College Football Best Bets & Sportsbook Promos - Friday, September 5

Week 2 of the 2025-26 college football season gets underway on Friday, Sept. 5, with a four-game slate beginning with James Madison vs. Louisville. To help get your sports betting journey off to a nice start, bet365 is offering new users a welcome promo:

👉 Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets - Win or Lose

If you win your bet, fantastic! Enjoy your winnings and $300 in bonus bets. Lose your bet, and you can get back in the saddle with $300 in bonus bets from bet365. Let’s take a look at a couple of Friday’s games and then go over the promo in more detail.

James Madison vs. Louisville

The Cardinals have a more seasoned, experienced quarterback at the helm of the offense in former USC QB Miller Moss, while James Madison could have a QB controversy brewing.

However, if the Cardinals throw three picks like they did against EKU, the JMU run game (which tallied 313 yards last week) will make them regret doing so.

Our Pick: JMU +13.5

We expect Louisville to win this game, but JMU deserves more credit than they are being given. They’ll keep the game relatively close, and if the Cardinals throw three picks again, James Madison could steal a win.

Northern Illinois vs. Maryland

Both teams recorded wins in Week 1, but beating Holy Cross (an FCS team) by just two points (19-17) was not a good look for the Huskies. Maryland, on the other hand, easily beat Florida Atlantic 39-7. However, Northern Illinois has a good defense. If the Terps don’t respect it, they could find themselves in for a tougher fight than expected.

Our Pick: OVER 46.5 at -110

We expect Maryland to win, but 17.5 points is a big spread, and I have to think Northern Illinois will play much better than they did last week. The Terps will score more points than the Huskies, but I think NIU scores enough to send the final score OVER the TOTAL.

It is easy to claim your bet365 welcome promo code. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

1. Click on our bet365 promo code link to get the process started.
2. On the page you’re sent to, click on the yellow ‘Join Now’ button and follow the prompts to sign up for a new account.
3. Make your first deposit (min. $10).
4. Place your first bet (min. $5).

You’ll receive $300 in bonus bets from bet365, no matter how your first bet settles.Sign up today and claim your Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose promo for college football!

This sportsbook is a relative newcomer to the U.S. online gambling industry. Consequently, I think they try a little harder than many established providers to attract customers by offering generous promos like this one and great perks to existing bettors as well.

If you are looking to bet on something other than one of the major North American sports, bet365 is a great sportsbook.

• James Madison vs. Louisville, Friday, Sept. 5 @ 7 p.m. EST
• Northern Illinois vs. Maryland, Friday, Sept 5 @ 7:30 p.m. EST
• Florida International vs. No. 2 Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 6 @ 12 p.m. EST
• No. 1 Ohio State vs. Grambling, Saturday, Sept. 6 @ 3:30 p.m. EST
• No. 15 Michigan vs. No. 18 Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 6 @ 7:30 p.m. EST

There is a lot of great college football action on deck in Week 2, on Friday and Saturday, and a great season still to come. So, it is a perfect time to sign up for a new account with bet365 and claim their “Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose” promo offer today!