CFB Week 0 Saturday Picks - August 23
The 2025 college football season is finally here, and we have a small slate of Week 0 action to start the campaign. There were a few major surprises in Week 0 last season, including Georgia Tech knocking off Florida State as a double-digit underdog. What surprises will this installment have in store? It’s almost time to find out. With Saturday’s slate nearly upon us, let’s dive into our expert’s college football predictions and NCAAF best bets.
CFB Week 0 Saturday Predictions
Pick #1: Kansas State -3 over Iowa State (-110) Click Here to Bet
Pick #2: Sam Houston State vs Western Kentucky Over 61.5 (-105) Click Here to Bet
Pick #3: Fresno State vs Kansas Under 50.5 (-110) Click Here to Bet
PICK #1: Kansas State -3 over Iowa State (-110)
One of the oldest rivalries in the Big 12 is set to kick off the 2025 college football season, as we’ll get “Farmageddon” from Dublin, Ireland between Kansas State and Iowa State. These teams are pretty different on paper, primarily when comparing the experience levels of both outfits.
Kansas State is ranked inside the top 15 nationally in returning production, and the Wildcats should pick up where they left off a season ago behind quarterback Avery Johnson, top wide receiver Jayce Brown and veteran running back Dylan Edwards. The Wildcats will also bring back over 60% of their defense from a season ago, giving them a relatively high floor on that side of the ball.
As for Iowa State, the Cyclones are sitting at 41st in returning production and this team will have to replace a ton of key pieces on both sides of the ball. Given that Iowa State’s defense will be without more than half of its starters from a season ago and the offense will have to replace its top three wide receivers, there could be some growing pains for the Cyclones in this season opener.
PICK #2: Sam Houston State vs Western Kentucky Over 61.5 (-110)
Both of these teams are wildly different compared to where they were a season ago, which is why we’ll be avoiding a side in this contest and focusing on the total instead.
This past offseason brought massive changes to Sam Houston State, with the Bearkats losing their head coach and both coordinators following a nine-win season. These changes were especially felt on defense, where the Bearkats lost all of their starters from a season ago, along with their top 16 tacklers.
Now, the completely unproven Sam Houston defense will take on a Western Kentucky offense that brings in quarterback Maverick McIvor and offensive coordinator Rick Bowie from Abilene Christian, a combination that should find an early groove in this one.
On the other side, Western Kentucky is already not known for its defense, and that shouldn’t change here against a Sam Houston offense that should focus on running a ton of plays with new head coach Phil Longo at the controls. Given that both of these offenses will likely focus on playing with tempo against these overmatched defenses, the over is the wager to make in this matchup.
PICK #3: Fresno State vs Kansas Under 50.5 (-110)
In what has become a common Week 0 theme, both of these teams are essentially brand-new operations heading into this season, which prompts us to focus on the total once again in this game.
Jalon Daniels is back at quarterback for yet another season for Kansas, but the rest of this offense is incorporating a ton of new pieces, along with a new offensive coordinator to help run the show with head coach Lance Leipold. With that in mind, there will likely be some miscues and stalled drives in this season opener.
As for Fresno State, the Bulldogs are led at quarterback by EJ Warner, who has promise but has been inconsistent in his collegiate career thus far. Furthermore, Fresno State is a team that will likely look to run the ball and chew up clock under head coach Matt Entz this season. All things considered, let’s take the under in Lawrence.
