The 2021 college football season is technically already underway, but the sport really gets into full swing Thursday night with the start of Week 1. Four teams ranked in the AP Top-25 are on the schedule and expected to begin the year with big victories.

No. 4 Ohio State visits Minnesota in Thursday’s marquee matchup. The Buckeyes are 13.5-point road favorites against their Big Ten rivals, according to the latest betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Ohio State was beaten by Alabama in last season’s national championship game. With star quarterback Justin Fields being picked by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the NFL Draft, C.J. Stroud will be under center for the Buckeyes.

After a 7-1 campaign in 2020, Ohio State has gone nine straight seasons with no more than two losses.

No. 22 Coastal Carolina is a massive 35.5-point favorite over Citadel on Thursday night. A surprising 11-0 record put Coastal Carolina 12th in last season’s final College Football Playoff Rankings.

No. 24 Utah is laying 30.5 points against visiting Weber State. If No. 25 Arizona State loses at home to Southern Utah, it might be the biggest upset of the entire 2021 season, given that the Sun Devils are favored by 45.5 points.

Tennessee is expected to start the year off on the right foot after one of the worst seasons in school history. The Volunteers are favored by 35.5 points over Bowling Green. New head coach Josh Heupel takes over following a 28-8 record in three seasons as UCF’s head coach.

Bowling Green had the sports’ worst rush defense a season ago, allowing more than 310 rushing yards per game.

The meat of the Week 1 schedule is set for Saturday with No. 1 Alabama facing No. 14 Miami and No. 2 Clemson facing No. 5 Georgia in a pair of high-profile Top 25 matchups.

Ryan Day Ohio State Football
Head Coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches his team during the Spring Game at Ohio Stadium on April 17, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
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