Week 0 is in the books for the FCS. Now the real FCS slate hits. Last week, I went 4-1 in FCS picks, including two dogs that won outright. Didn’t even need the points. However, for the most part, I attacked some smaller spreads. This week, I’m attacking some larger spreads. The large spreads in this first week can lead to some nice betting opportunities. Remember, FCS lines move quickly. Confirm the line before you bet, and don’t forget to shop lines as well. For some of these, I found three or more point differentials between different books. Let’s take a look at my favorite FCS Week 1 bets!
FCS Week 0 Preview And Best Bets
Southern Illinois (-24.5) @ Samford
Thursday, September 3rd, 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern
For my first FCS Week 1 bets, I’m looking at Southern Illinois on the road to take on Samford. Southern Illinois visits Pete Hanna Stadium on Thursday evening. The Salukis just dropped a 34-31 Week 0 win at West Florida, and now they travel again. That schedule doesn’t reflect a 24.5-point favorite. Samford lost its opener 22-10 at North Alabama, so neither locker room feels great right now.
Nick Hill’s club entered the year as a top-20 program and still owns the better roster. The Salukis also just watched West Florida jump into the Top 25 after that one-score win. Which tells you SIU is not walking into Birmingham as a finished product. However, they do enter pissed off.
Samford played a sloppy opener, but the Bulldogs now get a true home crowd, a Red Out, and a favorite that already burned a Thursday night road game. Yes, they have had a shorter rest. However, it’s still early in the season for that to affect the team too much. Early-season FCS favorites in that spot often play tight, stall in the red zone, and leave points on the field.
Southern Illinois will win this game. I don’t think they cover it. Take the points with the home underdog and let the travel do the work.
FCS Week 1 Best Bet: Samford +24.5
Lehigh (-18.5) @ Georgetown
Saturday, September 5th, 9:30 AM Pacific / 12:30 PM Eastern
Lehigh walks into Georgetown as a top-10 team with a Patriot League pedigree that I’m not sure the Hoyas can match. The Mountain Hawks won 12 games a year ago, earned a playoff seed, and return the kind of backfield punch that can travel. Luke Yoder still sets the tone on the ground. Georgetown sits near the bottom of the same league and doesn’t have the front to slow that rushing attack down for four quarters.
Road look-ahead games can get sloppy, and covering 18.5 isn’t going to come easy. However, Lehigh should control the line of scrimmage, stack first downs, and force Georgetown into obvious passing downs. That is how big Patriot mismatches turn into covers. An early kick helps the better-prepared team, and Lehigh comes in with more recent winning habits and a clearer identity.
For the record, Lehigh historically has dominated Georgetown. On November 1st of last year, they won 41-0, rushing for 193 total yards.
FCS Week 1 Best Bet: Lehigh (-18.5)
Drake @ Montana (-35.5)
Saturday, September 5th, 12:00 PM Pacific / 3:00 PM Eastern
I went back and forth on this game for my top FCS Week 1 picks. Montana hosts Drake and is a top-three team, and they are a massive home favorite. The Grizzlies should win this game easily. However, I struggle with this number. 35.5 points is a lot to cover for a team that has shown it’s not afraid to play its backups the whole second half.
Drake doesn’t need to win this. They just need to keep Montana from putting up 50 points. Montana made its statement in Week 0 with a nice win over the Big Sky’s sixth-ranked team. However, it was close. Drake also dropped a close game, losing by three.
If Montana jumps out to a 28-0 lead, the backups will play, the pace will slow, and the cover will become harder. Drake can still complete a couple of chunk plays and turn a blowout into a 31-point loss. I respect these Grizzlies. I just don’t feel comfortable taking them with 35.5 points. The last time these two played was back in 2018. Montana won by 32 points. It’s risky riding with the lesser team, but I’m doing it.
FCS Week 1 Best Bet: Drake (+35.5)
Illinois State (-24.5) @ Western Illinois
Saturday, September 5th, 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern
Illinois State just played for the national title earlier this year and now sit at number fourth ranked. Western Illinois is not in that realm. The moneyline tells you the same story the rankings do. The Redbirds are a massive road favorite. Sure, maybe they’ll have a Week 1 title-game hangover. However, I think they’ll be ready to prove themselves even more.
This is a statement spot for Illinois State. They look like a championship team. That motivation matters against an overmatched team. If the Redbirds win the first two series, the Leathernecks start chasing points, and the margin grows.
Western Illinois simply lacks the offensive firepower to hang 20-plus on a top-five defense. In past meetings, Illinois State has dominated this team. They enter having gone 5-0 against the spread in their last five games and 5-0 in their last five road games. In the battle of Illinois, I’m taking the better team.
FCS Week 1 Best Bet: Illinois State (-24.5)
South Dakota (-21.5) at Northern Colorado
Saturday, September 5th, 5:00 PM Pacific / 8:00 PM Eastern
South Dakota goes on the road as a ranked Missouri Valley team against a Big Sky side that the preseason polls buried near the bottom. That’s the justification you need for this bet. The Coyotes belong in the playoff conversation, and Northern Colorado does not.
This isn’t a free cover, and night games can stall road offenses. However, the roster gap is too wide for me to fade. South Dakota should run the ball, win the tackle box, and turn this into a long night for Northern Colorado.
South Dakota is coming off a dominant 59-20 blowout over Central Connecticut State led by their quarterback Austyn Modrzewski, who threw for 304 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 81 yards. Northern Colorado lost by one point to Weber State. However, Weber State is not South Dakota.
This South Dakota team should be able to get physical and push Northern Colorado around. It’s their first road game of the season, but this is a team that can travel. They had a close game last year, ending 24-17 in overtime. However, I don’t think Northern Colorado can keep up with that this year.
FCS Week 1 Best Bet: South Dakota (-21.5)
