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College football finally returns on Saturday, making now the best time for college football bettors to unlock the latest BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS, which gives new users up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses, or $150 in bonus bets if your first bet of at least $10 wins. Whether you're looking to bet Kansas State vs. Iowa State in Dublin at noon ET, or Hawaii vs. Stanford at 7:30 p.m. ET nearly halfway around the world, this BetMGM bonus code can help you make a confident pick with a little bit of insurance or a bankroll boost. No. 17 Kansas State is favored by 3 points over No. 22 Iowa State in the latest Week 0 college football odds, while Hawaii is a 2.5-point home favorite over Stanford.

The model is taking Iowa State on the money line (+135) as one of its top college football predictions this week. Before locking in your Week 0 college football picks on your favorite betting sites like BetMGM, you'll also want to be sure to check out the top college football betting picks from SportsLine's proven computer model. Claim the latest BetMGM bonus code here, where new users get up to $1,500 in bonus bets back if their first bet loses: 

The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a betting profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread football picks, and was a profitable 27-16 combined on money-line and over/under college football picks in 2024. Anybody following its college football betting picks on betting sites could have seen strong returns.

Best Week 0 college football picks: 

  • Iowa State ML (+135) vs. Kansas State
  • Fresno State vs. Kansas: Over 50.5 points
  • Stanford (+2.5) vs. Hawaii 

Combining the model's three picks into a Week 0 college football parlay at BetMGM would result in a payout of +756 (risk $100 to win $756). Bet it at BetMGM here:

Iowa State ML (+135) vs. Kansas State

Iowa State has beat Kansas State in four of the last five seasons and is 4-0-1 against the spread during that span as well, so recent history certainly favors the Cyclones. Avery Johnson of the Wildcats and Rocco Becht of the Cyclones are two of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and this game gives us potential conference title implications at the outset of the season. However, the model gives the edge to Becht and Iowa State here, predicting that they win outright in 50% of simulations despite being the underdogs.

Fresno State vs. Kansas: Over 50.5 points (-110)

Kalen DeBoer and Jeff Tedford combined to win 29 games at Fresno State from 2021-23, but Tim Skipper could only manage a 6-7 campaign in his lone season with the Bulldogs. Now Matt Entz takes over after winning two FCS national championships as the head coach at North Dakota State and then spending last year as the associate head coach at USC. E.J. Warner, son of Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and a 31-game starter at Temple and Rice prior to transferring to Fresno State, will be the starter and should make the Bulldogs' offense more prolific. Meanwhile, Jalon Daniels is back for a sixth season at Kansas and has accounted for over 7,500 yards and 64 total touchdowns already in his career. The model predicts the Over hits in well over 60% of simulations.

Stanford +2.5 vs. Hawaii (-110)

Stanford general manager Andrew Luck called in a favor and landed Frank Reich, who spent five years as an NFL head coach for the Colts and Panthers, on an interim basis after dismissing Troy Taylor in March for in-house bullying allegations. The Cardinal were at their best under David Shaw when he ran a tight ship, and Reich should be able to do the same given all his NFL experience. Meanwhile, Hawaii was hoping to recreate the glory days under June Jones by hiring Timmy Chang three seasons ago, but is yet to reach a bowl game under the program's all-time leading passer. Ben Gulbranson, Micah Ford and Sheldon Roush are all experienced players who should help give Stanford the edge here, with the model predicting a cover in over 60% of simulations.

Want more Week 0 college football picks?

You've seen the model's Week 0 college football best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for every Week 0 CFB game here, all from the model that's simulated every game 10,000 times. 

Also at SportsLine:

You can also see Week 0 college football picks from former Vegas bookmaker Micah Roberts. Visit SportsLine to see his best bets. SportsLine's Josh Nagel, who is 4-0 in his last four spread picks involving Kansas State, has locked in his best bet for Iowa State vs. Kansas State right here.