The vast majority of FBS’s 131 teams will begin their 2022 seasons in about seven days, but for the top 17% of college football’s division, play begins in Week 0 with games scattered as far west as Honolulu, Hawaii. , to the east. like Dublin, Ireland. Since those contests are spread across six time zones, there will be games to watch all day long until late at night.
Nebraska vs. Northwestern, that aforementioned game in Ireland, is the highlight entering Saturday as the only matchup not only between Power Five opponents but conference foes as well. The Cornhuskers will look for a big first win to start the season with coach Scott Frost in the hot seat, while the Wildcats look for a turnaround season after a 3-9 finish in 2021 (with six straight losses to end the season) . season) disappointed the Northwest faithful.
While winning is all that matters for ranking, we do worry about how these games will shake out from an odds standpoint. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports around the clock for college football coverage from kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best of the 11 games in Week 0.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All Eastern Times
Nebraska vs. Northwestern (Ireland)
featured game | Northwest Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
12:30 | Fox, fuboTV (Free Trial) — If I bet the spread, I’ll keep Northwestern and the points, but not because I have so much faith in the Wildcats. It’s just that I don’t really believe in many points being scored in this game. Nebraska has made a lot of changes on the offensive side of the ball, and there’s a good chance the Cornhuskers will have a limited playbook in the first game of the season. I also hope the defense of the Northwest improves because it’s part of the DNA of the show. Even if it hasn’t, and Nebraska’s offense is firing on all cylinders, we can still trust Northwestern’s offense won’t do too much damage. Bass is the best move. Choice: Less than 49.5 –Tom Fornelli
featured game | Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Wyoming Cowboys
16:00 | big Ten Network, fuboTV (Free Trial) — The Cowboys were decimated by departures, including wide receiver Isaiah Neyor. In addition, the entire left side of the offensive line must be rebuilt. The Illini, on the other hand, have an established transfer quarterback in Tommy DeVito who won’t be surprised by anything the Cowboys throw at him. The combination of DeVito and players with established offensive skills will force Wyoming into a shootout … and it’s not cut out for that. Pick: Illinois -10 –Barrett Sallee
featured game | Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Charlotte 49ers
19:00 | CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Both the Owls and 49ers are bringing new defensive teams to campus in an attempt to bolster units that ranked in the second half of Conference USA programs in scoring defense. FAU scored 38 points with ease the last time these two teams met, while Charlotte should take another step under senior quarterback Chris Reynolds and return to the 30 points per game mark the team achieved in 2020. Especially in Week 0, expect this one to turn into a shootout. Choice: more than 59.0 — Shehan Jeyaraja
featured game | Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
22:30 | CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — He knows the name Mike Wright because the Vanderbilt quarterback is going to be one of the nicest surprises of the 2022 season. The problem? You won’t get much help at Vanderbilt. Timmy Chang has taken over for the Rainbow Warriors and will herald his presence with a bang: a stellar offensive performance that he’ll remember from the days he played quarterback for Hawaii. That will force the Commodores into a shootout, one that Wright and company will narrowly win thanks to his caller’s dual-threat ability. Pick up: Hawaii +6.5 –Barrett Sallee
Which college football picks can you confidently make in Week 0 and which heavy favorite is in for a big scare? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that has generated nearly $3,600 in profits over the past six seasons, and find out.
