College Football Predictions Today: FCS Picks and Best Bets for Friday (August 28)

College Football Picks in Summary

• Rhode Island -19.5 (-120)
• New Hampshire -11.5 (-113)
• Idaho Moneyline (-166)

College football is officially back this week, and after a busy night last night, Friday’s FCS slate gives us some more action.

Using the latest college football odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are my favorite FCS best bets for today.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

College Football Picks and Predictions Today

Rhode Island -19.5 vs. Merrimack

Rhode Island -19.5 (-120)

Rhode Island enters 2026 looking like one of the stronger teams in the FCS after going 11-3 overall and a perfect 8-0 in CAA play last season.

The Rams averaged 31.3 points per game while allowing 21.1, won a second consecutive CAA title, and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. They begin this season ranked seventh in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and eighth in the coaches poll.

There is also meaningful continuity at the top of the roster. Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan earned First Team All-CAA honors last season and has started 34 consecutive games, while defensive lineman Case Mankins is back after earning Third Team All-CAA honors.

Rhode Island has gone 6-0 in season openers against FCS competition under Jim Fleming, and that streak includes wins in each of the past two seasons.

Merrimack faces a difficult step up in competition against a veteran Rams program that should be able to create separation over four quarters.

At anything below three touchdowns, Rhode Island is my favorite side on Friday's slate.

New Hampshire vs. Albany

New Hampshire -11.5 (-113)

This is a rematch that heavily favors New Hampshire based on what happened a year ago.

Albany finished 2025 with just two wins, and its offense struggled badly for much of the season. The Great Danes scored 19 points or fewer in seven of their 12 games and were held to single digits four times.

One of those performances came against New Hampshire. The Wildcats beat Albany 24-6 in September, limiting the Great Danes to their second-lowest point total of the season. New Hampshire ultimately reached the FCS playoffs, while Albany finished near the bottom of the CAA.

New Hampshire also returns senior running back Myles Thomason, who was named to the 2026 CAA Preseason All-Conference Team, along with several other experienced players who received preseason recognition.

Albany experienced significant roster turnover with 38 newcomers, including 20 transfers, so improvement is certainly possible. However, I'm not ready to assume that said overhaul immediately closes an 18-point gap against a playoff-caliber opponent.

Idaho vs. Cal Poly

Idaho Moneyline (-166)

Idaho has more continuity at the positions that matter most, and that gives the Vandals an edge in Friday night's late game (10 p.m. ET).

Quarterback Joshua Wood returns as the starter after producing the best rushing season by an Idaho quarterback since 1993. More importantly, four of Idaho's five starting offensive linemen return, and each of those four players started all 12 games last season.

That experience should be particularly valuable in a season opener.

Cal Poly is coming off a 4-8 season and enters a significant transition under first-year head coach Tim Skipper. The Mustangs added 39 new players during the offseason and were picked 11th by the Big Sky coaches and ninth by the media in the conference's preseason polls.

Cal Poly does have legitimate defensive talent, particularly linebackers Mikey D'Amato and Kenny Olson, who combined for more than 250 tackles last season, so this won’t be easy for Idaho.

Still, Idaho has historically controlled this series. The Vandals are 5-0 against Cal Poly since the Mustangs moved to Division I and won the most recent meeting 34-29 in 2024.

With Wood back behind an experienced offensive line against a team breaking in a new head coach and nearly 40 new players, I'll take the Vandals to get the win.

Full Week 0 odds and schedule as well as the preseason Heisman odds.

College Football Betting FAQ

What is a point spread in college football betting? The point spread is designed to account for the expected difference between two teams. The favorite must win by more than the listed spread for a bet on that team to cover while the underdog can cover by winning outright or losing by fewer points than the spread.

What is a college football moneyline bet? A moneyline wager is simply a bet on which team will win the game. Favorites typically have shorter odds and smaller potential payouts while underdogs generally offer larger potential returns.

What does over/under mean in college football? An over/under, also known as the game total, is a wager on the combined number of points scored by both teams. Bettors can choose whether the final combined score will finish over or under the set total.

What are college football player props? College football player props are wagers based on an individual player's performance rather than the final outcome of the game. Depending on availability, common markets can include passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and other statistical categories.

College Football is back! Get a 50% Profit Boost Token to use on ANY wager for any College Football Games taking place on August 29th, 2026! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today's other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Looking for the latest college football odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the college football betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.