-26 last season. Can Utah return the favor?

Prediction: Utah 31  Florida 21

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.6/5
Prediction: Bet Utah -7
  • Over/Under: Florida vs Utah(45.5)
  • Spread: Utah -6.5
  • Pick: Bet Utah -6.5
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East Carolina at No. 2 Michigan (-36.5)

Can the Pirates keep that momentum going with new quarterback Mason Garcia in the Big House against a team without Jim Harbaugh on its sideline? East Carolina is a solid team, and this point spread is way too big.

Michigan 38  East Carolina 17

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.6/5
Prediction: Bet East Carolina +36.5
  • Over/Under: East Carolina vs Michigan(51.5)
  • Spread: Michigan -36.5
  • Pick: Bet East Carolina +36.5
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. Must register new DraftKings account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to get 1 promo code to redeem 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings, and get max. $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours) and stake removed from payout. Token expires 11/23/25. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. NBA League Pass: Subscription auto-renews monthly at then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, and eligibility requirements apply. Redeem League Pass by 12/19/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Addt’l terms: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/9165532876183-League-Pass-Terms-of-Use_. Offer ends 11/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Virginia vs. No. 12 Tennessee(-28)

Let the Joe Milton era begin! Tennessee is a heavy favorite against Virginia’s Cavaliers – who finished 3-7 last season and are counting on Monmouth transfer quarterback Tony Muskett to lead their offense. Virginia averaged just 17 points per game last season – this won’t do against Tennessee once their offense gets rolling! The Cavs do not have the speed to cover this spread.

Tennessee 45  Virginia 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.6/5
Prediction: Bet Tennessee -28
  • Over/Under: Virginia vs Tennessee(56.5)
  • Spread: Tennessee -28
  • Pick: Bet Tennessee -28
New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins + 3 Months of League Pass On Us!
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. Must register new DraftKings account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to get 1 promo code to redeem 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings, and get max. $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours) and stake removed from payout. Token expires 11/23/25. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. NBA League Pass: Subscription auto-renews monthly at then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, and eligibility requirements apply. Redeem League Pass by 12/19/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Addt’l terms: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/9165532876183-League-Pass-Terms-of-Use_. Offer ends 11/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Colorado at No. 17 TCU (-21)

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will likely make big plays, while TCU must adjust to a new quarterback in Chandler Morris while losing eight critical players to the NFL. I don’t think Colorado can keep pace with the high-octane Horned Frogs offense.

TCU 41  Colorado 17

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.6/5
Prediction: Bet TCU -21
  • Over/Under: Colorado vs TCU(63)
  • Spread: TCU -21
  • Pick: Bet TCU -21
New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins + 3 Months of League Pass On Us!
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. Must register new DraftKings account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to get 1 promo code to redeem 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings, and get max. $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours) and stake removed from payout. Token expires 11/23/25. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. NBA League Pass: Subscription auto-renews monthly at then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, and eligibility requirements apply. Redeem League Pass by 12/19/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Addt’l terms: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/9165532876183-League-Pass-Terms-of-Use_. Offer ends 11/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

No. 3 Ohio State (-29.5) at Indiana (3:30 p.m., CBS)

Indiana hasn’t defeated Ohio State since 1988 – an astonishing 27-game losing streak between Big Ten conference opponents. Indiana has lost the last seven meetings by an average margin of 29.8 points per contest; therefore, the line seems accurate. How long will it take Ohio State quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown – both expected to play – to adjust in Bloomington? Expect Ohio State to pull away in the second half.

Ohio State 51  Indiana 17

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.6/5
Prediction: Bet Ohio State -29.5
  • Over/Under: Ohio State vs Indiana(58.5)
  • Spread: Ohio State -29.5
  • Pick: Bet Ohio State -29.5
New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins + 3 Months of League Pass On Us!
Open DraftKings
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. Must register new DraftKings account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to get 1 promo code to redeem 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings, and get max. $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours) and stake removed from payout. Token expires 11/23/25. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. NBA League Pass: Subscription auto-renews monthly at then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, and eligibility requirements apply. Redeem League Pass by 12/19/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Addt’l terms: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/9165532876183-League-Pass-Terms-of-Use_. Offer ends 11/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

 

 

 

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