2026 College Football Week 1 Odds, Picks & Sportsbook Promos — SkimNews
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- Notre Dame opens as a 20.5-point favorite over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, with quarterback C.J. Carr among Heisman favorites after throwing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, per the betting guide.
- Ole Miss is a 6.5-point favorite over No. 24 Louisville at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, the only Top 25 matchup of Week 1, with QB Trinidad Chambliss (3,937 yards, 22 TDs in 2025) and RB Kewan Lacy (24 rushing TDs) returning for the Rebels.
- No. 17 Washington is a 23.5-point home favorite over Washington State in the 118th Apple Cup, returning 11 starters including QB Demond Williams Jr., while new Washington State coach Kirby Moore's roster is 77% freshmen or transfers.
- No. 19 SMU is a 3-point road favorite at Florida State on Monday, having beaten the Seminoles 42-16 in 2024 in the teams' first-ever meeting; Florida State already opened its 2026 campaign with a 34-17 Week 0 win over New Mexico State.
- FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, Caesars and bet365 are all running new-user promos for Week 1, ranging from FanDuel's $350 in bonus bets on a $5 wager to BetMGM's up to $1,500 back if the first bet loses.
- Notre Dame enters 2026 motivated by being left out of last year's College Football Playoff after ending the season on a 10-game winning streak, according to the guide.
- Florida State has lost five of its last six games against ranked opponents and is 8-18 over its last 26 contests after a 19-game win streak from 2022-23, per the preview.
Why it matters: The Week 1 slate offers one ranked-on-ranked clash (Ole Miss-Louisville) and a marquee venue (Lambeau Field) for Notre Dame to make a statement after last year's playoff snub, while bettors face steep spreads — including 23.5 points on Washington and 20.5 on Notre Dame — alongside six major sportsbooks competing for new accounts with bonus offers up to $1,500.
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