Our long national nightmare is over. Nature is healing. College football is back, baby. Week 0 kicks off with a truncated schedule before the main course begins next week. Regardless of the number of games on the slate this week, we’re making picks. For my college football predictions and best bets for Week 0, we’re off to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland (yep, you read that correctly), and Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. Let’s hit the gridiron!
College Football Predictions & Best Bets for Week 0
North Carolina Tar Heels vs TCU Horned Frogs
Start Time: 12:00 PM EST
It wasn’t preplanned, but this week’s picks are both North Carolina-centric. Two teams from the Tar Heel State are in action this weekend, and I’ve settled in on plays for both their games.
While both the North Carolina Tar Heels and their rivals, the NC State Wolfpack, are on the road this weekend, the Heels have the furthest trek. 3,978 miles and five time zones is a road trip hard to top.
The Tar Heels and the TCU Horned Frogs will kick off their seasons in Dublin, Ireland, this weekend in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, with both teams technically the road team.
The Horned Frogs are expected to win twice as many games as the Tar Heels this season (preseason win total predictions have TCU in the 9-10 range and North Carolina around 4.5-5). However, I’m expecting Bill Belichick and company to at least keep this game close, as is normally the case in these early-season games played abroad. North Carolina plus the points is my pick.
Best Bet: North Carolina +8 (-110)
NC State Wolfpack vs Virginia Cavaliers
Start Time: 3:30 PM EST
As mentioned, the North Carolina State Wolfpack will also begin their season on the road; however, the trip from their home at Carter-Finley Stadium to the Virginia Cavaliers’ lair at Scott Stadium is less than 200 miles and no time zones. The Tar Heels say, hold my beer.
In terms of win total projections, this matchup on paper is much closer than the Tar Heels vs Horned Frogs game, with both the Wolfpack and the Cavaliers expected to win somewhere in the 7.5-game range this season.
In this case, I’m going with the Carolina team as an underdog once again. With no games played, I obviously don’t have access to all the advanced stats I use to predict winners, so for the first few weeks of the season I’m going with the wisdom of the crowd (not just any crowd – the experts) as well as my gut. And considering Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren has never lost to the Cavaliers since taking the reins of the team (4-0), I think NC State is a live dog in this spot.
Best Bet: NC State +4.5 (-110)
2025/6 College Football Overall Record: 16-12 (57%)
Profit (based on $100/bet): $266.70
Return on Investment: 10%
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