The 2025 college football season starts with a big non-conference matchup between Boise State and South Florida on Thursday, August 28, at Raymond James Stadium. The Broncos are among the early contenders in the Mountain West following another successful season, and the Bulls will want to build upon last season under quarterback Byrum Brown.
With betting lines tightening up before kickoff, this Week 0 conference clash may influence bowl projections and establish the tone of both teams’ seasons.
Boise State vs. South Florida Key Players to Watch
Boise State will begin the 2025 campaign with some familiarity. Quarterback Maddux Madsen returns after a 3,018-yard, 23-touchdown passing campaign last year, but the offense is still recovering after Ashton Jeanty left for the NFL draft. The Broncos will go with a 2-back committee in Sire Gaines and Malik Sherrod to try to replace the #6 overall pick. On defense, the Broncos bring back important tacklers and added several transfers to fortify their front seven.
USF has quarterback Byrum Brown back, who put up a sensational 2023 season when he became the first signal caller in program history to pass for over 3,000 yards. In 2024, Brown had a significant leg injury which completely derailed his season. This year South Florida will be trying to continue the good fortunes from two years ago, which included a winning season and a 45-0 bowl game blowout against Syracuse.
Odds and Betting Lines for Boise State vs. South Florida
Lines as of midweek have Boise State as 6-point favorites at BetMGM with an Over/Under of 63.5 points, with the consensus spread remaining at about Boise State -6.5. The Broncos have a moneyline of -235 and the Bulls +190. According to the stats on ESPN, Boise State has a roughly 64.5 percent win probability.
Picks and Predictions for Boise State vs. South Florida
The Thursday night Week 1 opener is set to be an entertaining thriller. Both teams bring in roughed-up defenses and high-flying offenses, and it looks to be a high-scoring game. USF should come out throwing the ball with a high-tempo offense, but can they sustain that for the entire game?
Maddux Madsen is on the other side, and last year, he proved he can do plenty to get the job done, but the revamped Boise State defense is definitely a problem. A fast start for the Bulls could be all they need for a halftime lead.
Best Bet: USF 1H +3
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