College football picks against the spread, Week 1: Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) returns an interception during the second half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. Ohio State won 28-14.

It's been a long offseason, but we've finally made it.

We had Week 0 this past Saturday to tide us over, in which Iowa State took down Kansas State in a Dublin, Ireland, edition of Farmageddon. Now, it's time for the real thing.

The 2025 college football season begins in full this weekend, and there are certainly some gems on the Week 1 slate as it features three matchups between teams ranked in the preseason top 10. And while none of our official For The Win panel of college football experts finished the 2024 season with a winning record, we're back to bring you our picks against the spread in 2025, beginning with a loaded Week 1 slate.

No. 25 Boise State at USF (Thursday)

Opening Line: Boise State -5.5

Schuster: Boise State -6.5

I really dislike fading a home dog in Week 1 like this, but Boise is fringe playoff contender and USF will maybe contend in the AAC.

Woodroof: Boise State -6.5

Boise State may not have Ashton Jeanty now, but we'll say a USF win gets the year started off right.

D'Andrea: Boise State -6.5

The Broncos have a chance to make a statement right out of the gate that they're more than just the Ashton Jeanty show.

Martinelli: Boise State -6.5

The Broncos are probably looking to prove that Ashton Jeanty wasn’t the only reason they were good last season, and winning by a touchdown seems very reasonable — travel distance be damned.

Nettuno: Boise State -6.5

The post-Ashton Jeanty era at Boise begins with what could be one of the best non-conference Group of Five games of the year. South Florida should take a leap with quarterback Byrum Brown returning, but it won't be enough to take down a Boise team that returns much of the rest of its core outside of Jeanty.

Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Thursday, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City)

Opening Line: Nebraska -6.5

Schuster: Cincinnati +7

Mini Mahomes getting to play in Big Mahomes' house is a fun storyline, but let's not forget Scott Satterfield is already coaching for his job this year. I think the Bearcats keep this one close.

Woodroof: Nebraska -7

Will Nebraska be good this year? Winning a game it's supposed to win against Cincinnati will be a solid first step.

D'Andrea: Nebraska -7

I believe wholeheartedly in the Cornhuskers' ability to dash their own hopes. I just don't think Cincinnati is the team to pull off such a demoralization.

Martinelli: Cincinnati +7

Dylan Raiola didn't quite live up to the hype last year — he led the Big Ten with 11 interceptions and was up there in sacks — but I don't know if the Bearcats have enough to win. But they could cover.

Nettuno: Nebraska -7

The Cornhuskers took a step in the right direction last year and returned to a bowl game. This team could make some noise in the Big Ten if Dylan Raiola takes a leap, but regardless, it should be fine against a Cincinnati team that doesn't present a ton of reasons for optimism.

Auburn at Baylor (Friday)

Opening Line: Auburn -2.5

Schuster: Auburn -2.5

It's the early Auburn hype that makes the inevitable implosion so delicious.

Woodroof: Baylor +2.5

It'd be funny if Baylor beat Auburn, so we'll guess Baylor.

D'Andrea: Baylor +2.5

I also believe wholeheartedly in Hugh Freeze's ability to derail his own hype train. Dave Aranda's got something cooked up for that.

Martinelli: Baylor +2.5

I am not picking Hugh Freeze to win a Power Four season opener. Baylor at home all the way.

Nettuno: Baylor +2.5

Auburn absolutely needs to take a leap if Hugh Freeze is going to stick around beyond 2025, but the season will start with a disappointing result on the road against a Baylor team that was playing really well at the end of 2024.

No. 1 Texas at Ohio State

Opening Line: Ohio State -3

Schuster: Texas +1.5

Arch Manning is somehow the more experienced quarterback in this one. I genuinely think he'll be more poised than the Buckeyes' Julian Sayin, at least to begin with, but that might be all the time Arch needs to put Texas on top.

Woodroof: Texas +1.5

This could be a national title game preview, and we'll give the nod to Arch Manning and the Longhorns

D'Andrea: Ohio State -1.5

I'm merely rooting for the "Texas is back" memes.

Martinelli: Ohio State -1.5

If the line hadn't shifted, I might have gone the other way. But with a spread that small, gotta give the edge to the home team at the Shoe. Despite Julian Sayin's inexperience. Jeremiah Smith can catch anything.

Nettuno: Texas +1.5

I understand the defending national champions being favored at home, but I'm skeptical of the Buckeyes this year after everything they lost. Texas looks like potentially the most complete team in the nation, and it will start its season off with a massive road win to avenge last year's CFP semifinal loss.

Syracuse vs. No. 24 Tennessee (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)

Opening Line: Tennessee -12.5

Schuster: Tennessee -14

The Vols should roll, mostly because it would be wildly embarrassing for Josh Heupel to lose his first game after signing an exception. Hmm, actually, maybe I should change my pick.

Woodroof: Tennessee -14

Tennessee should take care of business against Syracuse. If it doesn't, that's a bad sign for the Vols.

D'Andrea: Tennessee -14

It hurts my heart to pick the Volunteers, but Cuse lost so, so much after sneakily being one of the most fun teams in football.

Martinelli: Tennessee -14

I don't feel good about this pick, but the Vols have the pieces to be serious CFP contenders and *should* be able to run away in this one.

Nettuno: Tennessee -14

Syracuse was one of the best stories in college football last year, but this team looks poised to take a step back this season. The Vols have their own questions, but far fewer than the Orange.

No. 8 Alabama at Florida State

Opening Line: Alabama -12.5

Schuster: Florida State +13.5

Mike Norvell cannot afford another opening day dud after losing to Georgia Tech in Dublin last year. The Tide win, but it's not a blowout.

Woodroof: Alabama -13.5

Maybe DeBoer 2.0 will go better for Bama than DeBoer 1.0? A Florida State win would at least be a good start.

D'Andrea: Florida State +13.5

There is an outcome in which both fan bases are miserable, and this is it.

Martinelli: Alabama -13.5

Florida State has to prove itself before I pick it again.

Nettuno: Alabama -13.5

Florida State almost certainly won't be as bad as it was last season, when it went 2-10 with one FBS win over Cal by five points, but it simply doesn't have the firepower to keep up with the Tide in this one.

No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson

Opening Line: Clemson -3

Schuster: Clemson -4

It doesn't take much to make Brian Kelly look bad. That's tremendous news for Dabo Swinney.

Woodroof: Clemson -4

We're about to get a lot of Dabo Swinney this fall. Advanced warning for when Clemson tops LSU.

D'Andrea: Clemson -4

LSU in season openers under Brian Kelly: loss, loss, loss.

Martinelli: Clemson -4

Both teams should be good this year, and Brian Kelly desperately needs a season-opening win. But on paper, Clemson looks better than most teams going into the season.

Nettuno: Clemson -4

I'm high on both these teams this season, but I'm especially intrigued by Dabo Swinney's squad. This is the game I'm personally most excited for in Week 1, but in a battle between Heisman frontrunner quarterbacks, I think Cade Klubnik and the boys will get the job done.

Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 South Carolina (Sunday, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)

Opening Line: South Carolina -9.5

Schuster: South Carolina -7.5

LANORRIS SZN BACK LETS GOOOO.

Woodroof: South Carolina -7.5

South Carolina should handle business here.

D'Andrea: Virginia Tech +7.5

The Gamecocks work best when no one believes in them. This is how they get there.

Martinelli: Virginia Tech +7.5

This game has "ugly, fun chaos" written all over it.

Nettuno: South Carolina -7.5

The Gamecocks played like one of the best teams in the country down the stretch last year, and while some regression to the mean in 2025 is possible, I like their odds against a Virginia Tech team that was maddeningly inconsistent last fall.

No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami (Sunday night)

Opening Line: Notre Dame -3

Schuster: Notre Dame -2.5

Jeremiyah Love is my dark horse Heisman Trophy contender and he should fully break what's left of Mario Cristobal's gameday strategy.

Woodroof: Miami +2.5

We'll say Miami picks up the upset win with Notre Dame still reeling a bit from the national title game loss.

D'Andrea: Notre Dame -2.5

Just hand it off to Jeremiyah Love until Mario Cristobal begins chewing on his headset in frustration.

Martinelli: Notre Dame -2.5

Freshman first-year starter CJ Carr trying to match fifth-year transfer Carson Beck is a tall order. But the Fighting Irish can lean on running back Jeremiyah Love and a stout defense with Mario Cristobal's poor clock management as Plan C.

Nettuno: Miami +2.5

This one truly feels like a toss-up, and while I don't feel great about this pick, I'm optimistic about Carson Beck at Miami this season. Notre Dame should be a CFP-caliber team once again, but this is a tough first start for quarterback CJ Carr.

TCU at North Carolina (Monday night)

Opening Line: TCU -3

Schuster: TCU -3.5

No one is more motivated to win this one than Sonny Dykes after how Deion Sanders worked the Horned Frogs in Prime Time's Colorado debut. Bill Belichick may get a pass for falling in his first college game, but Dykes won't have any excuses.

Woodroof: TCU -3.5

It'd be funny if Bill Belichick lost his first game with the Tarheels to TCU, so we'll say... that.

D'Andrea: UNC +3.5

Who (expletive) knows with these teams, man.

Martinelli: UNC +3.5

Sure, why not? Although, it'd be much more entertaining if Bill Belichick lost his first game with the Tar Heels.

Nettuno: TCU -3.5

The Bill Belichick era begins at North Carolina on Labor Day night, and while that will certainly draw a lot of attention, the real story in this game will be Josh Hoover and a TCU team that had a quietly solid 2024 campaign.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: College football picks against the spread, Week 1: Ohio State-Texas, Clemson-LSU and more

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, For The Win / For The Win

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