College Football Predictions Today: FCS Picks and Best Bets for Thursday (Aug. 27)

College Football Picks in Summary

• Towson -3.5 (-102)
• Stony Brook-Delaware State Over 51.5 (-106)
• Austin Peay -14.5 (-120)

College football is officially back this week, and Thursday's schedule features a surprisingly deep slate of FCS action.

The opening-night board includes several ranked teams, conference matchups and programs that could emerge as FCS playoff contenders. With plenty of roster turnover across the subdivision, returning production is especially important when trying to handicap games early in the year.

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

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

College Football Picks and Predictions

Maine vs. Towson

Towson -3.5 (-102)

Towson enters the season with some turnover, but the Tigers return one of the most important pieces on the field in quarterback Andrew Indorf. As a freshman in 2025, Indorf started 12 games and completed 59.6% of his passes for 2,344 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

That experience could be particularly valuable in an opener against a Maine team that went 6-6 last season. The Black Bears improved as 2025 went along and finished 5-3 in CAA play, but their two games against ranked opponents to close the regular season resulted in losses of 45-13 to Rhode Island and 33-27 to New Hampshire.

Towson also gets this matchup at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

With an experienced quarterback and the homefield edge, Towson to cover is my favorite bet in this game, which kicks off at 6 p.m. ET.

Stony Brook vs. Delaware State

Over 51.5 (-106)

This could be one of the more entertaining games on Thursday's schedule, and it’s another 6 p.m. ET start.

Delaware State made a huge jump during DeSean Jackson's first season as head coach, finishing 8-4 while averaging 32.25 points and 449.4 yards of total offense per game. The Hornets were especially dangerous on the ground, averaging 290.0 rushing yards per game and 6.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Stony Brook wasn't quite as explosive, but the Seawolves still averaged 28.00 points and 385.0 total yards per game last season. Their defense surrendered 25.75 points per game, while Delaware State’s D allowed 24.75.

Those 2025 scoring profiles give us a strong starting point for a total sitting at only 51.5, which is one of the lower totals on the board today.

Stony Brook is also expected to have several young players on the field, which adds some uncertainty to the Seawolves, and Delaware State should be capable of generating explosive plays.

Gardner-Webb vs. Austin Peay

Austin Peay -14.5 (-120)

Austin Peay brings back one of the best quarterbacks in the FCS, giving the Governors an enormous advantage in a season opener, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET.

Chris Parson threw for 3,003 yards and 23 touchdowns last season while adding 743 rushing yards and a program-record (for a QB) 14 rushing touchdowns. His performance earned him First-Team All-UAC honors, and he enters 2026 as the conference's preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

The offense as a whole averaged 35.1 points and 451.1 total yards per game in 2025. Austin Peay generated 6.7 yards per play and scored at least 40 points five times, including a 56-point performance against Morehead State and 56 against North Alabama.

Parson isn't the only proven player returning, either. Tight end Jackson Head, receiver Jaden Robinson and offensive lineman Joshua Sales Jr. joined him on the preseason All-UAC team.

Gardner-Webb went a respectable 7-5 last year, but covering this number on the road requires them to keep pace with one of the subdivision's most dangerous quarterbacks. Austin Peay has enough offensive firepower to pull away from Gardner-Webb.

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.