Top Parlay Picks for Week 1 of College Football: Expert Betting Insights

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College football is back, and with it comes an exciting opportunity to cash in on the action with our expertly crafted college football parlay picks. We’ve analyzed the Week 1 matchups to bring you a high-value parlay that could deliver a massive payout.

Top Parlay Picks Worth Betting on the First Week 1 of College
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Betting 2024 College Football Week 1

Last weekend was a small appetizer for the big weekend slate of games in College Football this weekend.

Georgia Tech beating Florida State in Ireland was the big game.

Will we get one of those in Week 1? We are here to bring you a six leg parlay for the Week 1 action of games.

Here it is, and enjoy the games:

Writer’s Parlay Picks for a 5 Team Parlay for Week 1

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +12 over Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles are good.

The Seminoles in fact are really good.

But, Week 1 in Ireland, do not be surprised if Georgia Tech gives them all they can handle.

Florida State was stunned a season ago not getting into the College Football Playoff.

Their focus may not be super strong early on, but eventually they do come away with a single digit win.

But, our first bet in the five leg parlay for Week 1 is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +12!

Nevada Wolf Pack +27.5 over SMU Mustangs

The Mustangs are massive favorites in this game.

But, going on the road to start the NCAAF season, and winning by four touchdowns seems to be a pretty tall task.

The Wolf Pack did not have a strong season last year, winning just two games.

But, some changes in the program, some new players, and a slow start from the Mustangs allows the Wolf Pack to hang in the game.

SMU wins, Nevada covers.

That is our second pick in the parlay.

North Carolina +2.5 over Minnesota Golden Gophers

We actually like this game as one of the best games in Week 1 action.

A pair of power conference teams getting together on Thursday night.

The Tar Heels and the Golden Gophers both kind of get tired of hearing about the rest of their conference teams.

North Carolina went 8-5 a season ago, but the loss of Drake Maye is a big one to replace.

Minnesota finished the season with six wins, including a bowl win over Bowling Green.

PJ Fleck enters the season with more questions around his program.

We like the talent of the skill players for North Carolina to be the difference maker.

The Tar Heels cover the spread, and win the game outright on the road.

North Dakota State Bison +9 over Colorado Buffaloes

Now, this would be a game in Week 1 that would rock the College Football world.

Tons of talk about Deion Sanders Colorado team.

But, North Dakota State is a tough week 1 opponent.

The Bison can play, and will not back down to the Buffaloes.

The speed may side with Colorado, but the skill and strength may change that.

In the end, Colorado avoids disaster and wins the game, but North Dakota State is going to cover the spread in this game.

That is our fourth pick in the parlay.

West Virginia Mountaineers +10 over Penn State Nittany Lions

James Franklin and his Nittany Lions are reading all the hype about being a College Football Playoff team.

The season could start on a sour note real quick.

The Mountaineers are not going to be a tough team to dispatch.

West Virginia, if they can take care of the football, will be able to play every step with the Nittany Lions.

While Penn State likely finds a way to win on the road, Morgantown proves to be awfully tough in Week 1.

Take the Mountaineers to cover the spread.

College Football 5 Team Parlay SU Picks:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Nevada Wolf Pack
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Dakota State Bison
West Virginia Mountaineers | College Football Parlay Bets Today Baseball Betting Lines for the Sesaon

There you have it. Those are our NCAAF Week 1 Parlay Picks.

We want to wish you the best of luck with all your College Football betting.

Enjoy the games!

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The official opening week of the college football season is here, and while it is always tough to put together winning tickets in the early going, we are definitely going to give it a shot. We are putting together a trio of parlay tickets that you can mix and match, add to your own selections, or totally ignore. The choice is yours, with the hope being that we can all walk away from the opening weekend with a few extra bucks in our pockets. There will definitely be some risk taking with our picks, so keep that in mind, plus the fact that some of these games come earlier in the week as opposed to Saturday. Enough talking, let’s get to the parlay tickets for Week 1 of the college football season.

College Football Odds: Parlay Picks Week 1 | MyBookie 2023 College Football Betting

Regular Season: August 26 to December 9

Utah, UNC, LSU

NCAA Football Parlay Picks: SU Parlay – Utah, UNC, LSU

We are focusing on some of the bigger games on the Week 1 schedule to put together our SU parlay ticket. We get the ball rolling on Thursday with a rematch of last season’s Week 1 game between Utah and Florida. It was the Gators who won a close one last year, but I like the Utes to exact revenge on Thursday.

It’s North Versus South this weekend, with a pair of teams from the Carolinas going head-to-head. The Tar Heels will be looking to get off to a similar start to last season, while the South Carolina Gamecocks will be looking to build on a very decent year. I am leaning towards UNC in this one.

The biggest game on the Week 1 schedule comes on Sunday night in primetime, with LSU and Florida State squaring off. Both teams have playoff hopes heading into the new season, but a loss here could make that tough, I am on LSU to win a close one.

Bet Utah, UNC, LSU to Win
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TCU, Tennessee, North Texas

NCAA Football Parlay Picks: ATS Parlay – TCU (-20 ½), Tennessee (-28), North Texas (+6 ½)

Our first look at the Colorado Buffaloes, led by Deion Sanders, will come this weekend, but they have a tough start against a TCU team that went to the Natty last season. The Horned Frogs have covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 at home and should do the same here.

Big spreads always make me a little nervous, but that is very much par for the course in Week 1 when you have powerhouse schools going against lesser light. The Cavaliers.

I always like to try and find some potential upsets in the mix, and I think we might have one with Cal heading to North Texas to face the Mean Green. The spread here seems a little too high to me, with the potential for an underdog win very much on high.

Bet TCU, Tennessee, North Texas to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

SMU, Washington, USC

NCAA Football Parlay Picks: O/U Parlay – SMU (U66), Washington (O58 ½), USC (O66)

While I certainly think we will see a lot of offense in the matchup between SMU and Louisiana Tech, I think the posted number is just a touch on the high side of things. In their last 9 September games, the UNDER has hit 6 times for SMU.

This one certainly feels like a bit of a risk when you consider that a lot of the trends for Boise State and Washington point to the UNDER. That said, the Huskies trend towards the over in September games, so let’s take that risk.

We have already seen the Trojans play a game this season, as they beat San Jose State by a score of 56-28 in Week 1. I have to believe that they will cross the 50-point mark again this week, so let’s ride with the OVER.

Bet SMU, Washington, USC to Win
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The first few games of the 2022 college football season are in the books, but this weekend represents the first full week of action. The good news is that you don’t need to wait until Saturday for the games to commence, as there are some pretty good matchups set to go on Thursday and Friday. With so many games on tap, it’s always tough to narrow it down to a few games, especially at the start of the season when there really isn’t much to go on. That said, we are still going to take a shot and put together a trio of parlay picks. Let’s get right to it so you can make your bets against the NCAA Football Betting Lines.

NCAAF Week 1 Parlay Betting Picks | 2022 College Football Analysis

Week 1 SU Parlay – Georgia, Utah, Ohio State

What better way to start the season than by adding the defending National Champions to our parlay ticket. The Georgia Bulldogs will open against the Oregon Ducks in Atlanta in what is essentially a home game. I like them to get off to a winning start.

The Utah Utes are coming off a big season that saw them go all the way to the Big Ten Conference Championship Game. They will be looking to go one better this season, and while a trip to Florida to face the Gators is never easy, I like Utah to get the win.

One of the best games of the weekend sees the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hit the road to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. A lot of pundits have the Buckeyes going to the Championship Game this season, and while I am still on the fence with that, I think they win here.

Week 1 ATS Parlay – Oklahoma State (-20 ½), Virginia Tech (-8 ½), Michigan (-27)

Not only do the Oklahoma State Cowboys tend to put up big numbers, they also make a habit of covering the spread. They are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 overall and should have a relatively easy time of things against Central Michigan this weekend.

I am taking a little bit of a chance with the next one, mostly because Virginia Tech has not been a great ATS bet in road games, going just 3-9 in their last 12. That said, I think 8 ½ is a decent number against Old Dominion.

While 2021 was a very good year for the Michigan Wolverines, they are probably still feeling as though they came up short. I think this team might have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, so I like them to steamroll Colorado State in Week 1.

Week 1 O/U Parlay – Tennessee (U68), Penn State (U54 ½), NC State (O55)

The Tennessee Volunteers are a massive favorite heading into their opening game against Ball State. I think we are looking at a scenario where the Vols open a big lead and start putting some bench guys in. That might mean less scoring in the 2^nd half, hence the UNDER.

While it doesn’t always work out as planned, it certainly makes wagering a little easier when the trends seem to align. Penn Statesaw 6 of their last 7 games overall go UNDER, while Purdue’s last 4 games in the month of September went the same way.

If you are looking for a game with the potential for a ton of offense, look no further than the NC State and East Carolina matchup. Both teams always seem to end up in high-scoring games, which leads me to the OVER.

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It’s hard to believe, but the college football season kicks off in just a few days. Bettors are clamoring for some college football action. Parlays can earn you some big bucks, and we’re here to take a look at a few College Football Betting options that you can put into a parlay to earn yourself some money in Week 1.

College Football Week 1 Parlay Betting Selections to Wager On

Utah Utes -2.5

The Utah Utes will have a tough one in Week 1 as they head to “The Swamp” to take on the Florida Gators. Florida was the early favorite, but now the Utes are favored by 2.5 points. Utah has been one of the country’s best unknown programs over the past few years. Utah returns a good portion of last season’s team, including starting quarterback Cam Rising.

Florida is in rebuilding mode under new head coach Billy Napier. Dan Mullen left this program a mess, and Napier is going to have a hard time fixing things quickly. While Florida has done a good job of recruiting, the Gator program still has a ways to go.

While many experts are telling you to take the Utah moneyline, we like the Utes so much that we think they’ll cover and win by at least a touchdown. Either way, you should be safe taking Utah over Florida.

LSU Tigers -3

Brian Kelly will be making his debut as the LSU head coach as the Tigers will play the Florida State Seminoles in New Orleans. Kelly has done a good job of coming in and revamping the LSU program. He has done a good job of recruiting, and has brought some order back to the LSU program.

Florida State has had its fair share of issues. Mike Norvell is now in year 3, and if he doesn’t get something done this season, people will be calling for his job. The Seminoles got off to a poor start last season, but came on strong late in the season.

As for this game, we see a few factors that favor LSU. First off, we’d rather take the SEC school. They have recruiting advantages, and they always seem to have better talent. We also think that Brian Kelly is a better coach than Norvell, and he’ll have his team prepared.

We think LSU wins the game and covers the spread.

Ohio State vs Notre Dame Under 58.5

This one is risky, but hear us out. We know that Ohio State can score points in bunches. Over the past few seasons, scoring wasn’t the issue for Ohio State, it was stopping the other team from scoring. This season, the Buckeyes have brought in Jim Knowles, the former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator, to right the ship.

We think Ohio State will score against Notre Dame. We also think that Notre Dame won’t score much against a talented and athletic OSU defense. With all of that being said, we think Ohio State wins the game 40-14, thus staying under the 58.5. This could be a risky bet, but Notre Dame isn’t exactly a slouch on defense.

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The college football season is finally here, and what a game to kick things off. The Big Ten Conference is sending Nebraska and Northwestern to play a league game in Ireland, slated for 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, to open the season. This will be the first game of several from the opening week that will add for a parlay. Let’s jump right into action so you can get all set to place your bets against the NCAA Football Lines.

2022 NCAAF Week 1 Parlay Betting Options to Wager On

Nebraska at Northwestern

Nebraska coach Scott Frost is at risk of getting fired without a remarkable improvement. His Cornhuskers were 3-9 last year and dubbed “the best three-win team in college football history” because they lost eight of those games by eight points or less. They brought in several key transfers and recruits to try and turn things around.

They open against a Northwestern team that was one of the worst major conference teams last season. The Wildcats also finished 3-9 but were blown out in most games, and two of their three wins were against lower-level competition.

A lofty line favors Nebraska by 13 points, which is probably fair on American soil. But one doesn’t know how a team will react overseas, as is the case with the NFL and some notable upsets over time.

Pick: Northwestern +13

Wyoming at Illinois, 4 p.m. ET

Wyoming is a far cry from when Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen played there. A season ago, they won four straight before finishing 7-6, including 2-6 in Mountain West play. Their passing efficiency was 73 spots lower than their run game, but at least they have a new quarterback. Returning only five starters is going to be difficult.

Illinois wasn’t much better, finishing 5-7 but rallied late under first-year coach Bret Bielema, going 4-5 in Big Ten play. They had the 122nd worst passing efficiency, though, and now have a new starting quarterback in Tommy DeVito. They do return 11 starters and expect to be better in Bielema’s second season.

The Fighting Illini are favored by 10 points and have solid skill position players returning and a key defensive end in Keith Randolph Jr.

Pick: Illinois -10

Charlotte at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m. ET

Moving right along, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic meet in a Conference-USA contest. Both teams were toward the bottom of the East standings, and now, without divisions, this is a pivotal early game. Both are projected to finish near the middle of the C-USA standings. Charlotte’s recruiting class was slightly better, so they should have more depth coming in.

The 49ers had the 48th best passing attack in the country last season and return their QB, RB, top two receivers, and four offensive linemen. The issue was their defense rated 114th and allowed 73 plays of 20 or more yards to rank 129th.

Florida Atlantic was 17th last season in averaging 5.04 points per quality offensive possession. They return former Miami QB N’Kosi Perry, two receivers, and four offensive linemen. Defensively there are only five returning starters for Willie Taggart’s squad.

Florida Atlantic is favored by a touchdown, but the energy is moving in the positive direction for an upstart Charlotte program.

Pick: Charlotte +7

Vanderbilt at Hawaii, 10:30 p.m. ET

Wrap up the day with a little late-night football. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea made headlines at SEC media days when he said his program will be the best in the SEC one day. Well, they weren’t very good in his first year, finishing 2-10 and losing its final seven games.

The Commodores have a veteran defensive unit with nine projected starters who are seniors. Offensively though, they have a long way to go and still don’t have the best weapons to improve quickly.

At least they are 6.5 point road favorites at one of the best vacation spots in the world in Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors were 6-7 last season but only return one defensive starter, three offensive linemen, and a tight end. A mass exodus occurred after Todd Graham ran everyone off. A former Hawaii star QB in Timmy Chang seems underqualified but is entering his first year with the cupboard bare.

Pick: Vanderbilt -6.5

We’re happy to have college football back, and while the slate of games will be better a week from now, this will suffice. Good luck and enjoy the return of a great level of football.

The Parlay: Northwestern +13, Illinois -10, Charlotte +7, Vanderbilt -6.5

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It was certainly nice to have college football back last weekend, but the reality is that this weekend is the one we have all been waiting for. Sept 4 is the official Week 1 of the NCAAF season, and we couldn’t be any more ready for it if we tried. There is a full slate of games set to go, which means countless betting opportunities at your disposal. Making picks in the opening weeks of the season is tough, especially in college football, where rosters change dramatically from season to season. Still, we are going to take a shot and list some parlay picks that we will do by SU, ATS, and O/U. You can mix things up, pick a couple of our selections, or ignore them altogether and go with your own. Either way, let’s get to it so you can get ready to wager against the NCAAF odds.

2021 Parlay Picks for Week 1 | College Football Betting

NCAAF Week 1 SU Picks – Penn State, Texas, Georgia

One of the better earlier games this Saturday sees the Penn State Nittany Lions hit the road to face the Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten showdown. I am taking a bit of a chance with this one, as Penn State are in as a 4 ½ point underdog. They have, though, won 7 of their last 10 versus Wisconsin, including 6 of the last 7. Let’s start the season with the slight upset.

A lot of the news this offseason had to do with Oklahoma and Texas planning to jump ship and head to the SEC. That’s still a few years away, so for now, it’s about setting the tone early in the Big 12. Texas will start at home with what looks to be a tricky game against the ULL Ragin Cajuns, but it’s one that I like them to win.

There is no doubt about it, the best game on the schedule in the opening weekend will see the Clemson Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs go head-to-head. This should be a close one, but I think the Bulldogs, who are in as the underdog, have the edge in that they had less holes to fill this offseason. I think they win a close one.

NCAAF Week 1 ATS Picks – Alabama (-19), Iowa (-3 ½), USC (-14)

Every year, we all talk about the players that Alabama lost to the NFL Draft and how they have so many holes to fill. Every year, they simply load up and go again. The Crimson Tide have a tough one in the opening week, and while it may take them a minute to get going, I think they pull away and cover.

I almost went with the O/U with the game between Indiana and Iowa, but the spread ended up calling to me. Iowa is in as a 3 ½ point favorite, which looks particularly appealing when you consider that they have covered in each of their last 7 games against conference foes.

I’m closing out this parlay with one that I am a little on the fence with. The USC Trojans have not been a great ATS performer of late, especially in the month of September, but I feel that they have more than enough to cover against San Jose State on Saturday.

NCAAF Week 1 O/U Picks – Oklahoma (U69), Michigan (U68), Marshall (O48)

We are all expecting the Oklahoma Sooners to be offensively great again this season, but that also means that the point total might often be inflated. I think that is what we are seeing in Week 1 versus Tulane. Blowout win for the Sooners, but UNDER the point total.

This feels like a bit of a make-or-break season for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines, and while they might want to try and put on a show in Week 1 versus Western Michigan, I’m not so sure we see the total reached in this one. I’m playing the UNDER.

We close out this week’s parlay picks with a game that looks set to go OVER the 48-point total. For Marshall, the OVER has hit in 8 of their last 11 road games. Each of the last 5 games that Navy has played in the month of September have gone OVER.

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If you’re looking to string some wagers together as part of a value-packed parlay that could potentially increase your winnings exponentially on the first week of college football action, then look no further collegiate gridiron gaming faithful!

I’ve got a trio of NCAA Football Week 1 betting picks that fits the bill perfectly just for you.

NCAA Football Week 1 Parlay Picks

Texas at Maryland

When:September 1, 2018 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: FedExField

Maryland is coming off a dismal 4-8 campaign in 2017 and they’ve got some very serious drama surrounding suspended head coach D.J. Durkin, which is why I’m going to advise you to back Texas to cover the chalk as a double-digit road favorite in this regular season opener.

The Terps return all five starters on their offensive line, but they also have question marks on both sides of the ball. Yes, Maryland has a handful of talented players like defensive end Jesse Aniebonam and linebacker in Jermaine Carter Jr., but Texas is heading into Year 2 of the Tom Herman era and I believe they’re going to improve on their 7-6 mark from a year ago.

The Longhorns were pathetic at rushing the ball last season as they finished 110th nationally, but I think dual-threat sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger could turn out to be an absolute revelation this season after Herman switched quarterbacks like a woman changes shoes last season.

Maryland smacked Texas senseless last season and I believe the Longhorns are out for revenge against what is surely a depressed Maryland squad. Texas is 5-1 ATS in their last six road games while Maryland has gone 2-6 ATS and 1-7 SU in their last eight games overall.

Texas wins going away everyone!

Latest NCAA Football Week 1 Betting Trends

NCAA Football Week 1 Parlay Pick: Texas 31 Maryland 14

Washington State at Wyoming

When: September 1, 2018 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: War Memorial Stadium-WY

NCAA Football Week 1 Odds: Washington State -1 / Total: 45

Washington State went 9-4 a year ago while Wyoming recorded a respectable 8-4 mark in 2017. the Cougars lost record-setting quarterback Luke Falk to the NFL Draft, but Wyoming also saw their starter, Josh Allen leave for the NFL. Having said all of this, Washington State is the easy pick for me in this contest for several reasons. First and foremost, the Cougars have more overall talent and play better competition in the Pac-12 that Wyoming does in the Mountain West.

Washington State also has one of the best offensive minds in all of college football in head coach Mike Leach and they’ve got some new blood this season with a new offensive line coach and defensive coordinator.

Wyoming needs to identify its starting quarterback and the Cowboys have some big question marks at cornerback. Although they do have a pair of all-Mountain West performers in senior end Carl Granderson and junior tackle Youhanna Ghaifan.

In the end though, this game will be decided by overall talent and that edge goes to Washington State in a big way. The Cougars have a really nice line as a 1-point road favorite and this is a game they know they should win and will – as they look to nab as many victories before Pac-12 play begins.

I know Wyoming is 5-1 ATS in its last six home games and that Washington State is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games, but with this spread being a virtual Pick ‘Em, I like the Cougars to cover – by getting the outright road win.

Latest NCAA Football Week 1 Betting Trends

NCAA Football Week 1 Parlay Pick: Washington State 31 Wyoming 2

UNLV at USC

When: September 1, 2018 at 4:00 PM ET
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

NCAA Football Week 1 Odds: USC -26.5 / Total: 63.5

UNLV went an uninspiring 5-7 last season while USC went 11-3. Nevertheless, the Runnin’ rebels are my pick to cover the chalk as nearly four-touchdown road dogs when they visit Los Angeles for their Week 1 regular season opener.

USC needs to replace star quarterback Sam Darnold and that could be easier said than done, particularly seeing as how head coach Clay Helton is going with a true freshman in J.T. Daniels, just the second true freshman to start at quarterback for USC since Matt Barkley did so in 2009.

I know UNLV has had just two winning seasons since 1995, but the Runnin’ Rebels have a talented quarterback in Armani Rogers who won Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors last season despite missing two games with a concussion. As a matter of fact, Rogers is so gifted that he was one of only five players in the nation to average at least 140 yards passing and 75 yards rushing per game last season, along with 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, USF’s Quinton Flowers, Nick Fitzgerald of Mississippi State and Arizona’s Khalil Tate.

The Rebels also have an excellent rushing attack that finished 18th in the nation in 2017 and should once again be very good thanks mostly to the return of underrated senior Lexington Thomas who rushed for 1,336 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

While I’m certainly not picking UNLV for the upset win, I also don’t think they’re going to come close to losing this game by the whopping 26.5 points they’re getting.

UNLV is a near-perfect 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games while USC has gone 1-5 ATS in their last six home dates. The Runnin’ Rebels cover the chalk with room to spare!

Latest NCAA Football Week 1 Betting Trends

NCAA Football Week 1 Parlay Pick: USC 35 UNLV 24

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UCLA coach Jim Mora is very much on the hot seat this season and his paranoia seems to be at an all- time high. Last week, Mora canceled a practice, reportedly because of concerns about privacy over a building that overlooks the team’s practice fields. The Bruins open vs. Texas A&M and obviously Mora was worried the Aggies were spying. Here’s a look at two College Football Week 1 games I would parlay together, along with the updated NCAAF odds and lines for these Week 1 matchups.

Winning Parlay Picks for College Football Week 1

Kent State at No. 5 Clemson

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, Noon ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
TV: ESPN
Radio: IMG Sports Betwork (Kent State) / WCCP-FM 105.5 (Clemson)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: Clemson -40

Flashes Without Coach

As if Kent State wasn’t facing a tough enough challenge in this game, it will be without head coach Paul Haynes, who is taking a medical leave of absence from his job that likely will last 2-3 weeks. With Haynes sidelined, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, who was Miami of Ohio’s head coach from 2011-2013, will serve as interim head coach.

Treadwell also served as Michigan State’s interim head coach during Mark Dantonio's health-related absence in the 2010 season. Haynes is entering his fifth season with the Golden Flashes. In the previous four years, they’ve gone 12-35 overall and 8-23 in MAC play. Kent State hosts Howard on Sept. 9 before making trips to Marshall and Louisville.

Offensively, senior wide receiver Kris White is back after suffering a season-ending leg injury in last year’s opener, while Kent State is also expecting junior college transfer wideout Donte Ross to make an instant impact. Tailback Justin Rankin rushed for 511 yards as a freshman despite battling through some injuries, and he also led the team in catches (28) and receiving yards (335). Defensively, six of the top seven tacklers from last season have moved on, but eight players who started the final game of 2016 return.

Bryant Takes Over

Clemson has to replace the best player in school history in QB Deshaun Watson. The Week 1 starter will be Watson’s backup the past two seasons, Kelly Bryant. The only quarterback on the roster with any appreciable experience, Bryant emerged from spring as the Tigers’ top option and only enhanced his status with a solid August.

“All the grinding and late nights are paying off,” Bryant said. “It’s great to see the progress finally showing. I’ve been doing everything that’s been asked of me and I feel like I’ve been improving every day. I’m happy to be in the position I’m in right now.”

Bryant cemented his standing with a strong performance in the Tigers’ situational scrimmage in Memorial Stadium on Aug. 16. Bryant completed 9-of- 10 passes during one stretch, including a 77-yard touchdown to Cain in the face of intense defensive pressure.

Clemson starting defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins have both been named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team. Lawrence was the ACC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 when he had 78 tackles, fifth on the team. He had seven sacks, a Clemson true freshman record, and 9.5 total tackles for loss. Wilkins had 56 tackles from his defensive end position in 2016 and had 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 of which were sacks.

Florida International at UCF

When: Thursday, Aug. 31, 6 PM ET
Where: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando
TV: CBS Sports Network
Stream: CBSSports.com
Radio: FIU Sports Radio Network (Florida International) / 96.9 The Game (UCF)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: UCF -17

Welcome Back Butch!

It’s the Florida International coach debut of former Miami Hurricanes, North Carolina Tar Heels and Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis. At Miami, Davis went a remarkable 51-20 in six years, including 11-1 in his final season, just missing out playing for a national title.

Davis recruited or coached numerous stars at Miami, including Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. The coach left Miami in such good shape that the Canes’ 2001 team won the national title under coach Larry Coker, who used mostly players recruited by Davis. Davis left Miami for the Browns, where his 2002 team went 9-7. The 2002 team was also the last Browns team to reach the playoffs. In four years at North Carolina, Davis turned things around from 4-8 his first season to 8-5 in his final three campaigns. But there were some NCAA issues at UNC and Davis was fired.

Knights On The Rise

In his first stint as a head coach, Scott Frost took over a winless UCF team from 2015 and turned it into a 6-7 squad that earned a bowl berth in 2016. Only eight teams in the history of NCAA FBS football have gone from winless to a bowl game in one season.

QB McKenzie Milton’s grasp of the offense last season was never a question. He finished the season by passing for 1,983 and 10 touchdowns while leading the UCF to a 4-6 mark in his 10 starts. But a combination of injuries and a lack of depth on the offensive line eventually caught up with the young signal caller, who struggled to get the offense moving during the final three games.

Shaquem Griffin returns as the reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after ranking in the Top 15 in the nation in both sacks and tackles-for- loss. Griffin was named a Preseason All-American.

UCF has won nine of its last 11 season openers, dating back to 2006. The Knights’ only losses during that stretch were in 2014 and 2015. In home openers, UCF has won eight of its last nine, with the only defeat during that stretch coming in 2015 when the Knights fell to FIU 15-14.

Expert College Football Week 1 Parlay Picks

Obviously Clemson is going to beat Kent State, but take all those points as the Tigers will take their foot off the gas. Give the 17, however, to Florida International.

Previous Betting News

If you’re a college football gridiron gaming enthusiast that is looking to get an early jump on your 2016 betting campaign, then you’re in luck! Thanks to this expert betting breakdown on my top two parlay picks for Week 1, you’re going to have a great opportunity to get your 2016 college football betting campaign off to a positive start.

Let’s Take a Look at the Top College Football Week 1 Parlay Picks

Kansas State at Stanford

When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, September 2, 2016
Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California
NCAAF Odds: Stanford -16

Analysis: Kansas State (6-7 SU, 6-7 ATS), was decimated with injuries in 2015, but the Wildcats ranked a respectable 58th in scoring a year ago (29.9 ppg) and have one of the best coaches in all of college football in the legendary Bill Snyder. The Stanford Cardinal (12-2 SU, 10-4 ATS) have the best all-around player in the nation, are playing at home, but I think they’re going to narrowly fail to cover the spread because of the loss of longtime quarterback Kevin Hogan.

The K-State Wildcats may be 1-4 ATS in their last five games against Pac-12 teams and an identical 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games, but the last time Stanford was a 16-point favorite, they failed to cover the college football betting line and I believe they will do so again in their 2016 regular season opener.

I know the Cardinals are a robust 38-18 ATS in their last 56 home games and bankroll- boosting 49-24- 1 ATS in their last 74 games overall, but I believe that K-State’s Bill Snyder will lead his team to the ATS cover against a Stanford team that will have a new starting quarterback this coming season.

My Pick: Stanford 31 Kansas State 21

BYU at Arizona

When: Saturday, September 3 at 10:30 PM ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
TV: FS1
NCAAF Odds: Arizona -1.5

Analysis: The BYU Cougars (9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS) will have new head coach for the first time after 11 years under beloved former head coach Bronco Mendenhall. New head coach Kalani Sitake takes over at his alma mater and he has seven returning starters from an offense that ranked 40th in scoring nationally (33.6 ppg), including two gifted quarterbacks in Tanner Magnum and recently named starter Taysom Hill.

The Arizona Wildcats (7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS) are playing at home and have plenty of talent, not to mention some season-opening desperation after winning just seven games last season!

The Wildcats return seven starters on offense, but need two players, who starred in 2014 to get back to their former success after struggling mightily last season in quarterback Anu Solomon and running back Nick Wilson. Still, the Cats can score with the best teams in the game today as they finished 20th nationally in scoring (37.3 ppg). Solomon was sidelined twice with concussions last season and dropped from 3,793 passing yards as a freshman in 2014 to 2,667 yards last season. Wilson rushed for a stellar 1,375 yards as a freshman in 2014, but rushed for just 729 yards as a sophomore last season.

Arizona failed to cover the college football betting line in each of its final two games a year ago and I believe they’ll do so again by losing to BYU outright in a high-scoring affair in this Week 1 showdown.

The Cougars went 3-2 ATS as an underdog last season while Arizona was just 3-3 ATS at home and an uninspiring 2-4 ATS in its last six games a year ago.

I like BYU to get the road win and ATS cover!

My Pick: BYU 35 Arizona 31

Previous Betting News

Four weeks from yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 4, the college football season kicks off. Yes, there is one game in Australia on Aug. 27, but in reality the season begins on Thursday, Sept. 1 around the country. Here are two games I feel comfortable in picking the side and thus parlaying on college football odds to increase your winnings.

Taking a Closer Look at the College Football Week 1 Expert Parlay Picks

Ball State at Georgia State (-3.5 on NCAA football odds)

This game is Friday, Sept. 2 from the Georgia Dome. Georgia State is a pretty new FBS program that finished 6-7 last year, losing to San Jose State in the AutoNation Cure Bowl. The Panthers won at Ball State, a Mid-American Conference program, 31-19 during the regular season. Nick Arbuckle threw for 412 yards and a touchdown, and ran for two more. Arbuckle was 28-of- 38 passing, and Robert Davis had nine catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia State returns nine starters on defense and seven on offense. The players say the goal is to challenge for the Sun Belt Conference title. The coaching staff that led the team to that first-ever bowl game returns mostly intact. However, the starting QB, Arbuckle, is gone. He passed for more than 7,500 yards the past two seasons. Battling to replace him are redshirt junior Conner Manning, redshirt sophomore Emiere Scaife and redshirt freshman Aaron Winchester. None have started a college game, and Manning and Scaife have combined for just a few snaps.

Ball State has a new coach this year. A disappointing 3-9 showing was followed by the unexpected departure of former head coach Pete Lembo. Mike Neu returns to his alma mater. Neu spent the last 12 years in New Orleans and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Saints as a scout in 2009. Quarterback Riley Neal, who threw for 2,276 yards, rushed for 399 yards and accounted for 18 TDs, returns.

Go Georgia State here. It’s a program on the rise.

Colorado State vs. Colorado (-8.5 in online NCAA betting)

This game is Friday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. ET in Denver so it’s technically a neutral-site game. The Buffs could be a Pac-12 surprise this season. But is QB Sefo Liufau healthy and ready for Week 1? The Pac-12’s most experienced signal-caller is back for his final year after ending the 2015 season early following a Lisfranc injury. He has been off crutches since January and claims he’s healthy now. Liufau’s top receiver will be Shay Fields, who has 92 career receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.

The defense, under new coordinator Jim Leavitt, is led by cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Between corner and nickel, he was on the field for 897 snaps and posted 90 tackles (78 solo) last year. The Colorado coaches are creative with the way they use him. He led the team with 13 tackles for a loss and also posted four sacks to go with a pair of interceptions.

The Mike Bobo era at Colorado State got off to a solid start last year with a 7-6 season and third consecutive bowl game. Record-breaking receiver Rashard Higgins skipped his senior season to jump to the NFL, however, and all-conference tight end Kivon Cartwright graduated. QB Nick Stevens, who threw for 2,679 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago, does return.

Colorado beat Colorado State 27-24 in overtime last year. Tedric Thompson blocked Wyatt Bryan’s 27-yard field goal attempt in overtime and Diego Gonzalez atoned for a miss at the end of regulation by hitting a 32-yarder. Gonzalez had shanked a 48-yarder as time expired. Liufau threw for 220 yards and two TDs for Colorado, a 65-yarder to Fields and a 24-yarder to Devin Ross. For CSU, Higgins caught eight passes for 125 yards and a 25-yard TD from Stevens, who threw for 282 yards but was intercepted twice.

Take Colorado on NCAA odds here.

Previous Betting News

The offseason college football changes across the nation have been scrutinized, critiqued and exhaustively dissected, so all that remains is for us to pick our winners and enjoy the games in the soon-to-start 2016 NCAA Football season. Below we interest you with a set of parlay NCAAF picks for the 2016 college football week 1 lines and odds. Feel free to pick on a two-team, three-team, or four-team parlay, depending on the online sportsbooks combination that appeal to you most.

2016-17 College Football Week 1 Parlay Picks

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Stanford Cardinal, Sept. 2nd

Pick: Kansas State (+16)

2015 Heisman Trophy runner up Christian McCaffrey and the Cardinal are expected to show their credentials as the defending Pac-12 champs right out of the gate in this season-opener against a tough opponent in Kansas State Wildcats. Bill Snyder is a veteran figure when it comes to studying opponents and planning for them thoroughly, meaning you should expect his talented-enough Wildcats to go all out and cause all kinds of headaches to McCaffrey and company. That being said, the Cardinal are well aware of how their 2015 season-opening loss against Northwestern ruined a potential qualification for last season’s college football playoffs, and that should motivate fifth-year coach David Shaw and his boys to put on a solid show here. It, however, doesn’t look likely that Snyder’s team will allow itself to get beaten by 16-plus points. So while the win should go to Stanford, we believe that there is sufficient talent in quarterbacks Jesse Ertz and Alex Delton to help K-State avoid a three-touchdown loss to Stanford, especially if the team can find a way of limiting McCaffrey’s touches.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. USC Trojans, Sept. 3rd

Pick: Alabama (-10)

Nick Saban knows the value of winning the first game of the season, especially in regards to giving his new recruitees the confidence of performing well for the rest of the season, so you can be rest-assured that he will do anything and everything to ensure that the Crimson Tide win this game. Having former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin on the opposing touchline will make life difficult for Saban and his Tide, but with Bama entering the new season retooled and absolutely loaded on both sides of the football, we strongly expect the defending national champs to show their class and pay bettors on both the SU and ATS lines.

Clemson Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers, Sept. 3rd

Pick: Clemson (-8)

Clemson is the No.1-ranked team in many preseason polls and quarterback Deshaun Watson is a heavy preseason Heisman Trophy betting favorite in many sportsbooks, and after seeing how the Tigers and Watson performed last season, you’d easily agree that both preseason ratings are spot-on and well-founded. Playing in a packed and daunting Jordan-Hare Stadium against a home-friendly Auburn crowd won’t be easy for the visiting Clemson team, particularly with Auburn having made some solid offseason adjustments to their disappointing squad from 2015. Nevertheless, Watson is pretty much the college football version of NFL’s Cam Newton, a player who is able to read the game excellently and adjust himself accordingly—allowing him to tear you apart aerially or run you down on the ground. Stopping Watson and Clemson will thus be a near-impossible task for Auburn. With that in mind, Clemson should get the win plus the very cheap 8-plus points in the ATS lines.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns, Sept. 4th

Pick: Notre Dame (-4.5)

Last season, the Fighting Irish embarrassed Texas to the tune of 38-3 in a season-opening clash for both teams. The Longhorns were a disarrayed team at that time and we expect them to be a much better unit in 2016, thanks to several offseason upgrades in the team’s roster and changes in the front office. You would, however, be a fool to believe that the Longhorns will win this game, as Notre Dame returns with two solid Heisman-worthy candidates in quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire, and an experienced defense that proved itself against the best of the best in the FBS last season. Therefore, irrespective of who starts at QB for ND, or however long the Longhorns will dig their horns into this game, the Fighting Irish should be able to get the job here done handily, probably by at least a touchdown.

Previous Betting News

As of Thursday, there are just 57 days until the 2016 college football season kicks off in Australia between California and Hawaii. The true action doesn’t get started in the United States until the following week, Sept. 1. Here are three games that I’d parlay the favorites together for a sweet payoff on college football lines.

Taking a Look at the Sure College Football Parlay Picks for Week 1

Tulane at Wake Forest (-16)

Tulane might be one of the five-worst programs in Division I right now. This will be the Tulane head coaching debut of Willie Fritz. Fritz completed his second season with Georgia Southern in 2015, going 17-7 over two years, including a Sun Belt Conference title in 2014. Georgia Southern has led the country in rushing each of the past two seasons. Fritz led Sam Houston State to back-to-back FCS national title games in 2011-12. Tulane hired Fritz to replace Curtis Johnson, who was let go after four seasons as the Green Wave’s coach. Tulane, which has longed for continued success for decades, has only seen one winning season since 2002. Wake has just 10 wins over the past three years but does look a bit on the rise. Any shot coach Dave Clawson had to turn Wake Forest around in his first two seasons slipped through the cracks in his offensive line. Over that time, the line has managed to top only one other FBS program in sacks allowed (SMU) and rushing yards (Washington State). But now the five returning starters have 70 combined starts.

Rice at Western Kentucky (-14.5)

These teams played last October and WKU rolled to a 49-10 win. Brandon Doughty threw for 409 yards and four first-half touchdowns. D’Andre Ferby added two touchdown runs for the Hilltoppers, who piled up 504 yards. Western Kentucky turned five Rice turnovers into touchdowns. While WKU has to replace the record-setting Doughty, it brings back top receiver Taywan Taylor. Taylor caught 86 passes for 1,467 yards last year, tops in Conference USA and third in the FBS. His 17 TD catches was second nationally. WKU was able to keep highly respected coach Jeff Brohm this offseason, giving him a nice extension. Brohm is 20-7 in two years at WKU after last fall’s 12-2 finish, which included a Conference USA championship, second straight bowl win and No. 24 ranking. He is the only Hilltoppers coach to win 20 games. He was rumored for some bigger jobs.

Army at Temple (-16.5)

Temple had one of the best seasons in school history last year in finishing 10-4. The Owls reached the Conference USA title game, losing 24-13 to No. 19 Houston. Temple then closed the season with a 32-17 loss to Toledo. The question mark for Temple is whether the loss of 26 seniors from a class that sparked the program’s recent turnaround under coach Matt Rhule will take its toll. All-America linebacker Tyler Matakevich is gone, as is offensive leader and center Kyle Friend. Army is a one-dimensional running team that probably should be playing FCS football. This game was moved from Sept. 3 to Sept. 2 so it could be nationally televised by the CBS Sports Network. Temple has won six straight in the series, last in 2013. Owls will roll again and cover the betting lines spread.

Previous Betting News

Why make low-chance guesses that could resemble throwing a dart blindfolded when you can get online college football expert picks that are virtually guaranteed to cash in? If you prefer to make the most out of your online sports betting bucks, then you’re in for a treat thanks to the handful of wise, Week 1 college football picks that you’re about to get. With that thought in mind, let’s get busy!

My NCAA Football Parlay Picks for Week 1

Kansas State Wildcats at Stanford Cardinal (-16)

Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 9:00 PM ET

Kansas State was pretty much decimated by injuries last season, but the Wildcats have an elite head coach in the beloved Bill Snyder and a ton of motivation after suffering their first losing season under Snyder since 2005. The defense returns All-American candidates in linebacker Elijah Lee and linemen Will Geary and Jordan Willis, but K-State has to find an answer at quarterback.

Stanford has claimed at least a share of the Pac-12 North title in four out of coach David Shaw’s five seasons and the Cardinal have arguably the best all-around player in the country in hybrid running back/wide receiver Christian McCaffrey. Still, Stanford returns just six starters on offense and has to replace four-year starter Kevin Hogan at quarterback and that fact leads me to believe the Wildcats will easily cover the spread despite being on the road.

Pick:
Stanford 31 Kansas State 24

Oklahoma Sooners at Houston Cougars (+9.5)

Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET

Oklahoma may be favored to win the Big 12 in 2016, but the Sooners aren’t going to win their Week 1 opener against a Houston Cougars team that has a gifted dual-threat signal-caller in Greg Ward Jr. and a plethora of skill position players.

The Sooners have a gifted quarterback in Baker Mayfield and a ton of elite talent, but they also lost a lot on both of their lines. You heard it here first…Houston covers the spread – by getting the outright win.

Pick:
Houston 35 Oklahoma 31

LSU Tigers at Wisconsin Badgers (+9.5)

Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET

LSU Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette will headline this intriguing Week 1 pairing, but I like the Badgers to bag the outright win in their home opener. Wisconsin won 10 games in Paul Chryst’s first season and they’ll have gifted running back Corey Clement back for his senior season in what could be a Heisman Trophy contending campaign. Wisconsin has won eight of their last 10 home games and suffered their only two home losses during that stretch by just six and four points respectively.

The Pick:
Wisconsin 28 LSU 24

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-3.5) at Texas Longhorns

Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 7:30 PM ET

The Fighting Irish have, not one, but two gifted quarterbacks in Deshone Kizer and Malik Zaire while Texas enters Year 3 of the Charlie Strong era still hoping to find a consistent signal-caller, among other pressing needs.

The Irish pounded the hell out of the Longhorns in their commanding 38-3 home win last season and are the easy college football futures odds pick to get the road win in this opener.

The Pick:
Notre Dame 31 Texas 24

Previous Betting News

The 2016-17 College Football Playoff this year begins on Dec. 31 with the semifinal games in the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The national title game is Jan. 9 in Tampa, Fla. Teams aren’t going to obviously make the College Football Playoff in Week 1, but they could potentially get knocked out. Here are a few games in Week 1 that I would parlay together on college football betting lines. None of these teams are playoff contenders.

Betting Analysis on the Top College Football Parlay Picks Week 1

Oregon State at Minnesota (-7.5)

This game on Sept. 1 will be shown on the Big Ten Network. Oregon State was a huge disappointment last year in finishing 2-10 overall and winless in the Pac-12. The Beavers won two of their first three but then not again. They were one of the worst offense teams in the country and one of the worst on defense. So at least OSU was consistent. With last year’s starter Seth Collins moving to wide receiver, the new starting quarterback should be Utah State transfer Darell Garretson. In the spring game, he completed 21 of 32 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. In 2014, Garretson he threw for 1,140 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in five games after Aggies starter Chuckie Keeton was sidelined with nagging knee problems. Garretson had to sit out last season. The Gophers finished last season at 6-7. New full-time head coach Tracy Cleays s let go offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Matt Limegrover and quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski. Jay Johnson was hired from Louisiana-Lafayette to run the offense and coach quarterbacks, while Bart Miller was tabbed to coach the line from Florida Atlantic. The Gophers lost defensive lineman Thieren Cockran and Scott Epke. They were two of the best in the conference and leave gaping holes in Minnesota’s front seven. Two starting cornerbacks also must be replaced. I like the Gophers here.

Indiana at Florida International (-4.5)

This game is Sept. 1 on ESPNU. It’s a rare Week 1 rematch from last season. The Hoosiers beat visiting FIU 36-22 on Sept. 12, 2015. After forcing two turnovers and producing two sacks, Jameel Cook Jr. took advantage of the pressure his teammates applied on FIU quarterback Alex McGough by picking off a fourth-and-goal pass and sprinting 96 yards to seal the win. Jordan Howard ran 27 times for 159 yards for Indiana — he’s now with the Chicago Bears. McGough was 21 of 37 for 249 yards with three TDs and one interception. Thomas Owens caught nine passes for 166 yards and two TDs — not enough to prevent the Panthers from falling to 0-9 all-time against Big Ten schools. FIU is coached by Ron Turner, who previously had coached another Big Ten team, Illinois. He’s gradually improved the FIU program from 1-11 in his first season to 5-7 last year. Indiana coach Kevin Wilson is on the hot seat and must replace a QB who set multiple school records (Nate Sudfeld), a halfback who ran for more than 1,200 yards (Howard) and a tackle who earned a prominent spot on NFL Draft boards (Jason Spriggs). The Hoosiers ended an eight-year bowl drought last season, but now comes a bigger challenge: earning back-to-back bowl trips for the first time in 25 seasons. Take Indiana on college football lines for an all-Big Ten parlay.