College Football Week 0 Parlay: Best Picks at +346 Odds

With Week 0 officially just one sleep away, it’s starting to feel very real that the college football season is back. We at Pickswise have had you covered with plenty of college football content throughout the weeks leading up to this point, including our Heisman picks, national title best bets, conference title futures and more, but it’s time for real games. Candidly, I couldn’t be more excited, as the fight at the top of the FBS feels as open as it's been in years. 

We won’t have a full menu of games on Saturday, but with eight games ranging from noon ET with North Carolina vs. TCU to 10:00 pm ET with Memphis vs. UNLV, we have a full day of football to enjoy. Ahead of the fun, I have put together a Week 0 parlay consisting of my favorite bets on the slate, with odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Let’s break it down and cheer for a juicy winner to pad our bankroll before Week 1 even arrives.

North Carolina 1H +6.5 (-112)

Virginia ML (-182)

Stanford ML (-192)

College Football Week 0 Parlay Odds: +346

CFB Week 0 parlay pick: North Carolina Tar Heels 1H +6.5 over TCU Horned Frogs (-112) 

The market seems to think it has this game figured out, and it might, but there’s also a chance it’s completely sleeping on the Tar Heels and/or overrating the Horned Frogs here. Sure, the offseason drama with Michael Lombardi isn’t ideal, nor is defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s absence from the team, but how exactly are we so sure the 2026 version of TCU is a full 10 points better than the 2026 version of UNC? The Frogs lost their quarterback, offensive coordinator, two of their top three pass-catchers and multiple offensive linemen in the offseason, not to mention their best player in the secondary was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. They also lost another starting safety via team dismissal due to a not-so-pleasant altercation with a teammate in practice, which sent said teammate to the hospital. Woof.

I’m going full contrarian here, attacking UNC in multiple different markets. I took a stab on the full-game number in my UNC-TCU Same Game Parlay, so let’s pivot here and bank on the Heels keeping it close early. Honestly, this feels like the sharper stance to take, as the first half is the perfect opportunity for Bobby Petrino, Billy Edwards Jr., Jordan Shipp and the rest of the UNC offense to strike, as no one really knows what’s coming from this unit with Petrino now navigating the play calling. In a game with a fairly low total, the points have a bit more value, especially in the first half.

Read our full UNC vs TCU prediction for the game on Dublin, Ireland

CFB parlay pick: Virginia Cavaliers ML over NC State Wolfpack (-182)

Another contrarian play here, as I don’t think I’ve seen a single soul on the Cavaliers ahead of this Week 0 ACC showdown, which was originally supposed to be played in Brazil but is now a home game for Virginia. Yes, UVA was fortunate to earn an ACC title berth and play for a real chance to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff, winning multiple games by one score. Yes, the Cavaliers have to replace a bevy of talented pieces from quarterback to wide receiver to running back. Yes, Beau Pribula is probably a downgrade from Chandler Morris. However, outside of CJ Bailey, I struggle to find what’s so motivating about NC State ahead of his particular matchup.

The Wolfpack lost their best running back and basically their entire wide receiver room, while they’re replacing their best pieces across the offensive line and are bringing back only 46% of their defensive production per SP+, which ranks outside the top 80. Adjusting to so many new pieces in the home environment of an opponent that played in the conference title game last year is no easy feat, especially when said opponent is motivated to exact some revenge. NC State was one of just two teams to beat the Cavaliers during the regular season last year. 

I’m a big fan of UVA’s defense under John Rudzinski. Virginia ranks top 20 in returning defensive production, bringing back 62% of last year’s stop-unit, which finished top-25 in a good bit of counting and advanced metrics. For what it’s worth, they allowed more than 20 points at home just once last year, in a double-overtime thriller against Florida State. I’m expecting them to bring that intensity from the opening kick of this game, leading UVA to an opening-week win.

Read our full NC State vs Virginia prediction

CFB parlay pick: Stanford Cardinal ML over Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (-192)

These teams met in Week 0 last year, and Hawaii emerged victorious on the island 23-20. However, you could argue Stanford probably should have won the game. The Cardinal controlled the ball for over 36 minutes and converted eight of their 17 third downs, as well as both of their fourth downs. Meanwhile, Hawaii had the ball for less than 24 minutes and was 3-for-11 on their third and fourth-down tries. 

The Rainbow Warriors were far more equipped to spring the upset last year, if you even want to call it that. This time around, Hawaii starting quarterback Michah Alejado will play behind a reshuffled offensive line, without last season’s leading rusher in Landon Sims, and he’ll have to adjust to throwing to an entire new group of targets on the road if wideout Pofele Ashlock doesn’t suit up. His status remains uncertain as of Friday afternoon. 

Defensively, Hawaii ranks 118th in returning production, which is a far cry from Stanford’s rank of 21st. The Cardinal bring back over 60% of their defense, as well as about 58% of their offense. This group may not have been very good last year, but they were physical, and they come into this season with a similar identity thanks to the return of running back Micah Ford. He is the propeller for Stanford's offense in this game after he finished top 15 in the ACC in missed tackles forced and eighth in yards after contact.

Read our full Hawaii vs Stanford prediction