How to bet on 2026 college football Week 0: odds and promos
College football Week 0 kicks off Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, with eight games offering spreads, totals, and money lines at legal sportsbooks in more than 30 states. New bettors can boost bankrolls with FanDuel ($350 bonus bets), DraftKings ($200), and BetMGM (up to $1,500). Prediction markets and daily fantasy platforms add alternate routes into the action.
The 2026 college football season starts early for bettors. While most programs kick off next week, Week 0 serves up a full Saturday slate—from Dublin to Hawaii—plus fresh sign-up offers across major sportsbooks and prediction markets.
Key Takeaways
- Eight Week 0 games air Saturday, Aug. 29, including TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin and Florida State vs. New Mexico State.
- Legal online sportsbooks operate in 30+ states; FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, Fanatics, and Hard Rock Bet all offer Week 0 promos.
- Trends favor Unders in Dublin games (4 of last 5) and in Virginia and NC State August matchups.
- Underdog promo code WTOP unlocks a $50 bonus after a $5 entry; Polymarket code NYPMAX1 gives $20 after a $10 deposit.
- UNLV (-5.5) hosts Memphis in the Week 0 nightcap at 10 p.m. ET.
What's on the 2026 college football Week 0 schedule?
Saturday's eight-game slate opens at noon ET with North Carolina vs. TCU (-8.5, O/U 46.5) from Dublin, Ireland—Year 2 of the Bill Belichick era at Chapel Hill. San Jose State visits USC (-38.5, 60.5) at 3 p.m., while NC State meets Virginia (-4, 51.5) at 3:30 p.m.
North Dakota State (-6.5) faces Jacksonville State on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m. Sacramento State plays Eastern Michigan (-8.5) at 6:30 p.m. Two 7 p.m. kickoffs follow: New Mexico State at Florida State (-31.5, 53.5) and Hawaii at Stanford (-4, 48.5). UNLV (-5.5, 56.5) closes Week 0 against Memphis at 10 p.m. ET.
Which betting promos are available for Week 0?
Major sportsbooks are competing for new users ahead of one of the year's busiest betting windows. Per CBS Sports, FanDuel offers $350 in bonus bets after a $5 wager, DraftKings pays $200 after a $5 bet, and BetMGM's code CBSSPORTS covers up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses.
Caesars code CBSDYW doubles winnings on your next 10 bets after a $1 wager. bet365 awards $365 in bonus bets on a $10 bet, win or lose. Fanatics code CBSFAN26 provides 10× $100 bet-match offers in FanCash, and Hard Rock Bet pays $100 in bonus bets if your first $5+ wager wins.
Beyond traditional sportsbooks, new Underdog users can enter promo code WTOP, play a $5 entry, and instantly receive a $50 bonus for prediction markets or daily fantasy, depending on state. Polymarket newcomers can use code NYPMAX1, deposit $10, and get a $20 trading bonus—eligible in dozens of states including Florida.
What trends should bettors watch in Week 0?
CBS Sports highlights several ATS and total trends worth noting. Four of the past five Dublin games went Under their totals—relevant for TCU vs. North Carolina's 46.5 line. The Under is 6-1 in Virginia's last seven conference games and 6-0 in NC State's last six August games.
USC's Over is 4-0 in its last four August games. Florida State is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven home favorites, covering a massive -31.5 spread against New Mexico State. Memphis is 6-2 ATS as an underdog recently, though UNLV is favored by 5.5 points in the nightcap.
How does the UNLV vs. Memphis nightcap shape up?
UNLV and Memphis both eye Group of 5 College Football Playoff representation. Dan Mullen's Rebels signed quarterback Jackson Arnold from Auburn, while Charles Huff takes over at Memphis after successful stops at Marshall and Southern Miss. UNLV enters favored at -5.5 with a 56.5 total.
Florida ties run through this slate—not just the Seminoles' 31.5-point home spread. For more unconventional sports angles, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man category. Remember: sports betting carries risk, and promotions vary by state eligibility.