College Football Parlay Picks: Thursday, September 3
The first full week of action in the 2026 college football season kicks off on Thursday with 11 FBS games. It is a schedule that features Colorado vs Georgia Tech live on ESPN, while other teams like Wake Forest, Missouri, Utah and Illinois will also take the field. To celebrate the start of CFB Week 1, I've pieced together a three-leg college football parlay for tonight at +1031 odds. Let's break it down, and for more picks and analysis on every FBS matchup this season, make sure to check out our college football predictions.
Colorado ML (+205)
Minnesota -42.5 (-108)
Illinois -27.5 (-108)
College football parlay odds: +1031
CFB Parlay Pick: Colorado Buffaloes ML over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+205)
Georgia Tech won last year's season-opening matchup via a 27-20 decision at Colorado. Will the Buffaloes be able to return the favor with a road win of their own? It's possible -- largely because these Yellow Jackets may not be the same as they were last year. Haynes King -- of recent Hall of Fame Game fame -- had his eligibility come to an end, so there is a change under center for head coach Brent Key's crew. The reins now belong to Alberto Mendoza (yes, Fernando's brother), who transferred from Indiana. Mendoza could end up being a good QB, but it goes without saying that he is unproven. As for the Buffs, they return talented signal-caller Julian Lewis after he played four games at the end of last season. Massive strides should be expected in 2026 -- for Lewis specifically, but maybe also for head coach Deion Sanders' squad as a whole. Multiple potentially impactful receivers have transferred in, so Lewis will have some help. Sound the upset alert.
Get our full Colorado vs Georgia Tech prediction for tonight's CFB game live on ESPN
CFB Parlay Pick: Minnesota Golden Gophers -42.5 over Eastern Illinois Panthers (-108)
Minnesota should be in line for a stellar season. The Golden Gophers may not be among the elite of the Big Ten, but a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team should be able to destroy an opponent like Eastern Illinois. Minnesota already won eight games last year and has plenty of returning players like starting quarterback Drake Lindsey and running back Darius Taylor. The Gophers are in year 10 under head coach PJ Fleck, and he has a history of beating up on FCS opponents. Minnesota humiliated Northwestern State 66-0 in 2025, Rhode Island 48-0 in 2024 and Western Illinois 62-10 in 2022. That is a combined score of 176-10 in the program's last three games against FCS foes (it didn't face one in 2023). This is arguably the best roster Fleck has ever had, and he won't be afraid to unleash it on the way to another lopsided victory.
See the full analysis for our Eastern Illinois vs Minnesota pick today
College Football Parlay Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini -27.5 over UAB Blazers (-108)
Not too much unlike Minnesota, Illinois is a decent Big Ten representative, and again, that should be good enough to clobber an undermanned opponent. Eastern Carolina transfer Katin Houser should be a nice addition at QB for head coach Bret Bielema. For UAB, former offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen takes over as head coach after serving as the interim down the stretch last fall. Quarterback Ryder Burton returns, but the backfield is entirely new. The Blazers' wide receivers are also unproven, so Burton may endure some growing pains with new weapons as UAB's offense tries to sink its teeth into a the season. Unfortunately for the underdogs, they don't have time for growing pains given that they open with a Big Ten opponent.
Read our UAB vs Illinois prediction for CFB stats, trends and more
College Football Predictions for Thursday, September 3
If you're looking for more CFB predictions today, check out the rest of our picks for tonight's games:
