College football expert picks, predictions for Week 1, 2025: Proven expert reveals best bets

After a brief appetizer in Week 0, the Week 1 college football schedule brings a massive Labor Day schedule that extends from Thursday to Monday. There are lines of all sizes, with the headliners being Texas vs. Ohio State (-1) and LSU vs. Clemson (-4) on Saturday, with Notre Dame vs. Miami (+3) on Sunday and North Carolina vs. TCU (-3.5) on Monday.

Before making any Week 1 college football predictions, be sure to check out the Week 1 college football picks from our proven CFB expert Thomas Casale.

A frequent guest on national radio and TV shows to discuss college sports, Casale has been betting -- and winning -- for more than 30 years. After opening this season 2-0, he's now on a 15-6 roll in his SportsLine best bets column dating back to last season!

Now, he's turned his attention to the 2025 Week 1 college football odds (see the latest college football lines for each game this week on our college football odds page) and is revealing his top plays.

For Week 1, Casale is backing Alabama (-14) against FSU. "I made the Crimson Tide -16 and the market is extremely high on Alabama. Lay the number before the number moves to over two touchdowns."

Casale has also found another college football picks he loves, saying the wrong team is favored in one of the biggest games of the week! You ABSOLUTELY need to see what he's playing before locking in any college football picks.

What are Casale's best bets for Week 1 in the 2025 college football season, and which lines should you jump on now? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Thomas Casale's best bets, all from one of the top college football handicappers in the nation who is on a 15-6 roll on his best bets!