College Football Predictions Today: NCAA Best Bets and Odds on August 30

The new college football season is finally here and we have a ton of great matchups lined up for this weekend. With a ton of marquee matchups on deck, there is lots of money to be made to cash out to kick off the new season.

With that said, let's take a look at our best bets for Week 1.

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

College Football Week 1 Best Bets and Predictions August 30

Western Michigan vs Wisconsin Betting Odds and Prediction

Best Odds: Wisconsin -23.5 (-110) FanDuel Sportsbook

The Wisconsin Badgers were underwhelming last season, finishing the season just 7-6 in which they tied with Northwestern with the 2nd best record in the Big Ten West division.

While they didn't have the best season last year, they at least ended the season on a high note winning four out of the last five games to close it out but lost to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl by a score of 35-31.

Now, Wisconsin added a brand new quarterback in former Miami Hurricanes Tyler Van Dyke who should be a spark to this Badger's offense. With their returning stars on offense, wide receiver Will Pauling and running back Chez Mellusi, Van Dyke should have the supporting cast to have a bounce-back season for Wisconsin and come away with a big first victory and cover the spread in Week 1.

• Western Michigan is 0-8 in their last 8 games as the betting underdog
• Western Michigan has not covered the spread as a road underdog in their last five openers as the underdog.
• Wisconsin has won seven out of their last eight season openers.

FAU vs Michigan State Betting Odds and Prediction

Best Odds: Michigan State -13 (-110) Caesars Sportsbook

The Michigan State Spartans were downright dreadful last season where they were just 4-8 and 2-7 in conference play.

• The Spartans had an overhaul and it starts with their new head coach Jonathan Smith who will be looking to turn this team around and get back to their glory days.

Jonathan Smith will help sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles grow into his full potential after having a subpar freshman season where he appeared in nine games. Chiles gets some returning players from two of his offensive linemen as well as their leading rusher Nate Carter which should take a lot of the load off of Chiles' shoulders.

In this matchup, it will be hard for FAU to match the physicality of the Spartans and they should win at the line of scrimmage to get their running game going to take it to them and get a statement victory for first-year head coach Jonathan Smith.

TCU vs Stanford Betting Odds and Prediction

Best Odds: Stanford +9.5 (-110) BetMGM Sportsbook

The Stanford Cardinals are a shell of their former selves years ago. They have now had less than 5 wins in each of their last five seasons. They certainly hope they can take a big step forward with second-year head coach Troy Taylor at the helm.

With a slew of injuries and young players Stanford underperformed in Taylor's first year but with the majority of the cast coming back this season they can build and grow in year 2.

Sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels now gets a second full season as the starter under Taylor and we can expect a big jump up in production during his Junior year.

• With players like Elic Ayomanor returning who finished the 2023 season with 1,013 yards and 6 touchdowns, it gives Daniels the playmaker he needs to make a big difference in this game against TCU.

With Stanford opening up the season at home as a 9.5-point underdog this game can play out a lot closer than the spread indicates given that TCU is not used to being a sizable road favorite where they were just 1-1 last season while losing outright in one of those two games.

• In 3 previous matchups between TCU and Stanford, two of the three games were decided by one possession.
• TCU is just 4-7 on the ML in their last 11 games.