We got a taste of college football last Saturday, but now it's time for the main entree as we enter Week 1 of the 2025-26 season. The collegiate action resumes on Thursday with a sizable 17-game slate. I've narrowed in on a trio of the games from a betting perspective, locking in each spread wager on the right side of its key number. Here are my top college football bets for Thursday, August 28th’s game Nebraska vs. Cincinnati.
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Thursday’s Best Week 1 College Football Picks: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati
(Odds courtesy of Bet365)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (-6.5) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (+6.5) | 54 (-110/-110)
The lone Power Four head-to-head game on Thursday features a neutral-site showdown between Nebraska (0-0) and Cincinnati (0-0). This game kicks off at 9:00 p.m. ET from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
It's only fitting that this Nebraska-Cincinnati game takes place at Arrowhead, since we have a Patrick Mahomes lookalike in Dylan Raiola, and Cincinnati is where the recently-engaged Travis Kelce played college football. The Bearcats could use someone like Kelce because they're coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign (3-6 in the Big 12) under second-year head coach Scott Satterfield.
It's not like Nebraska turned too many heads with its 7-6 season (3-6 in the Big 10) in 2024, but at least they have a high upside with Raiola under center. The sophomore signal-caller should take a step forward in 2025, as he has offensive savant Dana Holgorsen calling the plays, as well as a veteran offensive line to protect him up front. If Holgorsen can take Raiola to the next level and the defense can remain a top-20 unit, this Cornhuskers side may be on track to reclaim its glory as a contender on the national stage. I'll lay the 6.5 points with Nebraska in this conveniently located neutral site clash.
Bet: Cornhuskers -6.5 (-115)
