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Mike's Week 0 college football betting picks against the spread for Saturday, August 23, 2025. Free CFB betting predictions, odds analysis & ATS picks from RotoBaller.
The long and dreary eight months without college football are almost over! The NCAA whets our whistle with five games on Saturday this week before the giant Labor Day Weekend extravaganza. I'll take all of the college football that I can get, thank you!
Unlike last year, four of the five games are FBS vs. FBS matchups. Last year, only two of the five were such matchups. It's easier to find spreads for FCS vs. FBS games than it used to be, but I'm still not going down that road. I watch more college football than any human should, but I still don't watch many FCS games. I wouldn't be doing any of us any good by picking those.
The 2025 college football season is finally here! Let's enjoy it before they screw it up beyond recognition. You know it's coming...
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CFB Betting Picks for Week 0 (8/23/25)
I will pick every college football game every week. Not a top five, not a top 10, all of them. Big deal, right? Lots of people make picks. Well, I do them all against the spread. I take the odds of each game and average them out at all the Vegas casinos and round to the nearest half. There will be no ties here. Ties are for the other (European) football.
These are for entertainment purposes only! I cannot be responsible for the loss of spouses or limbs due to these picks. I'm a simple man. I cannot have that on my conscience. Remember, don't bet more than you can afford! We all have to remind ourselves of that from time to time.
(22) Iowa State vs. (17) Kansas State (-3.5) at Dublin, Ireland
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 5
This rivalry has played every year since 1917 (108th consecutive meetings)
Kansas State has never held a series lead in the Farmageddon vs. Iowa State, despite winning 25 out of the last 34 games.
Iowa State leads 54-50-4
SATURDAY 8/23: 12pm on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ue1s2EbfwX
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) August 10, 2025
There's no better way to open the season than Farmageddon! On top of that, the Irish are getting the first-ever matchup of ranked teams to open the season in Dublin. Is it Farmageddon or Farm O'Geddon over there?
This line opened at -3 and hasn't budged. FanDuel has it at -3.5, so that's what I'm picking. Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings. The one that they lost was by one point. I feel very good about maxing this out on the Cyclones. I'll also have some ISU outright action.
Pick: Iowa State +3.5
Fresno State at Kansas (-12.5)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 4
Kansas is back at revamped David Booth Stadium. From what I'm told, you can barely recognize it. However, you can recognize the Kansas starting quarterback. Jalon Daniels is ready to cash in on all of that potential that he showed in 2022 and 2023. I'm here for it. Give me the Jayhawks.
Pick: Kansas -12.5
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (-9.5)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 2
16 of Western Kentucky's 22 starters transferred in this offseason. Sam Houston has eight new defensive guys, but eight offensive players were on this team last year, including QB Hunter Watson and WR Qua'Vez Humphreys. The Bearkats should have a little more continuity. Give me WKU, but I don't trust this.
Pick: Western Kentucky -9.5
Stanford at Hawaii (-2.5)
Betting Pick Confidence Factor: 3
Stanford was a disaster in 2024 and somehow looks even worse this year. Give me Hawaii.
Pick: Hawaii -2.5
