Griffin Warner and Lonte Smith dive into CFB Week 0.

Week Zero of the college football season always feels like a strange appetizer, a slate that is light on the number of games but heavy on storylines, betting intrigue, and fan chatter. This year the action opens overseas with Iowa State and Kansas State meeting in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It is a neutral-site matchup, a clash of Big 12 rivals being played far from home in a stadium more accustomed to soccer than Saturday gridiron. Iowa State has enjoyed recent dominance in the series, winning four of the last five, but Kansas State enters as a three-point favorite with a stronger defensive front and the potential breakout of quarterback Avery Johnson in a tempo-driven system. Rocco Beck threw for 3,500 yards last season but lost his two best targets to the NFL, and Matt Campbell’s team feels due for regression after an 11-3 campaign. Some see value on Kansas State to cover, while others eye the under at fifty given the travel, the surface, and the potential for sloppy execution early.

Later in the afternoon Kansas christens its new stadium with a visit from Fresno State, a matchup that has already seen line movement from fourteen down to twelve and a half. The Jayhawks return quarterback Jalen Daniels, whose health has long been a question, and welcome new defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald. Kansas finished strong last year and will have the benefit of a true home environment after a season of displacement. Fresno State is rebuilding under Matt Entz, the North Dakota State coach with a sterling FCS record now testing himself at the FBS level. With new coordinators, a new quarterback in EJ Warner, and the loss of most of last year’s offensive stars, the Bulldogs face a tall order. Many bettors trust Kansas to handle business at home, though the total has dropped with expectations of more ball control on both sides.

Sam Houston State and Western Kentucky offer a different style of entertainment, with points expected in bunches. The Bearkats bring in Phil Longo to reshape their offense, but it may take more than an offseason to get the scheme working with the current roster. Western Kentucky has become synonymous with explosive passing attacks, and even with a new offensive coordinator the Hilltoppers appear loaded for another high-flying year. Maverick McIver arrives with his play-caller from Abilene Christian, and the line has climbed from seven and a half to double digits. The sharper angle might be Western Kentucky in the first half, laying six and a half before late backdoor scenarios creep in.

The finale is the traditional late-night Hawaii game, this time with Stanford crossing the Pacific under interim coach Frank Reich. The Cardinal are in disarray, with Andrew Luck now functioning in a front office role, an entirely new staff, and very little proven talent outside a few safeties. Hawaii, meanwhile, brings back thirteen starters, excitement around quarterback Micah Alejandro after his 500-yard debut, and an upgraded receiving corps that even includes a Stanford transfer. The line has flipped from Stanford favored to Hawaii by two, with bettors trusting the Warriors’ continuity and island home field. With Stanford unsettled and Hawaii motivated, many expect the Rainbow Warriors to control the matchup.

Week Zero is quirky, often sharp with numbers that have been posted for months, but it provides the first chance to analyze real action and measure offseason narratives. Kansas State versus Iowa State in Dublin sets the tone, Kansas and Fresno showcase new beginnings in Lawrence, Western Kentucky promises fireworks against Sam Houston, and Hawaii gets its chance to shine against a fallen Stanford. Best bets circle around Kansas State laying three and the under in that opener, but as always the debate will rage across forums and living rooms as fans celebrate the return of college football and the long march toward a new season of Saturdays.

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