{"id":76733,"date":"2025-08-26T13:10:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T17:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=76733"},"modified":"2025-08-27T16:39:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T20:39:34","slug":"big-12-week-one-winners-big-numbers-to-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/08\/26\/big-12-week-one-winners-big-numbers-to-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Big 12 Week One Winners: Big Numbers To Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Last week in Dublin, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/08\/24\/sundays-college-football-summary\/\" target=\"_self\">Big 12 fans got a tasty Farmagedon appetizer to kick off the 2025 season<\/a>. But now it is time for the main course. A strong hat tip to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark for spreading out Big 12 play across the full Labor Day weekend. Some of which have prime time games with the college football audience all to themselves. However, the theme for many of these Big 12 week one winners is the large spreads many Big 12 teams need to cover. All lines are provided by FanDuel.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Big 12 Week One Winners<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Thursday Games<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Jacksonville State (+17.5) At UCF <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Version two of Scott Frost kicks off with a feisty Conference USA program. While they have a new head coach, this is still the defending C-USA champion. UCF is going to struggle plenty this season but will get one of its few wins this week. But expect Jax State to keep it close.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0UCF\u00a0ATS: Jacksonville State\u00a0Total 52.5: Under\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>UT Martin (+17.5) At Oklahoma State <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Can Mike Gundy live up to his reputation of performing at his best when expectations are the lowest? This game won\u2019t be the greatest forecast for the season, but it should still be a win for the home team.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Oklahoma State\u00a0ATS: UT Martin\u00a0Total 55.5:\u00a0Over<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Stephen F. Austin (+22.5) At Houston<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Willie Fritz enters his second season looking to continue to build up this Cougar program. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/conner-weigman-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Conner Weigman<\/a> should lead this team to a win in his debut for Houston. But SFA is a quality FCS program and will keep the final score within three touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Houston\u00a0ATS: Stephen F. Austin\u00a0Total 55.5: Under\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Nebraska At Cincinnati (+6.5)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This game comes down to whether or not one believes in the Matt Rhule year three proof of concept. Cincinnati has some talented pieces on its roster, and Arrowhead Stadium will be buzzing Thursday night. But count us in as one of the believers of Rhule bringing the Cornhuskers to heights they have been craving for.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Nebraska ATS: Cincinnati\u00a0Total 54.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Friday Games<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Georgia Tech (-3.5) At Colorado\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Big 12 week one winners shift to Friday with two games that the entire country will be tuning into. Colorado\u2019s strength is along its defensive line. But without knowing what the Buffaloes&#8217; offense will look like, expect Georgia Tech\u2019s physicality to rule the day in Boulder.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Georgia Tech\u00a0ATS: Georgia Tech\u00a0Total 54.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Auburn At Baylor (+2.5)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You may need to consult with your doctor if you have heart issues before watching this one. Both teams have a coach who could quickly get back on a scorching seat. Both offenses have dynamic playmakers. Lock up the over on this total because the Tiger and Bears winner will come down to who has the ball last. Dave Aranda\u2019s team pulls the minor upset to start the season.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Baylor\u00a0ATS: Baylor\u00a0Total 57.5: Over<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Saturday Games<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There are three Big 12 week one winners without any lines set. Those games are Wagner At Kanas, Robert Morris at West Virginia and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/08\/26\/texas-tech-week-one-make-vanilla-elite\/\" target=\"_self\">Arkansas-Pine Bluff At Texas Tech<\/a>. Kansas is coming off a dominating win over Fresno State.\u00a0 Rich Rodriguez makes is homecoming debut as the Mountainners head coach. Texas Tech offers the first look at their very expensive and talented roster. All teams will handle their FCS opponents easily at home.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>South Dakota (+15.5) At Iowa State<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Hat tip to the Solid Verbal as they would call this a \u201clet down, look ahead sandwich\u201d for Matt Campbell\u2019s Cyclones. Coming off a big win in Ireland, Iowa State has Iowa on the schedule next week. A win there could immediately thrust Iowa State into the national conversation. But in between comes a South Dakota State team that starts ranked in the top 10 of the FCS. Don\u2019t be surprised if this game is tied going into the fourth quarter. But Rocco Becht and company survive the upset scare.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Iowa State\u00a0ATS: South Dakota\u00a0Total 47.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>North Dakota (+25.5) At Kansas State\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Wildcats let one slip away (literally and metaphorically) in Ireland. But this team is too talented to stay down. They take out their frustrations on a FCS opponent and only need about 10 pass attempts to do so.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Kansas State\u00a0ATS: Kansas State\u00a0Total 55.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Portland State At BYU (-43.5)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This is as great of a spot for a true freshman quarterback to make his debut. It is a home game against a FCS opponent who just lost to a fellow FCS team in week zero 42-0. There is a very good chance Portland State doesn\u2019t score again for the second straight game against this very good Cougars defense.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0BYU\u00a0ATS: BYU\u00a0Total 60.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>North Arizona At Arizona State (-28.5)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Kenny Dillingham\u2019s team begins their title defense with a sleep opener. Expect the Sun Devils to be in control throughout. They are going to try to end this game as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Arizona State\u00a0ATS: Arizona State\u00a0Total 52.5: Under\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hawaii (+16.5) At Arizona<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There is a good chance Stanford might go 0-12 this season. But Hawaii getting a win against a bad P4 team is still something. Arizona is not what anyone would consider a good P4 team either. But the quarterback play alone from <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/noah-fifita-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Noah Fifita<\/a> will keep the Wildcats from getting upset by the Rainbow Warriors from the island. <strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Arizona\u00a0ATS: Hawaii\u00a0Total 55.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Utah (-6.5) At UCLA\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Is this the start of the revenge tour for Kyle Whittingham\u2019s Utes? A proud program fell flat in their Big 12 debut. But with the quarterback position finally solved, will they be conference contenders? They square off against a former Pac 12 member that they are 7-2 against since 2014. Expect Utah\u2019s defense to rattle transfer quarterback <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/nico-iamaleava-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nico Iamaleava<\/a> and control this game physically from the opening kickoff.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0Utah\u00a0ATS: Utah\u00a0Total 50.5: Under<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>TCU (-3.5) At North Carolina\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The final game of the Big 12 week one winners takes place on Labor Day. All eyes will be on Bill Belichick\u2019s debut. But this TCU team is not looking to lay an egg again in a national spotlight game like they did against Colorado in 2023. Headlined by <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/05\/29\/best-big-12-quarterbacks-returning-for-2025\/\" target=\"_self\">one of the best quarterbacks in the conference<\/a>, the Horned Frogs spoil Belichick\u2019s debut and win 45-21.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Moneyline:\u00a0TCU\u00a0ATS: TCU Total 57.5: Over<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Main Image: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week in Dublin, Big 12 fans got a tasty Farmagedon appetizer to kick off the 2025 season. But now it is time for the main course. A strong hat tip to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark for spreading out Big 12 play across the full Labor Day weekend. Some of which have prime time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3959,"featured_media":76743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2,17],"tags":[9102,9128,1671,4653,2832,351,1008,1948,2484,2165],"class_list":["post-76733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-big12","category-featured","category-news","tag-bill-belichick","tag-brett-yormark","tag-dave-aranda","tag-kenny-dillingham","tag-kyle-whittingham","tag-matt-rhule","tag-mike-gundy","tag-rich-rodriguez","tag-scott-frost","tag-willie-fritz"],"modified_by":"Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3959"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76733"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76768,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76733\/revisions\/76768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}