College football can famously be unkind to the betting favorites, and so far, 2024 appears to be no exception.
Week 0 kicked off with double-digit dog Georgia Tech knocking off Florida State in Dublin, Ireland, and favorites went 0-4 ATS last weekend (though all but Florida State did end up winning SU).
So far this week, the favorites have taken care of business, if not covered. We expect some notable upsets on Saturday, though. The Florida Gators, who take on No. 19 Miami in The Swamp at 3:30 p.m., have stood out to us as live dogs since the lines were released earlier this week.
Coach Billy Napier’s Gators aren’t the only Week 1 underdog we like, though.
$250 BONUS BETS
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK
$1,000 FIRST BET RESET (MUST USE CODE NEWSWEEK)
ESPN BET
UP TO $1,000 BONUS BETS
FANATICS SPORTSBOOK
$1,500 FIRST-BET OFFER
BETMGM
$200 BONUS OR $1,000 FIRST-BET SAFETY NET
BET365
$1,000 FIRST BET
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
$200 BONUS BETS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
Below are the other potential Week 1 college football upsets we’re keeping an eye on (all times Eastern).
College Football Week 1 Underdogs to Watch
South Dakota State at Oklahoma State — 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
This game is flying under the radar thanks its 2 p.m. start time and the fact that most fans of this sport will be locked in to Clemson-Georgia and/or Penn State-West Virginia.
But the Jackrabbits (and the rest of the top teams in FCS) deserve more respect than they’re getting. SDSU, the reigning back-to-back national champs, are a tough opening opponent for Oklahoma State, though the Cowboys do bring back as much talent as anyone in the country, including Heisman contender Ollie Gordon II.
South Dakota State is a great bet to cover the 9.5-point spread (FanDuel, ESPN BET), and if you’re not yet familiar with SDSU QB Mark Gronowski, be sure to check him out in this game.
We have just enough respect for this veteran Oklahoma State team not to take the Jackrabbits outright, but we expect this game to be up for grabs in the fourth quarter.
Best bets:
- South Dakota State +10 (-110 at DraftKings)
- Over 54 (-110 at DK)
Miami Hurricanes at Florida Gators — 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Even if you’re bullish on the Canes’ prospects this season, you have to admit this is a tough spot for Miami.
Florida is desperate to right the ship entering year three under head coach Billy Napier, whose first two Gators teams went 6-7 and 5-7. On Saturday, they host an in-state rival under similar pressure, the No. 19 Miami Hurricanes.
Expectations are sky-high at the U thanks to the offseason addition of QB Cam Ward, who is a Heisman contender after two impressive seasons at Washington State. The Canes look like ACC contenders, but we expect them to stumble on the road here.
This Florida roster is full of blue-chip players with a point to prove; while the results on the field have fallen off under Napier, the Gators are still talented after bringing in top-20 recruiting classes each of the last four years, per 247.
We like Florida — a tough home underdog a year ago that upset Tennesee and led Florida State entering the fourth quarter of the season finale (before losing 24-15) — to win outright in a rock fight on Saturday afternoon.
Best bets:
- Florida moneyline (best odds: +122 at FanDuel)
- Under 54.5 (-115 at FD)
Boston College at Florida State — Monday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Staying in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the biggest question is how preseason ACC betting favorite Florida State will bounce back after losing to Georgia Tech in Week 0.
The Seminoles are at home on Monday night against a dangerous Boston College team led by one of the best running quarterbacks in the nation, Thomas Castellanos. Given the Noles’ issues stopping the run a week ago, this could be another tough matchup for the FSU front seven.
BC, which pushed Florida State in a 31-29 loss at home last September, went 7-6 (3-5 ACC) in 2026 and had to replace head coach Jeff Hafley after he landed the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator job last spring.
Under new coach Bill O’Brien, the Eagles are a tough team to figure out entering 2024, though expectations are not high. Aat FanDuel, for one, BC’s over/under win total is set at 4.5, and its odds to win the ACC are 200-to-1.
Still, based on Week 0, FSU QB D.J. Uiagalelei and Co. don’t strike us as a good bet to cover a spread like 16.5 — against anyone — until proven otherwise.
Best bets:
- Boston College +16.5 (-104 at FanDuel)
- BC First Half +9.5 (-104 at FD)
Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator’s terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
