Week 0 College Football Hub: Previews, Trends, & Best Bets
All you need to know about the first week of NCAA football action
Dan Karpuc - Aug 26, 2022, 12:45pm EDTWeek 0 of the 2022 NCAAF season features seven exciting matchups to get us back into football mode. Below, you’ll see a quick snippet on why you should care about each game, some historical trends and BetQL model trends, our model’s best bets and links to in-depth previews for every game. Scroll down to get started!
Take advantage of BetQL's 3-day free trial and see all of our best bets, plus what the model is projecting for this MLB and college football games! Start your free trial today!
Week 0 of the 2022 NCAAF season features seven exciting matchups to get us back into football mode. Below, you’ll see a quick snippet on why you should care about each game, some historical trends and BetQL model trends, our model’s best bets and links to in-depth previews for every game. Scroll down to get started!
Take advantage of BetQL's 3-day free trial and see all of our best bets, plus what the model is projecting for this MLB and college football games! Start your free trial today!
NEBRASKA vs. NORTHWESTERN
The 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers went just 3-9, but all nine of their losses came by single digits. Nonetheless, losses are losses and head coach Scott Frost is firmly on the hot seat having gone 15-29 in his first four years at the helm of the program. The Northwestern Wildcats also went 3-9 under Pat Fitzgerald last season, so this will be an opportunity to get the new year started the right way for both teams in an attempt to make 2021 a distant memory.
Under Fitzgerald, the Wildcats went 78-55 against the 1H spread versus conference opponents and 64-44 vs. the 1H spread as an underdog. BetQL went 119-89 (56.21%) on ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ O/U bets last season for a total return of $1,928, so be sure to check out our recommended bet above.
NEW MEXICO STATE vs. NEVADA
New Mexico State struggled last season, going just 2-10 with their only two victories coming against UMass and SC State. Meanwhile, Nevada is coming off an 8-5 campaign and loss in the Quick Lane Bowl. BetQL has gone 75-38 (66.37%) across all New Mexico State bets all-time as well as 179-138 (56.47%) across all Mountain West 1H O/U bets for a total return of $2,487.
Fifth-year senior Nate Cox will take over the Nevada starting QB job after last year’s starter Carson Strong turned pro. Therefore, he has some huge shoes to fill. After Jay Norvell shockingly bolted to take over conference rival Colorado State, Nevada hired Ken Wilson, who was already in the Wolfpack program. Former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill was hired to take over New Mexico State, so this will be a matchup that means a lot to both head coaches.
ILLINOIS vs. WYOMING
Illinois went 5-7 under head coach Bret Bielema last season and will look to qualify for a bowl game this year. In his career, Bielema has gone 30-6 SU as a home favorite (+16.95 units) and 95-66 ATS vs. the 1H line. Meanwhile, Wyoming coach Craig Bohl has gone 18-9 ATS vs. the 1H line as a road underdog. The Cowboys went 7-6 and beat Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl by a lopsided 52-38 margin last season.
Graduate transfer Tommy DeVito will take over at quarterback for the Fighting Illini (from Syracuse) while Utah State transfer Andrew Peasley will take over as the QB1 for the Cowboys. Therefore, this matchup is going to be one of the most fascinating Week 0 battles to watch (and bet).
UTAH STATE vs. UCONN
Former UCLA coach Jim Mora will attempt one of the biggest rebuilds in college football, as he took over a UConn team that has gone 4-32 over its last three seasons (2018, 2019 and 2021), including 1-11 last season. While not much is expected from this Connecticut team, Penn State transfer Ta’Quan Roberson will be fun to watch at quarterback due to his dual threat abilities. However, this team is going to continue to struggle, particularly on defense.
Meanwhile, Utah State is coming off a stellar 2021 under first-year head coach Blake Anderson in which they went 11-3 and beat Oregon State in the LA Bowl. Quarterback Logan Bonner threw for 3,628 yards with 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season and has a strong chance to put up some huge numbers in this matchup. If you backed Utah State’s moneylines last season, you would have been up 18.85 units (134.6% ROI) and they went 4-1 in non-conference games (+11.2 units, 224% ROI in those). BetQL has gone 15-6 (71.4%) ATS vs. the 1H spread in UConn games ($752 total return) and 19-12 (61.3%) in Utah State O/U bets ($528 total return), so check out the best bets above!
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. CHARLOTTE
BetQL has gone 27-6 (81.82%) on Florida Atlantic moneyline bets and the Owls enter this year with back-to-back five win seasons under Willie Taggart (5-4 in 2020, 5-7 in 2021). FAU’s success will hinge on the performance of senior QB N’Kosi Perry, who threw for 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season after transferring from Miami.
Charlotte also went 5-7 last season under highly-regarded young head coach Will Healy. This is a veteran team filled with upperclassmen and transfers and 49ers QB Chris Reynolds has shown flashes of brilliance. BetQL’s simulation model is very high on Charlotte’s outlook this season in relation to their win total. Sportsbooks have their regular-season total at just 4.5, but we’re projecting a much higher number!
UTEP vs. NORTH TEXAS
UTEP finished last season with a 7-6 overall record, which included a loss to Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl in December. BetQL has gone 24-5 (82.76%) on UTEP moneyline bets all time and under fifth-year head coach Dana Dimel, the team has gone 13-7 SU in the first month of the season (+10 units, 28.6% ROI). North Texas went 6-7 and closed their season with a loss to Miami (OH) in the Frisco Football Classic. They’ve gone 9-2 ATS when playing on a Saturday over the last two years.
Seventh-year UNT head coach Seth Littrell will want to establish the run; last year, his team ran the ball 639 times compared to just 394 pass attempts. UTEP was also a run-first team, with 481 rush attempts and 366 pass attempts last year. Therefore, whichever team wins in the trenches will likely come out on top.
HAWAII vs. VANDERBILT
BetQL has gone 102-63 (61.41%) across all Vanderbilt bets and 255-207 (55.19%, $2,480 total return) on SEC O/U bets all-time. Last season, the Commodores went just 2-10 under first-year head coach Clark Lea, repeatedly struggling in the NCAA’s top conference. It will be fascinating to see how Vandy plays in this season opener.
Hawaii is projected to start five transfers on defense while relying on at least six former transfers offensively. Sophomore quarterback Brayden Schager will start for the Rainbow Warriors, who averaged 28.8 points per game last season while going 6-7 for then-coach Todd Graham. Now under former UH legend Timmy Chang, I can’t wait to watch this offense. After all, Chang set the NCAA's all-time passing (17,072) and total offense (16,910) records as UH’s starter from 2000 to 2004. Most recently as an offensive assistant for Nevada, he’s had an imprint on some prolific offenses and brings a completely new mindset to Honolulu. Be sure to see our model’s ATS projection above; it’s listing a gigantic value on one side!