2026 FCS Picks: Week 1

The Maine Black Bears and Towson Tigers kick off Week 1 of the FCS schedule on August 27 as they face each other in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) conference opener at Johnny Unitas Stadium.  The Black Bears went 6-6 (5-3 in the CAA) last year, while the Tigers also went 6-6 (4-4 in the CAA).

MAINE AT TOWSON ODDS, GAME TIME

• Game Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
• Location: Towson, MD
• Stadium: Johnny Unitas Stadium
• Favorite: Towson Tigers
• Underdog: Maine Black Bears
• Over/under: 45.5
• Point Spread: Towson (-3.5)

HOW TO WATCH MAINE AT TOWSON

• Streaming: FloFootball

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MAINE AT TOWSON

Dunkel Ratings: Maine 56.558; Towson 55.553
Dunkel Line & Total: Maine by 1; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Towson by 3 1/2; 45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Maine (+3 1/2); Under

Below are all of the Dunkel Index picks for Week 1 of the FCS schedule:

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STONY BROOK AT DELAWARE STATE

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stony Brook 58.915; Delaware State 47.495
Dunkel Line & Total: Stony Brook by 11 1/2; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Stony Brook by 4 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Stony Brook (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MERCYHURST AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Mercyhurst 35.896; Youngstown State 72.861
Dunkel Line & Total: Youngstown State by 37; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Youngstown State by 27 1/2; 53 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Youngstown State (-27 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR EASTERN ILLINOIS AT MURRAY STATE

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Illinois 48.765; Murray State 45.811
Dunkel Line & Total: Eastern Illinois by 3; 47
Vegas Line & Total: Murray State by 1 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Illinois (+1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR HOUSTON BAPTIST AT SE LOUISIANA

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston Baptist 27.852; SE Louisiana 61.881
Dunkel Line & Total: SE Louisiana by 34; 44
Vegas Line & Total: SE Louisiana by 30 1/2; 50 1/2
Dunkel Pick: SE Louisiana (-30 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHATTANOOGA AT WEST GEORGIA

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Chattanooga 49.355; West Georgia 60.530
Dunkel Line & Total: West Georgia by 11; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Chattanooga by 1 1/2; 52 1/2
Dunkel Pick: West Georgia (+1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT NICHOLLS STATE

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Mississippi Valley State 20.690; Nicholls State 54.815
Dunkel Line & Total: Nicholls State by 34; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Nicholls State by 30 1/2; 52 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nicholls State (-30 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT LINDENWOOD

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Charleston Southern 53.372; Lindenwood 56.570
Dunkel Line & Total: Lindenwood by 3; 39
Vegas Line & Total: Lindenwood by 9 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Charleston Southern (+9 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LAFAYETTE AT GEORGETOWN

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Lafayette 51.646; Georgetown 43.603
Dunkel Line & Total: Lafayette by 8; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Lafayette by 13 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Georgetown (+13 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT WEST FLORIDA

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Illinois 78.792; West Florida 56.699
Dunkel Line & Total: Southern Illinois by 22; 50
Vegas Line & Total: Southern Illinois by 17 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Southern Illinois (-17 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR GARDNER-WEBB AT AUSTIN PEAY

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Gardner-Webb 48.748; Austin Peay 67.889
Dunkel Line & Total: Austin Peay by 19; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Austin Peay by 14 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Austin Peay (-14 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT UT MARTIN

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Central Arkansas 61.553; UT Martin 58.480
Dunkel Line & Total: Central Arkansas by 3; 47
Vegas Line & Total: UT Martin by 1 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Central Arkansas (+1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LIU AT NORTH DAKOTA

Date: Thursday, August 27
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: LIU 43.814; North Dakota 77.853
Dunkel Line & Total: North Dakota by 34; 40
Vegas Line & Total: North Dakota by 27 1/2; 47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota (-27 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WILLIAM & MARY AT VILLANOVA

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: William & Mary 58.075; Villanova 65.946
Dunkel Line & Total: Villanova by 8; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Villanova by 12 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: William & Mary (+12 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR COLGATE AT FORDHAM

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Colgate 50.489; Fordham 34.472
Dunkel Line & Total: Colgate by 16; 52
Vegas Line & Total: Colgate by 10 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colgate (-10 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MARIST AT NEW HAVEN

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Marist 39.801; New Haven 36.360
Dunkel Line & Total: Marist by 3 1/2; 55
Vegas Line & Total: New Haven by 3 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Marist (+3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR RHODE ISLAND AT MERRIMACK

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Rhode Island 51.070; Merrimack 49.584
Dunkel Line & Total: Rhode Island by 1 1/2; 59
Vegas Line & Total: Rhode Island by 28 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Merrimack (+28 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE AT ALBANY

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Hampshire 55.735; Albany 47.155
Dunkel Line & Total: New Hampshire by 8 1/2; 40
Vegas Line & Total: New Hampshire by 12 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Albany (+12 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WEBER STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Weber State 48.492; Northern Colorado 55.368
Dunkel Line & Total: Northern Colorado by 7; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Northern Colorado by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northern Colorado (-3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR IDAHO AT CAL POLY

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Idaho 61.246; Cal Poly 49.917
Dunkel Line & Total: Idaho by 11 1/2; 59
Vegas Line & Total: Idaho by 5 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Idaho (-5 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ROBERT MORRIS AT WAGNER

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Robert Morris 35.528; Wagner 43.477
Dunkel Line & Total: Wagner by 8; 36
Vegas Line & Total: Wagner by 4 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wagner (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Central Connecticut State 49.520; South Dakota 76.430
Dunkel Line & Total: South Dakota by 27; 59
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota by 23 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota (-23 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SOUTHERN AT ALABAMA STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern 35.633; Alabama State 52.680
Dunkel Line & Total: Alabama State by 17; 53
Vegas Line & Total: Alabama State by 20 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Southern (+20 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR UC-DAVIS AT PORTLAND STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: UC-Davis 57.546; Portland State 52.001
Dunkel Line & Total: UC-Davis by 5 1/2; 59
Vegas Line & Total: UC-Davis by 28 1/2; 63 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Portland State (+28 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LEHIGH AT HOLY CROSS

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Lehigh 67.550; Holy Cross 58.063
Dunkel Line & Total: Lehigh by 9 1/2; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Lehigh by 15 1/2; 47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Holy Cross (+15 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON AT NORTHERN ARIZONA

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Washington 55.553; Northern Arizona 54.037
Dunkel Line & Total: Eastern Washington by 1 1/2; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Northern Arizona by 2 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Washington (+2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CAMPBELL AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Campbell 46.180; East Tennessee State 63.161
Dunkel Line & Total: East Tennessee State by 17; 61
Vegas Line & Total: East Tennessee State by 7 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: East Tennessee State (-7 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MORGAN STATE AT NC A&T

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Morgan State 34.031; NC A&T 35.161
Dunkel Line & Total: NC A&T by 1; 59
Vegas Line & Total: NC A&T by 8 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Morgan State (+8 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR VMI AT IDAHO STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: VMI 25.956; Idaho State 68.074
Dunkel Line & Total: Idaho State by 42; 52
Vegas Line & Total: Idaho State by 34 1/2; 61 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Idaho State (-34 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BUCKNELL AT RICHMOND

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Bucknell 38.805; Richmond 54.239
Dunkel Line & Total: Richmond by 15 1/2; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Richmond by 9 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Richmond (-9 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR THE CITADEL AT WOFFORD

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: The Citadel 57.765; Wofford 56.631
Dunkel Line & Total: The Citadel by 1; 35
Vegas Line & Total: Wofford by 6 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (+6 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SE MISSOURI STATE AT INDIANA STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: SE Missouri State 42.102; Indiana State 55.099
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana State by 13; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana State by 1 1/2; 53 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana State (-1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BRYANT AT STONEHILL

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Bryant 38.805; Stonehill 37.765
Dunkel Line & Total: Bryant by 1; 37
Vegas Line & Total: Bryant by 6 1/2; 43 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Stonehill (+6 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STEPHEN F AUSTIN AT MCNEESE STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stephen F Austin 71.867; McNeese State 61.727
Dunkel Line & Total: Stephen F Austin by 10; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Stephen F Austin by 14 1/2; 50 1/2
Dunkel Pick: McNeese State (+14 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NC CENTRAL AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: NC Central 54.272; Texas Southern 37.997
Dunkel Line & Total: NC Central by 16 1/2; 48
Vegas Line & Total: NC Central by 11 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NC Central (-11 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MONMOUTH AT TENNESSEE TECH

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Monmouth 54.417; Tennessee Tech 53.578
Dunkel Line & Total: Monmouth by 1; 51
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee Tech by 7 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Monmouth (+7 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STETSON AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stetson 16.403; South Dakota State 72.343
Dunkel Line & Total: South Dakota State by 56; 62
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota State by 47 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota State (-47 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SAMFORD AT NORTH ALABAMA

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Samford 39.704; North Alabama 52.102
Dunkel Line & Total: North Alabama by 12 1/2; 52
Vegas Line & Total: North Alabama by 8 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: North Alabama (-8 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY AT WESTERN CAROLINA

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Kentucky 63.529; Western Carolina 57.677
Dunkel Line & Total: Eastern Kentucky by 6; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Western Carolina by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Kentucky (+3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR EAST TEXAS A&M AT MERCER

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: East Texas A&M 35.262; Mercer 62.338
Dunkel Line & Total: Mercer by 27; 65
Vegas Line & Total: Mercer by 23 1/2; 61 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Mercer (-23 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT LAMAR

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Abilene Christian 63.907; Lamar 60.847
Dunkel Line & Total: Abilene Christian by 3; 55
Vegas Line & Total: Abilene Christian by 6 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Lamar (+6 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ALABAMA A&M AT HOWARD

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Alabama A&M 37.984; Howard 36.461
Dunkel Line & Total: Alabama A&M by 1 1/2; 37
Vegas Line & Total: Howard by 2 1/2; 45 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Alabama A&M (+2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR JACKSON STATE AT TENNESSEE STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jackson State 62.620; Tennessee State 36.610
Dunkel Line & Total: Jackson State by 26; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Jackson State by 18 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Jackson State (-18 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SOUTHERN UTAH AT MONTANA

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Utah 59.406; Montana 86.577
Dunkel Line & Total: Montana by 27; 53
Vegas Line & Total: Montana by 17 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montana (-17 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PRAIRIE VIEW AT TARLETON STATE

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Prairie View 56.007; Tarleton State 81.514
Dunkel Line & Total: Tarleton State by 25 1/2; 63
Vegas Line & Total: Tarleton State by 20 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tarleton State (-20 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MONTANA STATE AT UTAH TECH

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Montana State 92.550; Utah Tech 46.542
Dunkel Line & Total: Montana State by 46; 52
Vegas Line & Total: Montana State by 31 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montana State (-31 1/2); Under