College football is back! Well, sort of.

In Week 0, we finally get some real, live college football games that count before the season really gets going in Week 1.

Nevertheless, Week 0 offers plenty of entertaining betting opportunities, and the gambling group chat “Bear Bets” from Chris “The Bear” Fallica, Geoff Schwartz, Sam Panayotovich and Will Hill are back to break it all down!

Here are their best picks for college football Week 0, with a few last-minute future tips thrown in for good measure!

Florida State (-11) at Georgia Tech (in Dublin, Ireland)

Hill: Florida State team total over 31.5

“I think Florida State will have an advantage in the trenches. They give Mike Norvell, who is a good offensive coach, time to prepare for a vulnerable Georgia Tech defense that is a little weak in the trenches. I think Florida State will be able to run the ball. That sets up quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to do some things on plays.”

Sammy P: Over 56.5

“Florida State has so much talent at receiver and running back that Uiagalelei can kind of mask his weaknesses with a powerful running game and plays. They’re going to score. Georgia Tech’s defense is really bad, guys, that’s the problem. … Florida State could score 38 points in this game, but Georgia Tech, with former Texas A&M gunslinger Haynes King at quarterback, is going to score too. I think this game goes over the line. … The point total is going to be either in the 60s or the 40s, and I’m inclined to guess the former.”

Montana State (-10.5) at New Mexico

The Bear: Montana State -7, but avoid if the spread is wider

“New Mexico is one of the four worst (FBS) teams in the country. The Bobcats are a contender for the FCS title this year and are a very good team across the board. But that number is getting too high.”

Hills: New Mexico +11

“If you’re New Mexico, you don’t have as many chances to win games this year. You’re a complete rebuild. Doesn’t the fact that an FCS team comes into your building and is not only favored but now has an 11-point lead motivate you? … I’m just looking at the underdogs. Devon Dampier, New Mexico’s quarterback, isn’t a bad player. He played a little bit late last year and threw six touchdowns, no interceptions. He can run a little bit. I’ll take the points.”

First head coach dismissed

Hill: Dave Aaranda, Baylor (+700)

“The Bears were so bad defensively last year, they allowed 6.6 yards per play. Aranda will lead the defense now, so he’ll leave his fingerprints on that unit. If it doesn’t get better, you can point to him. And that schedule is tough. They’re in Utah, at home against an Air Force team that comfortably beat Baylor in a bowl game two years ago, then at Colorado and a few weeks after that at Iowa State. If things start off poorly, it doesn’t sound like he’s on the best path there.”

Sammy P: Sam Pittman, Arkansas (+400)

“I hate to see a fellow Sammy P out of work, but Arkansas’ schedule isn’t great. They’ll probably beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But then the Razorbacks play at Oklahoma State, they come home and play a UAB team that could beat them, and then they’re at Auburn, home against Texas A&M and Tennessee, back to back. A 1-5 record is a real possibility in Arkansas’s off week. Then the Hogs have LSU. If they go into the off week 1-5 and LSU is coming up, they’ll start Sam Pittman.”

The bear: Sam Pittman, Arkansas (+400)

“I think Pittman is very popular there, but Bobby Petrino is back in Fayetteville on the offensive line now. Who knows if there will be a push to bring him back as head coach? The Razorbacks were in the Sugar Bowl under Petrino. … Sammy mentioned 1-5 going into the bye week because I wrote that if Arkansas loses to UAB, they’ll be 1-6 against Mississippi State on Oct. 26, and that would be the goal, but 1-5 going into the bye week also feels like the right position to be if things are really bad out there.”

Favorite Player Props

Black: Oregon WR Evan Stewart over 850.5 yards of space gained

“Oregon’s two leading wide receivers last season, Tez Johnson and Troy Franklin, had over 1,100 receiving yards, and Franklin didn’t even play in the Fiesta Bowl. Evan Stewart, who came over from Texas A&M, will have 1,000 yards in this offense. That’s just this offense. They produce a lot of yards for running backs and wide receivers.”

The Bear: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel under 3350.5 passing yards

“You have a team that’s going to run a lot. You have a team that’s going to be involved in a lot of losses, which probably means some playing time for former five-star backup QB Dante Moore. Gabriel has had some injury issues in the past, you’re going to want to keep him healthy as you get into the later Big Ten portion of the schedule.”

Sammy P: Notre-Dame QB Riley Leonard over 2599.5 passing yards

“When Leonard was a sophomore at Duke, he rushed for over 2,900 yards. Then he twisted his toe last year and broke it. It was a weird year for him. But by all appearances, Notre Dame will throw more this year because they have Riley Leonard. They threw a lot last year with Hartman, but I think Leonard has a solid wide receiver room and an NFL tight end in Mitchell Evans who can run free and grab the ball. Because of his injuries last year, this is an opportunity for Leonard to bounce back and buy cheap.”

Hill: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders under 3000.5 passing yards (and Colorado under 5.5 wins)

“Shedeur is still playing behind a bad offensive line after getting beat up last year. If things aren’t going well for the Buffaloes — they’re one of my favorite win-out-the-line bets this year — and he’s getting ready for the draft and hoping to be a top pick, does he sit out the last game or two? I just think there’s a lot of opportunity here to win an under bet.”

Favorites win overall under

The bear: temple under 2.5 wins

“The Owls are a bottom-five team this year. They lost EJ Warner, their quarterback and son of Kurt Warner, to Rice and have had trouble scoring even with him. I don’t know how they can win three games. I don’t think they can win a road game, even at UConn. And who do you beat at home? Utah State? Army? They probably have to win all three games to make the over.”

Black: State of Arizona under 4.5 wins

“I like their coaching staff. I love the philosophy that Kenny Dillingham brings. But their roster is still in transition. I don’t know where that roster stands right now in terms of playmakers. But more than anything, Arizona State’s schedule in the Big 12 is absolutely brutal. In their first year there, the Sun Devils face the top six teams in that conference — Kansas, Utah, Oklahoma State, UCF, Kansas State and Arizona. Their “easier” games are at Texas Tech — a very tough place — and at Cincinnati, and they host BYU. Arizona State’s non-conference schedule isn’t a sure thing either. They’re favorites at home against Wyoming by six points, then at home against Mississippi State and at Texas State. I’d pick Arizona State at under 3.5. I think the Sun Devils are targeting a three-win season.”

Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create a FOX Sports account or log in to yourand follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized daily newsletter!

---

---