College Football and NFL Weekend Betting Preview: Top Games and Odds to Watch

Fans get a packed weekend with major college football games Saturday followed by the first full Sunday of the 2026 NFL regular season. The college slate is highlighted by a top-five showdown between Ohio State and Texas, while NFL Sunday brings several closely lined games before Denver and Kansas City finish Week 1 on Monday night. Betting lines continue to move, but several games stand out for bettors looking at point spreads, moneylines and totals.

College Football: Ohio State-Texas Headlines Week 2

No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas in the biggest college football game of the weekend. The Buckeyes remained atop the AP poll after crushing Ball State 56-3, while Texas moved to No. 4. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. The Saturday schedule also gives Michigan an immediate opportunity to rebound from its surprisingly close 13-12 win over Western Michigan. The Wolverines host No. 11 Oklahoma, which opened its season with a 51-0 victory over UTEP.

Key Matchups

Key college football matchups include:

• No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas: Texas is a narrow 1.5-point favorite in one of the weekend’s most intriguing betting lines. Ohio State rarely finds itself as an underdog, making the spread particularly notable. The Buckeyes won last year’s meeting 14-7, but the rematch moves to Texas.
• No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan: Oklahoma is -5.5, with Michigan +5.5 and a relatively low 43.5-point total. Oklahoma is -225 on the moneyline, while Michigan is +185. The low total reflects a matchup where defense could play a significant role.
• Arizona State at No. 10 Texas A&M: Texas A&M is a 14.5-point favorite, with a 50.5 total. The Aggies are -700 on the moneyline, compared with +500 for Arizona State.
• No. 6 Oregon at Oklahoma State: Oregon is favored by roughly 22.5 points after surviving a tougher-than-expected 34-27 opener against Boise State. Oklahoma State lost 24-10 to Tulsa, helping explain the sizable spread despite Oregon playing on the road.
• No. 23 Missouri at Kansas: The Border War returns with Missouri around a 5.5-point favorite. The total is 51.5, while Missouri is -210 and Kansas +175 on the moneyline.

Other Games to Watch

Other lines worth watching include Tennessee favored by around 12.5-13.5 points over Georgia Tech and Utah laying roughly 11.5-12.5 against Arkansas.

NFL: Week 1 Brings Several Tight Matchups

NFL Week 1 has already produced two notable results. Seattle rallied past New England 13-10 on Wednesday, while San Francisco stunned the Rams 27-7 in Australia on Thursday. Attention now shifts to a 13-game Sunday schedule and Monday night’s AFC West matchup. The betting board features several games with spreads of 3.5 points or fewer, creating plenty of early-season uncertainty.

Key Matchups

• Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans: Buffalo is a slight 1.5-point road favorite, with the total at 44.5. The Bills are around -120 on the moneyline and Houston +100. This is one of Sunday’s closest spreads and a matchup between two AFC playoff contenders.
• Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota is only -1.5 at home, essentially making this NFC North rivalry close to a toss-up. The total has reached 46.5, with Minnesota around -125 and Green Bay +105.
• Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia enters as a 4.5-point favorite with a 44.5 total. The Eagles are approximately -225 on the moneyline, while Washington offers +185.
• Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants: Sunday Night Football brings an NFC East rivalry with Dallas favored by 2.5 points. The relatively high 48.5 total suggests oddsmakers see more scoring potential here than in most of Sunday’s games. Dallas is around -160 on the moneyline with New York +135.
• Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: Week 1 concludes Monday with Kansas City favored by 2.5 points at Arrowhead Stadium. The total sits at 43.5, while the Chiefs are about -150 and Denver +125. Denver won 14 games and the AFC West last season, making this an immediate test of whether Kansas City can reclaim control of the division.

Other Games to Watch

Another line that stands out is Jacksonville laying 8.5 points against Cleveland, while the Chargers are 9.5-point home favorites against Arizona. At the other end of the spectrum, Tennessee is only 1.5 points ahead of the Jets. With major college games Saturday and divisional matchups dominating the NFL slate Sunday and Monday, bettors should keep an eye on late line movement. Week 1 and Week 2 football markets can be particularly volatile as sportsbooks and bettors react to the first meaningful results of the new season.