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After a five-game opening slate as part of "Week 0," the 2025 college football season really kicks off this week. There are 17 games on Thursday, Aug. 28, one of which sees Boise State, which made the College Football Playoff last year, take on South Florida. Other top games of the day include East Carolina at North Carolina State and Nebraska at Cincinnati. In NFL news, Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers on Thursday. Green Bay is listed at +1300 to win the Super Bowl in the NFL futures odds from BetMGM. Bettors who sign up with the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS can get bonus bets through one of two available new-user offers for any of Thursday's top games. 

You can wager on all of Thursday's top college football games and NFL futures at BetMGM. 

How to claim the BetMGM bonus code

BetMGM is offering two different new-user promotions right now, and it varies by state. Bettors in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia can sign up and get $150 in bonus bets after winning a first bet of $10 or more. Bettors in other states where BetMGM operates can earn up to $1,500 in bonus bets if their first bet loses. The BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS is only available to new BetMGM users who have never made an account before and who are 21 or older in a state where BetMGM operates. 

BetMGM bonus code terms and conditions

When signing up, make sure to enter the code CBSSPORTS when prompted. Additionally, new users must make a first deposit of $10 or more when signing up. Neither offer has a minimum odds requirement. 

For the promotion of up to $1,500 if your first bet loses, just know that how much you wager dictates how your bonus bets are credited. If your first bet is less than $50 and it loses, you get your stake back in one single bonus bet slip. If your first bet is $50 or more and loses, you'll get five bonus bet slips, each worth 20% of your stake. For example, if you bet $1,000 and lose, you'll get five $200 slips. Bonus bets expire after seven days and hold no cash value, meaning they can't be withdrawn. If you win a bet using bonus bets, just know you will receive the winnings but not the stake back.

Best bets on Thursday, August 28

Is this a make-or-break year for Matt Rhule at Nebraska? If so, recent history suggests not sleeping on the Cornhuskers. At Rhule's last two college stops, he won 10 or more games in his third year. This is Year 3 in Lincoln, so Rhule will need a big year from sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola, who started all 13 games for the Huskers but only had 13 passing touchdowns. Cincinnati also needs a big year on its side as the Bearcats went 8-16 in Scott Satterfield's first two years. Cincy is also in the midst of an offensive overhaul after losing its top rusher and four of its top five receivers from last year. The model backs Under 51.5 total points here, with that side of the total hitting in 71% of simulations. 

Another Big Ten team needing a big season is in action when Wisconsin hosts Miami (OH). The Badgers haven't taken off under Luke Fickell as expected, going 12-13 the last two years and missing a bowl game last season. Wisconsin had a really poor 2024 campaign offensively and has a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Grimes, who comes to Madison from Kansas after leading a top-15 rushing attack in 2024. Miami went 9-5 last year, but this is a very different team as the RedHawks return zero starters on offense from last year's team and only four on defense. The model sees value in backing Miami here, as the RedHawks win in roughly 30% of simulations at +729 odds.

 Bet on Thursday's college football games at BetMGM and receive bonus bets:

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