Sep 2, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts after a play against the Toledo Rockets during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baylor Bears helmets on the sidelines in the first quarter of the 2022 Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a UNLV Rebels helmet during the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet sitting on confetti after the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Camping World Stadium.

Week 1 of the college football season is an onslaught of action running from Thursday through Monday. Saturday is the jampacked day with games wall-to-wall, but the other days bring plenty of intriguing matchups that could tell us a lot about teams.

It also gives us some interesting lines early in the season that may be intriguing to dive into. Teams are largely unknown, and how transfers will mesh can be a big question mark, creating odds that would otherwise be a bit different down the road.

Friday night, Aug. 29, features 11 games involving an FBS program, and we are taking a look at some of those odds. Here are three of the best bets to look at for Friday night.

Illinois vs. Western Illinois: Under 63.5 points

Here's a stat: of the 12 nonconference games that Illinois has played since 2021, when head coach Bret Bielema took over, only one has gone over 63.5 total points. That came in a 37-30 loss to UTSA in 2021, Bielema's first year with the Illini. They are a different team now, and it shows. That trend continues in this game.

I don't think this goes under because Illinois struggles. They will move the ball at will and will have this game in hand before it hits halftime. The problem with the over is that there simply may not be enough time. Bielema will get up, sit on the ball, run the clock, and enter cruise control.

Baylor vs. Auburn: Baylor +2.5

This line raises my eyebrows. It is at Baylor in the season-opener for both teams, yet the Bears are home underdogs to an Auburn team that, if we can be very open and honest, is on the precipice of disaster.

Auburn's head coach is on the hot seat, they are going to try and play three quarterbacks, and they will have three different coaches with input calling plays on offense. None of that bodes well for a Week 1 road trip to take on a Baylor team coming off an eight-win campaign in 2025, which returns QB Sawyer Roberston.

Robertson threw for 3,071 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. He's at home, and if the Bears can strike early, all of the pressure turns to Auburn's play-calling experiment under the microscope.

Sam Houston State at UNLV: UNLV -9.5

UNLV, still a potential G5 College Football Playoff contender, looked woefully unprepared as it escaped Idaho State in Week 0. The defense was gashed for 395 passing yards and 160 rushing yards.

For as bad as it looked, the Rebels are in a situation where it may not be able to look much worse. They get Sam Houston, losers to Western Kentucky in Week 1, who had an equally rough defensive showing, giving up 41 points.

UNLV did run for a whopping 305 yards against Idaho State at 7.5 yards per carry and get the chance to fix things against a Bearkats unit that let the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers churn out 506 total yards.

One thing to note: UNLV was just 3-12 on third down against Idaho State. Sam Houston allowed 11-19 third-down conversions. This could be the difference in this matchup if UNLV stays ahead of the chains and keeps their downs and distances manageable.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Best bets for Week 1 college football games on Friday night

Reporting by Riley Donald, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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