College football season is here!
While technically that’s true, Week 0 features a lighter slate of games than just about every week through December. So yes, college football season is here, starting off in a small dose.
Despite a small schedule of games, there are still a handful of interesting Group of 5 contests, including a pair of Conference USA clashes that could prove important by season’s end. Let’s take a look at the five best Group of 5 matchups in Week 0, using college football odds as a guide.
5. UConn at Utah State
As far as point spreads, oddsmakers don’t expect a competitive game, with Utah State favored by about four touchdowns. Still, I’m sticking this on the list for a Group of 5 Week 0 game worth watching. UConn should improve under new head coach Jim Mora, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Huskies look out of the gates. From the Utah State perspective, the Aggies want to work out any rust with a matchup against Alabama looming on Sept. 3.
4. Vanderbilt at Hawaii
Hawaii’s offseason was hectic, to say the least. After allegations of verbal abuse, Todd Graham resigned and former Hawaii star Timmy Chang took over as the program’s head coach. It’ll likely be a rebuilding year for Hawaii, but a home game against one of the worst Power 5 teams in the country is still winnable. Hawaii (+6.5) needs something to go its way. Could that happen Saturday?
3. Wyoming at Illinois
Nothing says Week 0 like a potential slugfest between Wyoming and Illinois. With a point total of 43.5, the college football betting odds don’t suggest a high-scoring affair. Add in first-game rust and jitters, and this could be a gnarly start to the season. It’s a winnable game for Wyoming (+10), although the Cowboys lost several quality players to the transfer portal this offseason.
2. Charlotte at Florida Atlantic
A conference game! Charlotte and FAU (-7.5) open the season with a conference clash, and it’s an important one for each side. Both teams were predicted to finish in the top half of C-USA, and the winner of Saturday’s game earns a strong start to the conference schedule. It’s also an entertaining quarterback matchup, with Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds and FAU’s N’Kosi Perry among the best in the conference.
1. North Texas at UTEP
This C-USA clash figures to be competitive, with North Texas (-1) being picked to finish fifth in the league, and UTEP being selected to finish sixth. North Texas won last year’s meeting 20-17, and quarterback Austin Aune returns for the Mean Green. He’s looking to build off an iffy 2021 season, and if he raises his level, North Texas could be a league contender. UTEP went 7-6 last season thanks to strong defense, which should be the team’s calling card again in 2022. UTEP set a goal of selling out this game, which could make for a lively Week 0 atmosphere.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
