College Football Week 0 Odds: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Headlines Schedule

Written By Road to CFB | Published at August 19, 2024

After a long offseason, college football finally returns Saturday ... at least, a taste of it. Week 0 odds offer a four-game slate at CFB betting sites. It features one power conference matchup and two FCS vs. FBS games. Florida State vs. Georgia Tech in Ireland headlines this light slate, but that's not the only game that offers intrigue. The under-the-radar week gives college football diehards just one game to focus on at a time and more casual fans one more weekend to earn brownie points before the full season returns.

If you're not brushed up on your latest Montana State Bobcats or Nevada Wolfpack news, don't fret! We've got you covered in this Week 0 betting guide. Below, find just about everything you need to bet the slate. Included are odds, notable line movement, injuries to watch, and more.

College Football Week 0 Odds

Browse Week 0 odds below. Click odds anywhere to place a bet.

Notable Line Movement

Georgia Tech dropped as low as +11 against Florida State. Earlier in the summer, the Yellow Jackets were +13.
New Mexico opened as a +4 home underdog to FCS Montana State. The Lobos quickly saw movement away from them, now standing at +9.5.
Nevada was a +21 home underdog to SMU earlier this summer. The Mustangs saw plenty of action, moving the line to Nevada +27.5.

College Football Week 0 Schedule

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech, 12:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. GMT+1. Aviva Stadium (Dublin, Ireland)
Montana State at New Mexico, 4:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. MT. University Stadium (Albuquerque, NM)
SMU at Nevada, 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Mackay Stadium (Reno, NV)
Delaware State at Hawaii, 11:59 p.m. ET/5:59 p.m. HST. Clarence T. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu, HI)

Matchup History, Coaching Notes

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

Florida State leads all-time series, 15-11-1
FSU won 41-16 last time out (2022 in Tallahassee)
Brent Key is 10-5 ATS against ACC opponents the last two years
Georgia Tech won two games outright as +11 and +20 underdogs, also lost outright as -21 and -5 favorites

Montana State at New Mexico

Montana State leads all-time series, 1-0-1 (1923, 1947)
New Mexico is 6-0 against FCS teams, but covered that spread just twice since 2017

SMU at Nevada

All-time series tied at 3-3 (Last: 2009)
Nevada has won three of last four season openers outright as underdogs (biggest upset: 2019, beat Purdue 34-31 as +11 'dogs)

Delaware State at Hawaii

First-ever meeting between these two schools
-38 is largest spread in favor of Hawaii since at least 2017 (Last: Beat Duquesne 42-21 as -36 favorites in 2018)
Hawaii is 3-2-1 ATS against FCS opponents since 2017
When favored by 10 or more, Hawaii is 2-7-1 ATS since 2017

Impact Injuries On Week 0 Odds

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins is suspended for the first two games of the year and will not coach Saturday. The NCAA handed down this suspension due to recruiting violations. Atkins returns to the booth Week 3 against Memphis.

Montana State at New Mexico

FCS All-America center Justus Perkins and top RB Julius Davis were not listed on the Montana State depth chart and will not play the game due to injury.

SMU at Nevada

SMU QB Preston Stone broke his left leg in late November. According to a July report, Stone is "fully recovered." However, watch for caution from the QB and coaching staff, especially in a game where SMU is favored by nearly four touchdowns.

Nevada RB Pat Garwo will not play in the opener due to a one-game suspension. Garwo transferred to Nevada from Boston College this offseason and projects to be the primary running back. Transfer QB Chubba Purdy missed most of camp due to a shoulder injury, per Pete Thamel. QB Brendon Lewis (55.6% completion, 2 TDs, 6 INTs in 2023) will start the opener.

Delaware State at Hawaii

Hawaii WR Steven McBride is not expected to play. McBride was suspended indefinitely from the team due to a July arrest. The senior returned to team activities in August, but remains ineligible due to matters outside of the arrest. McBride projected as the top receiver for the Rainbow Warriors and one of the more productive receivers in the Mountain West this season.

Weather Impacts On Week 0 Odds

Weekly college football weather reports will be released later this week as forecasts become more certain. But here’s a few spots to keep tabs on early in the week.

With such a light slate Saturday, there's no major weather impacts forecast as of Monday. Keep an eye on temperatures in Albuquerque, but the trend has steadily fallen from upper 90s to low 90s. Montana State at New Mexico kicks off at 2:00 p.m. MT and plays during the hottest point of the day. Average highs in Bozeman this time of year fall in the lower 80s; an increase in heat could affect the visitors more.

Situational Spots To Watch

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

Playing a game overseas always qualifies as a situational nightmare. The disruption to schedule and environment for both teams is worthy of your attention. In the past two years of the Dublin Week 0 opener, we've seen some pretty bizarre moments. Scott Frost opted for a third-quarter onside kick that ended up turning the tides and costing him the game. Last year, Notre Dame averaged 7.8 yards per play and went 6-of-8 on third and fourth downs to beat Navy, 42-3.

No player on either team has played overseas. Georgia Tech last played in Ireland in 2016 under a previous regime, beating Boston College 17-14. The Yellow Jackets have opened the last three seasons at a neutral site.

Florida State also turns over its entire roster from last year's 13-0 ACC champions. Eight total starters return and there's a new face at QB (D.J. Uiagalelei). As such, I'd advise caution laying double digits in this situation. Power ratings favor FSU by quite a bit more and movement in favor of the 'Noles is expected.

Week 1 note: Florida State returns to the states and plays another ACC opponent, Boston College, on Sept. 2. Notably, FSU does not get a bye week, Boston College does not play in Week 0, and the 'Noles open the season with two conference opponents.

Montana State at New Mexico

Bronco Mendenhall coaches his first college game since 2021. He headed Virginia (2016-21) and BYU (2005-15) and previously served as New Mexico defensive coordinator from 1998-2002. Both coordinators, Jason Beck (OC) and Nick Howell (DC), played and worked under Mendenhall in past stops. Mendenhall himself is a disciple of New Mexico legend Rocky Long.

Virginia made a bowl game in 5-of-6 seasons under Mendenhall after missing a bowl game in each of the eight previous seasons. BYU won 10+ games in 5-of-6 seasons under him – only LaVell Edwards won 10+ games with BYU prior to Mendenhall.

Montana State turns over at offensive coordinator. The new offensive play caller is an internal hire and should continue the Bobcats' signature style previously conducted under Taylor Housewright.

SMU at Nevada

Jeff Choate coaches his first game as Nevada head coach. He comes from Texas, where he served as co-defensive coordinator, and served five years as Montana State's head coach. In Bozeman, Choate went 28-22 and won three FCS Playoff games. Kane Ioane begins his tenure as defensive coordinator, who worked under Choate in 2019 and 2020. He served as co-DC for Boise State the last three years.