It’s officially the start of the college football season, so let the betting begin!
There is a lot of hype surround a specific Manning kid that plays down in Texas. His autographed cards are selling for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. He has a tough test in Week 1, and we should get an idea where his talent level is against Ohio State.
There are more marquee games than just Ohio State/Texas since college football doesn’t have to compete with the NFL. We have games every day from Thursday through Monday night.
We at ‘America’s White Boy’ pick 25 college football games against the spread in Week 1 of the 2025-26 NCAA Football season (August 30th, 2025).
Texas Longhorns at Ohio State Buckeyes (-2.5) – My pick is Texas Longhorns +2.5
The Texas Longhorns come into the season with all of the hype in the world now that QB Arch Manning is under center. He has shown some flashes of his bloodline when he has been in the game. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is a great offensive mind, so Manning is in great hands. He does have a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball due to the NFL Draft, so there could be some timing issues with all the incoming talent. They have one of the toughest schedules in the league as well.
The Ohio State Buckeyes hoisted the trophy last year, but they have a lot to accomplish this year. They need to prove their championship run wasn’t a fluke, beat non-conference powerhouses and beat Michigan. They named QB Julian Sayin as the starter, and he is one of many new faces in Columbus. They are dealing with the same transition as Texas, after losing so much talent to the NFL.
I expect these teams to come out rather slow, but the second-half could be filled with some fireworks. I’ve been seeing a lot of handicappers predict a huge blowout by Texas, but I’m not as bullish on the Longhorns as most. I did live in Columbus for a handful of years, but have never viewed myself as a homer in any way. I’m often harder on them since I do keep up with them more than most of the schools in the nation, as I’m friendly with some beat reporters. I think this game is a coinflip, so I have to take the points in this one.
Alabama Crimson Tide at Florida State Seminoles (+14) – My pick is Alabama Crimson Tide -14
The Alabama Crimson Tide has some growing pains under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. They are still loaded with some of the best talent in the country, but a change in quarterback should lead to more wins. They need QB Ty Simpson to get the helm and not look back. If he comes out shaky, it wouldn’t surprise me if they give backup Austin Mack a shot, or even freshman Keelon Russell. They need to come out of the first few games with an no-doubt answer at QB.
The Florida State Seminoles had a disastrous 2024 season, and I only see a slight improvement in the forecast this year. They his the transfer portal hard for offensive talent, which will help QB Thomas Castellanos. The Seminoles will need the passing game to do a lot of heavy lifting. Facing talent like Alabama this early in the year isn’t ideal.
The Seminoles are in a rebuild and Alabama is built to contend in the SEC, if a quarterback stands out. I think FSU is the perfect opponent for Alabama to throw Simpson out there and get some confidence. I think the Tide will easily cover this one on the road.
LSU Tigers at Clemson Tigers (-4) – My pick is LSU Tigers +4
The LSU Tigers are off to a solid start under head coach Brian Kelly. They return QB Garrett Nussmeier, who took a big leap last season by surpassing 4,000 yards. He is back by a strong defense, who added some studs in the portal to add to it. LSU has a lot of people thinking they could compete for the conference title, and more, in 2025.
The Clemson Tigers are a consistent team under head coach Dabo Swinney. You can chalk up a double-digit win season nearly every year. He has been outspoken about the transfer portal and has balked against the trend of reloading every year. He has survived, but has come up short of a title contender since that has been available. He has a lot of returning talent, so expect another stellar season from Clemson.
This one could be a nail-biter. I see these teams as awfully close talent-wise and it could come down to coaching. I trust Swinney way more than Kelly, so I would give Clemson the edge there. If Clemson was favored by a field goal or less, this would be a no-brainer, but that extra point is giving me some pause. I have to take the points in this game.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Miami (FL) Hurricanes (+2.5) – My pick is Notre Dame Fighting Irish -2.5
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took a huge jump last year and nearly went the distance in the expanded College Football Playoff field. They named QB CJ Carr as the starting quarterback and he is surrounded with returning talent like RB Jeremiyah Love and WR Jordan Faison. The Irish defense doesn’t get as much love, but they have a disciplined group of guys who make smart plays. I could see them being ranked among the best in the nation by year’s end.
The Miami Hurricanes scored arguably the most win-now quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason. QB Carson Beck arrives from Georgia, where he has a sloppy end of to his tenure. He has health issues during that time, so hopefully his turnover issues can be chalked up to him dealing with a physical issue. Beck has some studs in the backfield to lean on with running backs Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle ready to eat up yards. The Hurricanes defense is healthy after a few young stars suffered injuries early last year. They will be among the best in the ACC.
I think the Irish will start the season hot and cover in this game. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Hurricanes need a couple games to get going with Beck under center. I think Miami could finish the year with the ACC crown, but I’m going with the Irish in Week 1.
The Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 2-7 ATS) are coming off a 28-10 road loss to Ole Miss, which w
TCU Horned Frogs at North Carolina Tar Heels (+3) – My pick is North Carolina Tar Heels +3
The TCU Horned Frogs has some nice returning pieces back this year. QB Josh Hoover is back to bring continuity back to the offense. He has some weapons with him, but his defense will still be TCU’s issue again this year.
The North Carolina Tar Heels swung for the fences this offseason by signing legendary head coach Bill Belichick and acquiring some top transfer portal talent. QB Gio Lopez came from South Alabama, where he showed a lot of promise. UNC’s defense is down from the program that graduated a lot of talent to the NFL. I think Belichick will improve that side of the ball just from guidance and the assistant coaches he has hired.
Gamblers just aren’t sure about this match-up, but if UNC comes out of this game with an upset win, they will be overrated against other ACC teams. I think these teams are pretty darn close on talent and I could see the Tar Heels even inching out a close win, so I’m taking the points.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Colorado Buffaloes (+4.5) – My pick is Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -4.5
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets made big improvements last year and many think they are a darkhorse in the ACC. QB Haynes King was smart with the ball before dealing with a shoulder injury last year. I don’t see him as a possible NFL quarterback, but he suits this offense well. If given the time in the pocket, King will make game-changing plays.
The Colorado Buffaloes is a team in flux with their top offensive stars heading to the NFL. Also, head coach Deion Sanders dealt with a serious health issue this offseason, so he wasn’t around as much this Spring. Colorado’s defense could be the worst in their conference once again, and I don’t see them having the offense to combat that sort of talent discrepancy.
I believe Georgia Tech will improve on last year’s 7-6 record and appear in a much better bowl game at the end of the year. Colorado could be near the bottom of the Big 12 this year. I’m taking the Yellow Jackets to cover on the road.
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Cincinnati Bearcats (+6.5) – My pick is Cincinnati Bearcats +6.5
The Nebraska Cornhuskers hope QB Dylan Raiola takes a big leap this season. He transferred to Nebraska with a lot of fanfare (and a steep price in NIL money). He needs more drives to end with touchdowns and have a better TD/INT than his 13 to 11 ratio he had last year. They scored some receiving options on the transfer portal that will set the table for success. On defense, they did a lot of shifting this offseason, so I really need to see how the new unit plays in Week 1.
The Cincinnati Bearcats has QB Brendan Sorsby under center again, and he put up great dual-threat numbers in 2024. The offense lacked a lot of big-play potential, so he wasn’t afraid to make things happen. The Bearcats did the trendy thing and upgraded their receiving room in the transfer portal. On defense, they had some great talent at linebacker that should disrupt teams and cause turnovers.
If you’re betting on Nebraska, you’re all-in on Raiola finally living up to his potential. I believe this game is more of a coinflip. I would love Cincinnati is the line was a touchdown or greater, but the half-point does scare me a little. I’m still going with my gut here and taking the points at this neutral site.
New Mexico Lobos at Michigan Wolverines (-34.5) – My pick is Michigan Wolverines -34.5
The New Mexico Lobos are usually one of the worst teams out West. They saw head coach Bronco Mendenhall leave after only one season to take the Utah State job. New head coach Jason Eck took Idaho was basement-dweller in the FCS to a playoff team in three-straight years. New Mexico is a tough job, so if he has success there, it could open the doors to some bigger coaching opportunities. I don’t see that happening in year one, as the team’s cupboard was bare and is expected to be among the worst in the nation.
The Michigan Wolverines may not have appeared in the College Football Playoff last year, but they could hold their heads high by beating Ohio State and Alabama to finish the year. They scored big this offseason by bringing in QB Bryce Underwood, who was the top quarterback recruit in the country. He will be starting right away and has all the physical tools to excel in college football. If the learning curve isn’t too steep for the true freshman, Michigan could find themselves in the College Football Playoff at the end of the year.
I have no doubt that Michigan will dominate New Mexico this weekend. I wonder if Michigan will go up by 35 points by halftime and just pull everyone, and coast to the win. I’m betting on the Wolverines to keep on the gas after suffering some NCAA sanctions that will cause their head coach to miss two games in late-September. I’m taking Michigan to cover at home.
UTSA Roadrunners at Texas A&M Aggies (-24) – My pick is UTSA Roadrunners +24
The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners finished last season with Myrtle Beach Bowl win. Their offense was among the best in their conference, but their defense was rather mediocre. QB Owen McCown is back, and hopes to improve on last season’s big numbers. The Roadrunners will need their pass rush to keep them above water on defense.
The Texas A&M Aggies finished last year strong with a 5-3 record against the SEC. The Aggies return a lot of offensive talent, and they snagged WR KC Concepcion off the portal. He was an end zone magnet at North Carolina State. He has great hands and can get separation with his speed. A&M has the edge all over the field against most non-conference teams.
The Aggies come into nearly every season after ‘winning the offseason’, but stumble out of the gate year after year. I could see them getting off to a slow start and a decent UTSA team holding their own and keeping it within the spread. I’m taking the points in this game.
Ohio Bobcats at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (-15.5) – My pick is Ohio Bobcats +15.5
This is the section where we pick a smaller conference game.
The Ohio Bobcats were a standout team in the MAC last season. QB Parker Navarro might be the best quarterback in the conference. He can extend plays with his legs and has a good arm. They lost a lot of their defensive talent, but they they hit the portal to reload. We all know that defense isn’t what wins games in the MAC, so the Bobcats should find themselves at the top of the MAC standings again.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights no longer find themselves on the wrong side of blowouts against conference foes, but they are far from contenders. They overall talent is dwarfed by the juggernauts in the Big Ten, but they are able to compete against the other low-tier teams. QB Athan Kaliakmanis isn’t at the level to battle against Big Ten defenses. He will make quick, short passes in an effort to not make too many mistakes, but he needs more playmakers around him to extend those for bigger gains.
I like Ohio this year and think they will finish the season ranked. They have the talent to compete with teams like Rutgers and it wouldn’t surprise me if they get the outright, upset win on the road. I’m taking the points in this game.
QUICK HITS
Old Dominion at Indiana (-23.5) – My pick is Indiana -23.5
Colorado State at Washington (-22.5) – My pick is Colorado State +22.5
Utah at UCLA (+6) – My pick is UCLA +6
California at Oregon State (-1.5) – My pick is Oregon State -1.5
Virginia Tech at South Carolina (-7.5) – My pick is Virginia Tech +7.5
Georgia State at Ole Miss (-34.5) – My pick is Ole Miss -34.5
Nevada at Penn State (-42.5) – My pick is Penn State -42.5
Auburn at Baylor (+2.5) – My pick is Auburn -2.5
Syracuse vs Tennessee (-14) – My pick is Tennessee -14
Buffalo at Minnesota (-17.5) – My pick is Buffalo +17.5
BONUS PICKS!
Temple at UMass (+2.5) – My pick is Temple -2.5
Kennesaw State at Wake Forest (-17.5) – My pick is Wake Forest -17.5
UNLV at Sam Houston State (+9) – My pick is Sam Houston +9
Northwestern at Tulane (-6) – My pick is Tulane -6
Ball State at Purdue (-17.5) – My pick is Ball State +17.5
Sweetbob’s college football picks against the spread record in previous seasons:
2013: 134-79-8
2014: 148-118-4
2015: 149-118-3
2016: 196-145-6
2017: 183-159-13
2018: 177-157-6
2019: 187-141-8
2020: 170-160-5
2021: 167-151-8
2022: 185-150-5
2023: 155-144-10
2024: 183-164-11
2025: 0-0-0
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sweetbob & ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook!
About the Author…
Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on X at @Sweetbob