With several nationally intriguing matchups and the bulk of opening action still a week away, college football’s Week Zero is the appetizer to Week 1’s main course.
Key Takeaways
- Saturday’s Dublin matchup tipped to get double the action
- The Wildcats are seeing a bulk of the money at a couple of sportsbooks
- There are four other games involving FBS teams that could get a Week Zero bump
With just a handful of games on Saturday involving FBS teams, bettors don’t have a ton of options, but one game across the pond does offer them a chance to whet their appetites. No. 17 Kansas State takes on No. 23 Iowa State as a 3-point favorite in Dublin, Ireland, in the marquee matchup of the day.
“I think the action will probably be double at least compared to a week where everybody’s playing and there’s a lot better matchups,” DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello said about the Big 12 showdown. “It’s in a good spot for it to be the top dog in handle for sure.”
Cat-scratch fever
The Wildcats are getting 68% of the handle and 62% of the bets at DraftKings. ESPN BET has reported similar numbers, with 58% of the money and 59% of the tickets tipping toward the favorite.
It’s been a different story at FanDuel, where 72% of the money has come in on Iowa State at +3.5. Kansas State is doing better in ticket count with 39% of the wagers, and the Wildcats are getting a whopping 79% of the moneyline handle at odds of -162.
ESPN BET has seen an even higher lean toward Kansas State ML, with 80% of the handle.
Attractive over
Joey Feazel, Caesars Sportsbook’s Head of Football, said he hasn’t seen “anything notable” in the Dublin game’s markets.
“But we are seeing a lot of K-State action thus far,” Feazel said. “Not really one way on the total just yet.”
The amount of points scored in Dublin could certainly be an attractive option for bettors in the first game of 2025. DraftKings reported that 70% of the money has come in on over 50.5, with the under getting just 32% of the tickets.
Other Week Zero matchups
Saturday’s four other Week Zero games will likely draw more action than if they were being played a week later.
Head coach Dan Mullen makes his UNLV debut with the Runnin’ Rebels hosting Idaho State as a 26.5-point favorite at DraftKings. The Vegas home team is getting 92% of the handle, while over 65.5 is the more popular total play with 84% of the money.
Kansas opens the season at home as a 12.5-point favorite over Fresno State, which is getting just 23% of the handle and 26% of the bets as the road underdog, according to the latest College Football odds.
Western Kentucky (-10.5) has taken 60% of the handle at home against Sam Houston State. This game features the tightest total split of the day at DraftKings, with the over 61.5 getting just 51% of the money.
Stanford heads to Hawaii to wrap up Week Zero on Saturday night as a 2.5-point underdog. The Rainbow Warriors are getting a massive 89% of the handle, but the Cardinal have taken 51% of the tickets. More than 80% of the money has come in on under 50.5, but it’s getting just 36% of the tickets.
