Expert CFB Betting Locks for TCU vs. North Carolina and Week 0's Biggest Games

To arrive here, at actual football games, we've had to endure another dreadful offseason. From courtrooms to NIL drama to College Football Playoff expansion rumors, we've crawled through the mess that is the college football offseason.

None of it is all that fun or interesting, if we're being honest. But that doesn't change a thing.

College football—actual, beautiful football—is back.

Per tradition here at Bleacher Report, we will dissect each and every week of the college football season, picking games against the spread all season long. We'll keep a season-long tally, documenting our successes (and failures).

Hopefully many more successes than failures.

We kick things off with Week 0, an abbreviated slate but one still so full of promise. Don't let the lack of games fool you; there is money to be made.

Bill Belichick enters the 2026 season amid pressure to deliver at North Carolina.

And let's not forget about this matchup last year. The Horned Frogs won 48-14, and the game was over shortly after it began. As such, the masses will likely flock to bet TCU, laying more than a touchdown with ease.

To a certain degree, I get it. Things at North Carolina likely eventually won't end well, and it feels like the clock is ticking. With that acknowledged, the Tar Heels played a slew of tight games late in the season, showing massive improvements along the way.

What does that mean exactly? Given how much movement the sport experiences these days, probably not much. But it's worth noting regardless.

What does feel likely, however, is that the two quarterbacks in this game surprise.

Billy Edwards Jr. will get the nod for UNC, and he has a wealth of experience to lean on. Working with Bobby Petrino, for as odd as that hire felt, should be an enormous boost for an offense that needs it.

On the other side, TCU will start Jaden Craig. The Harvard transfer was a fascinating addition and has earned some rave reviews.

Neither offense is likely to dominate, and both QBs could surprise. Expect both teams to put on a show in Ireland.

Somehow, Stanford has played its way into being only a small home favorite against a Hawai'i team that had hit rock bottom not terribly long ago.

Under Timmy Chang, however, the Rainbow Warriors have found life. They have found tempo. They have found offense. And it all translated into a sensational nine-win season last fall.

In many respects, that's why the line sits where it does. It's also why Stanford, despite being favored, likely won't be a public darling for anyone betting on more than name alone.

For Stanford, this team has Andrew Luck's fingerprints all over it. It's not the final version. Heck, it's not anything close to it. But the head coach, Tavita Pritchard, was handpicked and the personnel and playing style should look and feel more like the Stanford of old.

As for the quarterback, he will not be intimidated by the stage. Before suffering a torn ACL in Michigan's ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama on Dec. 31, 2024, Davis Warren faced five ranked opponents during the regular season: No. 3 Texas, No. 11 USC, No. 8 Oregon, No. 13 Indiana and No. 2 Ohio State.

He will not be intimidated by the stage. Look for Stanford to play ball control and for Warren to make just enough plays to deliver a win (and cover).

What a year for Virginia it was. The Cavaliers lost only three football games last season, and the three losses came by a combined 18 points.

It's worth noting, though, that three wins came in overtime and two others came by a touchdown or less. This team largely thrived in big games, even if it wasn't always pretty or easy.

Which leads us to a fascinating opener against a fascinating opponent.

In many respects, the quarterbacks should be the focal point of any game. In this particular matchup, it feels even more relevant.

In the year of the quarterback, CJ Bailey and Beau Pribula aren't exactly fixtures. Still, both can be incredibly productive players, and Bailey possesses some pretty spectacular skills (and size) that makes one wonder why he isn't a bigger deal nationally.

He'll have many new weapons to work with, and the loss of running back Hollywood Smothers really stings. But Bailey is just so capable regardless of his targets.

In a game that will likely feature plenty of action on the chalk—and perhaps for good reason—we are cozying up to NC State. We wouldn't be shocked if the Wolfpack delivered an outright winner, either.

North Dakota State (-7) vs. Jacksonville State

The Bison are making this massive leap after losing four games only once in 15 seasons at the FCS level. Over that same span, they finished with one or fewer losses in nine seasons.

To say this has been one of the most dominant teams in all of football, at any level, would be an understatement.

With that acknowledged, this is a slippery opponent to open the year. Jacksonville State. Since 2022, the Gamecocks have won nine games in every season, doing so in a variety of ways. Last year, Jacksonville State was third in the nation in rushing yards, averaging 5.31 yards per carry for the year.

Even with new offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright calling plays, expect that still to be the strategy.

Candidly, evaluating games like this early on is challenging. NIL has made roster turnover across the sport the norm, thus the evaluation process becomes more difficult. For rosters of this stature, the turnover and departures are even more significant.

In the end, we're siding with consistency. We're backing new starter Nathan Hayes, who has plenty of snaps despite serving as a backup.

The nightcap for Week 0 features two very capable non-Power Four teams with genuine playoff aspirations.

For Memphis, this will be the start of the Charles Huff era. Former head coach Ryan Silverfield is now at Arkansas, which means Huff will get his turn. We don't know the starting quarterback as of yet, although it will either be Marcus Stokes or Air Noland (or perhaps both).

For UNLV, Dan Mullen is going to employ a fascinating two-QB plan to start the season using two familiar faces. Former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold and Alex Orji, formerly Michigan's starter, will each play a part.

Given the duality of both, it's an intriguing combination. And given Mullen's success with quarterbacks, one can't help but wonder what he can draw out of Arnold that others couldn't.

As for this game, it seems like a tough spot for a new head coach. UNLV delivered another 10-win season last year, and it's poised to start off the year on a positive note.

We're laying the points. In Mullen we trust.