The 2025 College Football season rolls on with a loaded Week 1 slate of games! Welcome to our CFB Best Bets as we break down CFB free picks for Thursday and Friday’s Week 1 action. Let’s focus on two games for our top CFB predictions. Stay tuned for more college football bets below.  

The Week 1 college football slate gets underway on Thursday and Friday with games filling up both nights. We have plenty of ways to go for our CFB free picks. Note that all bets below are for one unit unless otherwise noted. Without further ado, let’s dive into our CFB Best Bets. 

 

 

 

CFB Free Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Thursday, 8/28

Let’s kick off our Week 1 CFB Best Bets with a non-conference matchup between Wisconsin and Miami (OH) on Thursday night. The Badgers are 17.5-point home favorites in this one, but our CFB predictions are looking at the total. 

Miami (OH) vs. Wisconsin Prediction: Thursday, August 28th

Wisconsin’s style of play on both sides of the ball will set the tone for a lower-scoring game. The total is already on the low end, but there’s still value in taking the under. Let’s break down why our CFB best bets will bank on a defensive, slow-paced slugfest. 

The Badgers have reconstructed their offense, going away from last year’s failed spread attack. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes brings over a ground-and-pound, pro-style scheme that relies on a strong run game. Wisconsin will lean on its physical rushing attack to control the clock and flow of the game, especially against inferior opponents. 

With Kansas last season, Grimes had the 13th-best rush offense in the FBS. Wisconsin can do something similar with the ideal personnel in place. The Badgers return three starters on the offensive line and boast multiple talented running backs. Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. also offers a dual-threat skillset at the QB spot. 

In addition to grinding out longer possessions via the run, the Wisconsin offense could also be a tad slow to get going in this season opener. The flip in tendency from a pass-first attack to a run-focused scheme won’t be successful overnight. Plus, Edwards may take a game or two to get fully comfortable running the offense. 

On the flip side, the Miami (OH) defense is respectable. It ranked 15th in the country in scoring defense last season, allowing 18.8 PPG, and 7th two years ago. Though the unit did lose some production, there are multiple experienced vets still in place. The RedHawks’ defense can ugly this game up and keep things low-scoring. 

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s defense projects to be a strength under fourth-year DC Mike Tressel. They added a few notable transfers to the defensive line and have a veteran-laden secondary. The Badgers will try to dominate the line of scrimmage on defense with a physical style that complements its offensive identity. 

Miami’s offense could be in trouble here. The RedHawks are replacing a ton of offensive production from last year and have many new faces on this side of the ball. QB Brett Gabbert is finally gone after spending the past six years at Miami. Plus, the offense loses its top four pass-catchers and a 1,000-yard rusher from last season’s squad. Oh yeah, it’s also working with an entirely new starting offensive line. 

Former Toledo/Baylor QB Dequan Finn transfers in with plenty of talent, and he could light up the MAC this season. Yet, some growing pains should be expected in this opener on the road against Wisconsin’s defense. In addition to new faces along the O-line, Finn also has unproven offensive weapons at his disposal. 

This sets up to be a defensive-minded matchup with a pair of offenses still working through the kinks. It’s also worth noting that the under cashed in all three of Miami’s matchups vs. power conference teams last year. The RedHawks are also 6-1 to the under in their last 7 games against power opponents. 

 

 

 

CFB Free Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Friday, 8/29

Let’s now turn our attention to Friday for the Week 1 CFB Best Bets. We have Sam Houston hosting UNLV in an interesting matchup that could be high-scoring. The total is on our radar for this non-con game as well. 

UNLV vs. Sam Houston Prediction: Friday, August 29th

UNLV and Sam Houston both began their seasons last Saturday with respective Week 0 matchups. The Rebels edged out Idaho State, 38-31, while the Bearkats fell to Western Kentucky, 41-24. Both games were higher-scoring, featuring plenty of offense. That’s the basis of our Week 1 pick when UNLV and Sam Houston face off. 

Dan Mullen’s UNLV offense racked up 539 total yards in the opener, including a whopping 307 on the ground. Yes, this came against Idaho State’s FCS-level defense. Yet, it’s a good sign that the Rebels should have a potent offensive attack in the right spots. That should continue this week against a Sam Houston defense that just allowed 506 total yards to WKU. 

Notably, UNLV’s starting quarterback battle is still in flux as Anthony Colandrea outplayed Alex Orji last week. Mullen will again want to get both enough playing time to figure out the QB spot ahead of next week’s matchup vs. UCLA. As mentioned in my CFB Best Bets article last week, this should lead to UNLV running its offense deep into the second half even if it has a lead. 

The Rebels now get to face a Sam Houston defense that gave up 506 total yards and 41 points a week ago. The Bearkats’ secondary got exposed for 401 yards on 51 pass attempts as multiple Western Kentucky pass-catchers found space. Though UNLV is built on a strong running attack, the passing will open up more in this matchup. 

We also saw UNLV’s defense look shaky in Week 0. The Rebels allowed 555 total yards and 31 points to Idaho State, who averaged 7.2 yards per play in the game. The secondary was torched for 395 passing yards, while the defense overall missed 17 tackles. Mullen’s team will likely be offensive-minded this year, and that showed in the opener. 

Sam Houston can move the ball and put up points if the same UNLV defense shows up. New head coach Phil Longo has introduced a quick-paced, spread offense that will keep opposing defenses off-balance. The Bearkats’ offense impressed last week, averaging 6.3 yards per play with multiple explosive plays and balanced production. 

Overall, expect this one to be higher-scoring. Both teams like to use faster tempos offensively while fielding some unproven and subpar defenses. Grab the over as we root for points from both squads. 

 

 

 

Best CFB Prop Bets & Other Picks For Thursday & Friday Week 1

 

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