College football picks Week 0: UCLA, Illinois show up early

Fans will get an appetizer with a light Week 0 slate but we’re diving headfirst into it with college football picks straight-up and against the spread.

Few things are indicative of how ravenous college football fans are to watch their favorite sport than Week 0. The games on the slate are rarely all that enticing in the grand scheme of things but, after eight months of having nothing to wet the whistle, fans will take anything they can get. And the 2021 college football season shows us just that.

While there are Power 5 teams like Nebraska, UCLA and Illinois that will be on the field in Week 0, the Bruins might be the only team in that group that’s playing in a bowl when the 2021 season is said and done. But again, if college football is on, fans are going to tune in, they’re going to bet on it, and they’re going to be engaged.

So we’re here to help you out with what Week 0 of the college football season will show us as we pick every game on the slate both straight up and against the spread. (Note: All lines and odds are via WynnBet.)

College football picks for Week 0 against the spread and straight up

Nebraska Cornhuskers (-7) at Illinois Fighting Illini – 1 p.m. ET

While understanding the Bret Bielema has a tough job ahead to rebuild the Illinois program, this is an experienced team that has Brandon Peters back at quarterback and now has a better coach as well. This is also a Fighting Illini team that beat the Huskers in Lincoln last year.

Scott Frost was having extra practices and workouts during COVID and Nebraska was still abysmal. I’ve lost all hope in Adrian Martinez ever figuring it out, which leads me to the Bielema era in Champagne getting off to a positive start.
Picks – Straight Up: Illinois, ATS: Illinois -7

UConn Huskies at Fresno State Bulldogs (-27.5) – 2 p.m. ET

One thing that’s not in question is the fact that Fresno State is the far superior team. Not only are the one team in this matchup that has played inside the last 600 days but they now have a real offseason to build and there is talent, especially on offense.

The Bulldogs should jump all over UConn early but the worry for some people is that they will let their foot off the gas late and the Huskies will swoop in for the backdoor cover. Even if Fresno State does hit cruise control, I’m not sure the backdoor is open for UConn.
Picks – Straight Up: Fresno State, ATS: Fresno State -27.5

Hawaii at UCLA (-17.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET

The Rainbow Warriors should, as per usual, come into this game with a capable offense but how capable they are of keeping up with the Bruins remains to be seen. UCLA has a ton of firepower with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback now joined by Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown.

Chip Kelly knows this is a statement season for him with the Bruins and I expect him to make that statement. There is some concern against the spread that UCLA will get up big and pack it in to prepare for LSU in Week 1 but, for now, we’re standing firm with the Bruins.
Picks – Straight Up: UCLA, ATS: UCLA -17.5

UTEP (-10) at New Mexico State – 9:30 p.m. ET

It’s not an exaggeration to say that we’re looking at two of the worst teams in college football for the 2021 season helping kick off the year in Week 0. UTEP was abysmal last year and New Mexico State played two games in the spring, one of which was a loss to Tarlton State.

There are different levels of bad, though, and the Aggies stand as proof as that. The Miners should probably basque in the glory of a likely emphatic victory because it might be their only one this season.
Picks – Straight Up: UTEP, ATS: UTEP -10

Southern Utah at San Jose State (-24) – 10 p.m. ET (line via ESPN)

San Jose State is clearly the better team in this game but the question will be how motivated they are in the second half and just how much they win by. Southern Utah has a good-not-great offense that can produce, which means that there could be a lot of points.

Even though this game will go the way of the Spartans, the early-season calamity will flash just a bit as the Thunderbirds will produce just enough offense in a high-scoring affair to get inside the 24-point line.
Picks – Straight Up: San Jose State, ATS: Southern Utah +24

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