Fans of college football can feel the excitement building with the commencement of the 2025 season on Saturday, showcasing a variety of matchups, notably the No. 1 Texas Longhorns visiting No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. Despite being ranked higher, Texas enters as a 2.5-point underdog, drawing anticipation for a potential upset against the reigning national champions.
The Inside the Lines team, leveraging the SportsLine model, has analyzed every match to pinpoint underdog betting opportunities for Week 1. For further daily best bets, check the Inside the Lines Blog.
College Football Week 1 Best Underdog Bets
LSU (+150, DraftKings) @ Clemson
Model: LSU 33, Clemson 30
LSU looks strong against Clemson this season as both teams retain a significant portion of their rosters from last year. It’s important to note that Clemson suffered a defeat at home to South Carolina in their last game of the 2024 season, a trend that has emerged against formidable opponents recently.
The betting line currently favors Clemson, primarily due to its brand appeal and Dabo Swinney’s recognition. However, the on-field performance hasn’t aligned with the expected talent levels. While Clemson has a solid defensive line, LSU appears to have a stronger ground game compared to Clemson’s past struggles against powerful offenses, as evidenced by Texas accumulating 300 rushing yards in their last match against Clemson.
Despite Clemson having an edge in turnover statistics, LSU outperforms them in sacks, indicating a more robust defensive impact. With their ability to control the run and dictate the pace, LSU is projected to secure a win.
Utah @ UCLA (+195, DraftKings)
Model: UCLA 21, Utah 20
This matchup features a home underdog fit for the Pac-12 After Dark flair. Nico Iamaleava stands out as an experienced quarterback, potentially giving UCLA the advantage. Comparatively, Utah’s Devon Dampier came from New Mexico with a mediocre 12 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, raising concerns about his reliability in a critical game.
UCLA’s latest acquisitions bolster their backfield, and new coach DeShaun Foster possesses a solid understanding of effective ground offense.
If UCLA can establish their run, they will successfully limit Utah’s scoring opportunities, which are already expected to fall below Utah’s predicted totals. With superior defensive performance last season, allowing just 3.5 yards per carry, UCLA is well-positioned to capitalize on any of Dampier’s errors.
As both teams seek redemption from past seasons, our models suggest a near-even match, favoring UCLA’s chances at home with their strong quarterback play.
Temple @ UMass (+115, FanDuel)
Model: UMass 32, Temple 31
This contest pits two struggling programs against each other, but UMass holds the home advantage.
Despite failing to win any games against FBS teams last year, UMass showed potential late in the season with a near-upset against Liberty and a solid performance against Georgia, gaining 241 rushing yards.
With Temple ranked second-to-last in power standings, and with our model projecting UMass to narrowly win, backing UMass at +115 on FanDuel seems wise.
