College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for key games today in Week 0

The vast majority of the 131 FBS teams will start their 2022 season in about seven days, but for 17 percent of college football’s top division, play begins in Week 0 with games scattered from Honolulu, Hawaii, as far east as Dublin, Ireland. Because these competitions are spread across six time zones, there are games to watch all day long until late at night.

Nebraska vs. Northwestern – the Ireland game mentioned above – is the climax, starting Saturday as a lonely contest between not only Power Five opponents but also Conference opponents. The Cornhuskers will be looking for a big first W to start the season with Coach Scott Frost in the hot seat, while the Wildcats are looking for a catch-up after a 3-9 finish in 2021 (with six straight losses this season) disappointed the Northwest believers.

While only winning counts for the rankings, we care about how these games will perform from an odds standpoint. Be sure to stay tuned to CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage from the opening kick on. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best of the 11 Week 0 games.

Odds on Caesars Sportsbook | All times Easter

Nebraska vs. Northwestern (Ireland)

12:30 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (Try it for free) — If I’m betting on the spread, I’ll take Northwestern and the points – but not because I have that much faith in the Wildcats. It’s that I don’t really believe in scoring a lot of points in this game. Nebraska have made many changes on the offensive side of the ball, and there’s a strong chance the Cornhuskers will be on a limited playbook in the first game of the season. I also expect the northwest defense to improve as it is part of the program’s DNA. Even if it doesn’t and the Nebraska offensive is firing on all cylinders, we can still count on Northwestern’s offensive not to do too much damage. The Under is the best game. Choice: Under 49.5 -Tom Fornelli

4 p.m. | Big Ten Network, fuboTV (Try it for free) — The Cowboys were decimated by departures, including stud wide receiver Isaiah Neyor. Also, the entire left side of the offensive line needs to be rebuilt. The Illini, on the other hand, have an established transfer quarterback in Tommy DeVito who won’t be shocked by anything the Cowboys throw at him. The combination of DeVito and established offensive players will force Wyoming into a shootout… and it’s not built for that. Choice: Illinois -10 – Barrett Hallee

7 p.m. | CBS sports network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Both the Owls and 49ers are bringing new defensive staffs to campus to bolster units ranked in goal defense in the second half of Conference USA programs. FAU effortlessly scored 38 points the last time these sides met, while Charlotte should take another step under senior quarterback Chris Reynolds and get back to the 30 points per game mark the team achieved in 2020. Expect this particular week 0 to turn into a shootout. Selection: Over 59.0 – Shehan Jeyarajah

10:30 p.m. | CBS sports network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Get to know the name Mike Wright because the Vanderbilt quarterback is set to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2022 season. The problem? He won’t get much help at Vanderbilt. Timmy Chang has taken charge of the Rainbow Warriors and will announce his presence with a bang — a standout offensive performance reminiscent of the days when he played quarterback for Hawaii. This will force the Commodores into a gunfight – one that Wright and co. narrowly win thanks to the Signal Caller’s dual threat ability. Selection: Hawaii +6.5 – Barrett Hallee

What college football picks can you hit with confidence in Week 0, and which big favorite will get a big scare? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the range – all from a proven computer model that has brought in nearly $3,600 in profits over the past six seasons – and find out.