Georgia begins its national title defense, Utah visits The Swamp, and the point spread for a top-5 showdown in Columbus is north of two touchdowns. All of these matchups and many more are on our list of top college football games to watch in Week 1.
Who said Week 0 was merely an “appetizer”?! College football returned with a bang on its first Saturday despite a much smaller schedule than usual. It took no time at all to get the season’s first outright win by a double-digit betting underdog as Northwestern got past Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland. Even UConn jumped out to a two-touchdown lead! Sure, the Huskies wound up losing by double figures, but they easily covered for bettors as massive road underdogs.
In the grand scheme of things, the action from Saturday was still just a sampling of what is to come. Labor Day Weekend has long marked the beginning of the new college football betting season and will span from Thursday all the way through the Monday holiday.
As far as games to watch in Week 1, one could argue that every game fits the criteria. After months without college football, simply having a full slate of games again is truly special. That said, there are several contests on the first full card of the season that stick out. From College Football Playoff contenders kicking off their respective seasons to an enticing battle in the Lone Star State, there will be plenty to watch all weekend long!
Here are our previews and analyses for our top 12 games to watch in Week 1 of the 2022 college football season (all game lines via DraftKings Sportsbook).
West Virginia vs. (17) Pittsburgh
Date: Thursday, Sept. 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Odds: PIT -7.5 | O/U 51
This Big 12-ACC clash on opening night will provide fans with their first look at new quarterbacks for both teams. West Virginia may be a touchdown underdog, but the addition of Georgia transfer, JT Daniels, has generated plenty of optimism around the offense. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh welcomes in USC transfer, Kedon Slovis to replace NFL draftee, Kenny Pickett. The battle between WVU’s stout offensive line and the Panthers’ defensive front will be very fun to watch.