College Football Week 1 Straight Up Picks: Best Bets and College Football SU Lines

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College Football is underway! We had some interesting "Week 0" games take place, and now we are ready for the full gauntlet of games. Week 1 has arrived. We have some games we love and think you should bet on and some games we are afraid of and suggest you avoid.

Let’s start with five games we suggest you bet on, one for each day of College Football this weekend.

College Football Betting: What Games You Must Bet and Avoid in Week 1 | MyBookie Regular Season Betting Preview

2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season | 154th season of college football in the United States
NCAAF Week 1: August 26th – September 4th, 2023

Utah Utes vs. Florida Gators

NCAAF Odds: Florida Utah -6.5; Florida +6.5
Friday, September 1, 2023 at 7:30 PM | FOX
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

We love the Utes here. Experienced, well-coached, physical and tough. This game is played in Utah. The Florida Gators are a shell of the program they used to be. Starting Graham Mertz under center is not the answer for the Gators. Utah is going to roll to a win in this one.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Utah Utes -6.5 | Bet Utah vs. Florida
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Louisville Cardinals

NCAAF Odds: Georgia Tech +8; Louisville -8
Friday, September 1, 2023 at 7:30 PM | FOX
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

It’s an Atlantic Coast Conference game right out of the shoot. This game will be played in Atlanta, which gives the Yellow Jackets a little bit of a crowd advantage.

The Yellow Jackets hope to use their rushing tools to defeat the Cardinals. Look for this to be a competitive game, and it should come in under the touchdown + that the oddsmakers are placing it at.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +8 | Bet Georgia Tech vs. Louisville
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Colorado Buffaloes at TCU Horned Frogs

NCAAF Odds: Colorado +21.5; TCU -21.5
Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 12:00 PM | FOX
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

I’m not totally sold on Coach Prime and his Buffaloes. But the TCU Horned Frogs have lost some outstanding talent from a season ago.

There is no reason Colorado cannot come out with their athletes, albeit young and inexperienced, and compete with the Horned Frogs. Sure, it’s a tough road atmosphere, but it’s a game Colorado can compete in. Colorado covers.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Colorado Buffaloes +21.5 | Bet Colorado vs. TCU
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

San Jose Spartans vs. Oregon State Beavers

NCAAF Odds: San Jose +17; Oregon State -17
Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 8:00 PM | CBS
CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, CA

The Sunday game. San Jose State got smacked around a little by USC. But the Beavers are not the Trojans. San Jose State’s game experience will have a little advantage in this game.

Look for San Jose State to win the time-possession battle and keep this game close throughout. Do not be surprised if the Spartans pull the upset, but the +17 seems to be in pretty good shape here.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: San Jose Spartans +17 | Bet San Jose vs. Oregon State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Duke Blue Devils vs. Clemson Tigers

NCAAF Odds: Duke +12.5; Clemson -12.5
Monday, September 4, 2023 at 8:00 PM | ESPN
Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

The final game of the College Football weekend. Another Atlantic Coast Conference game. The Duke Blue Devils get to stay at home and welcome Dabo Swinney’s Tigers to town. Clemson still has too many question marks to be too confident about them.

Duke can score and will play enough defense. This could be a 10-point game, but I find it hard to believe the Blue Devils cannot keep it under two touchdowns. Taking Duke is the right answer here.

Now, let’s look at our four-pack of games to avoid betting on. One for each day, Thursday – Sunday.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Duke Blue Devils +12.5 | Bet Duke vs. Clemson
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

UConn Huskies vs. North Carolina State WolfPack

NCAAF Odds: UConn +15; NC State -15
Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 7:30 PM | FS1
Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, CT

The Wolf Pack are going to be solid this season. But they have to go on the road to a Huskies team that will be better than many think. Look for the Huskies to keep this game close and give North Carolina State a little bit of a scare to start the season.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: UConn Huskies +15 | Bet UConn vs. North Carolina State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Central Michigan Chippewas at Michigan State Spartans

NCAAF Odds: Central Michigan +14.5; Michigan State -14.5
Friday, September 1, 2023 at 10:30 PM | FS1
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

An inner state battle. The Chippewas, out of the MAC, have nothing to lose going to East Lansing. The Spartans are going to want to figure a few things out and could get off to a slow start.

Central Michigan is likely going to have a tough time pulling the outright upset, but keeping this under two scores can and should be done.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Central Michigan Chippewas +14.5 | Bet Central Michigan at Michigan State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at UCLA Bruins

NCAAF Odds: Coastal Carolina +14.5; UCLA -14.5
Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 10:30 PM | ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

The Bruins have to be on upset watch here. UCLA is going to have to figure out how they want to move the football this season effectively. Many are high on the Bruins still, but it will be a struggle from the start. Look for Coastal Carolina to keep this a competitive football game on Saturday.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers +14.5 | Bet Coastal Carolina at UCLA
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Florida State Seminoles vs. LSU Tigers

NCAAF Odds: Florida State +2.5; LSU -2.5
Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 7:30 PM | ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

Sunday should be fun. Two good teams are going toe to toe in Orlando. Both teams are going to be ready to go, and this seems too tough to call.

The Seminoles and Tigers can start the season with the best win of the season on their resume—good idea just to avoid this one and watch the excitement.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Florida State Seminoles +2.5 | Bet Florida State vs. LSU
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

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College Football Week 1 had its start last Saturday. This Saturday is when the action really picks up. Like every week in college football, there are against the spread and money line plays.

In this blog, we go over the top six money line plays in College Football Week 1.

Check out College Football lines, analysis, and free picks for six straight up picks in College Football Week 1.

2023 College Football Week 1 SU Picks | MyBookie Regular Season Betting Preview

2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season | 154th season of college football in the United States
NCAAF Week 1: August 26th – September 4th, 2023

Fresno State Bulldogs at Purdue Boilermakers

NCAAF Odds: Fresno State Bulldogs +151; Purdue Boilermakers -186
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 12:00 pm | BTN
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN

Hudson Card, the former Texas quarterback, transfers to Purdue and could have success. But Fresno State has their own quarterback transfer who could find big time success.

Mikey Keene heads to Fresno after playing at Central Florida as a freshman. Keene gets to play behind an offensive line that boasts 2 seniors and 3 juniors. 9 seniors start on Fresno State’s D. The Bulldogs get the SU victory.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: Fresno State +151 | Bet Fresno State at Purdue
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

California Golden Bears at North Texas Mean Green

NCAAF Odds: California Golden Bears -245; North Texas Mean Green +196
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 4:00 pm | ESPN
DATCU Stadium, Denton, TX

On paper, California wins easily. But along with Washington State, Stanford, and Oregon State, Cal has yet to find a home in 2024. The lack of clarity regarding next season will hang over the Golden Bears throughout this season.

North Texas has experience on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Stone Early returns and this happens in Texas. Mean Green all the way.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: North Texas +196 | Bet California at North Texas
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Washington State Cougars at Colorado State Rams

NCAAF Odds: Washington State Cougars -480; Colorado State Rams +350
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 7:00 pm | ESPN
Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO

Like Cal, the unknown will plague Washington State throughout this season. More than likely, the Cougars end up in the Mountain West, which means this could be a future rivalry game.

On paper, the Cougs win easily, but the Rams used the transfer portal to their advantage. Former Lane College offensive lineman Saveyon Henderson was a decent 2-star recruit out of high school who got looks from Power 5 programs.

If Saveyon has gotten better, the 6′ 5" and 305 lbs. left tackle will open massive holes for the Rams’ rushing attack. The diamond in the rough OT helps Colorado State pull off the upset win.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: Colorado State Rams | Bet Washington State at Colorado State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

21 North Carolina Tar Heels at South Carolina Gamecocks

NCAAF Odds: North Carolina Tar Heels -136; South Carolina Gamecocks +111
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 8:00 pm | ABC
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Heels versus Gamecocks is a huge matchup. Drake Maye, North Carolina‘s quarterback, is on the short list of Heisman Trophy candidates who can dethrone USC’s Caleb Williams.

Spencer Rattler, the former Oklahoma signal-caller, has found a home at South Carolina. The key in this will be how well each defense plays because we know the offenses will roll. SC offers decent enough odds to warrant a look, but Maye is a special player. UNC wins.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: North Carolina -136 | Bet North Carolina at South Carolina
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at UCLA Bruins

NCAAF Odds: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers +418; UCLA Bruins -598
Monday, September 4th, 2023 at 8:00 pm | ESPN
Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

UCLA coach Chip Kelly starts a freshman quarterback this season. Kelly hands the ball to Dante Moore. Moore has big shoes to fill after following Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Moore should be okay. But even if Moore lights up the scoreboard, we can’t endorse the Bruins at the money line odds. UCLA’s defense is horrendous.

Coastal quarterback Grayson McCall is a legit NFL prospect who plays behind a fantastic offensive line. Coastal Carolina can pull off the SU upset at massive odds.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: Costal Carolina +418 | Bet Coastal Carolina at UCLA
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

9 Clemson Tigers at Duke Blue Devils

NCAAF Odds: Clemson Tigers -500; Duke Blue Devils +370
Monday, September 4th, 2023 at 8:00 pm | ESPN
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard is one of the best in the nation. So although Clemson has a great defensive line, Leonard will find success.

Almost as important? Cade Klubnik could struggle throwing the ball versus a decent Duke defense. The Blue Devils are a solid underdog money line play.

College Football Week 1 SU Pick: Duke +370 | Bet Clemson at Duke
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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In terms of wagering, the opening week of the college football season can be more than a little tricky. There are absolutely some easy picks up for grabs, but the vast majority of those are at odds where you have to risk a lot to get a little in return. When looking for straight up picks, I tend to look at games that the bookies have listed as close, by which I mean that the spread is by a touchdown or less. Those are the types of games that we are going to focus on here, as we pick out a trio of matchups where I believe we will have a clear winner and loser. We already picked out some games in another article with sure winners, so let’s now look at a few teams that we believe will lose in Week 1 of the college football season.

College Football Odds: Week 1 Sure Losers | MyBookie Regular Season Football Betting Preview

Regular Season: August 26 to December 9
Week 1: Saturday, August 26 to Monday, September 4, 2023

Nebraska Cornhuskers

When: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 8:00pm ET
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
TV: FOX

We don’t always get conference matchups in Week 1 of the season, but that is exactly what we are getting here, with Nebraska going on the road to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It has been a nightmarish few seasons for Nebraska, who are now trying to rebuild and get back to being competitive again. This is a project that is going to take some time, though, and I don’t see things starting well on the road against a very tough opponent. The Golden Gophers are in as a 7-point favorite on Thursday night, which is a spread that I think they cover without too much difficulty, which is why I have Nebraska in as a sure loser in Week 1.

Bet Minnesota Golden Gophers to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

Stanford Cardinal

When: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00pm ET
Where: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
TV: CBSSN

Perhaps it’s because I am excited about the start of the season that the first couple of picks in this piece come prior to the full Saturday slate of games. The Stanford Cardinal will open their season on Friday night against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in what is sure to be an emotional home game after all that has happened in Hawaii of late. The Rainbow Warriors have already played this season, losing 35-28 to Vanderbilt in Week 0. Hawaii is always a decent bet in their own building, as they have covered in each of their last 5 home games. This looks like an ideal opportunity to get their first win of the season, which I believe they will do, albeit in a close one.

Bet Hawaii Rainbow Warriors to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

Fresno State Bulldogs

When: Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 12:00pm ET
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
TV: BTN

We are closing things out with one of the games from the Saturday schedule in what is probably going to be the riskiest bet of this bunch. The Fresno State Bulldogs will hit the road to face the Purdue Boilermakers in Week 1 and will do so as a 3 ½ point underdog. I think there is a pretty good chance that the Bulldogs could cover the spread here, which would certainly be the safer way to play this game, but I think it’s also worth taking the risk that the Boilermakers will find a way to win what will likely be a close one. The Boilermakers have won 10 of their last 14 Saturday games, so certainly a lot to like here.

Bet Purdue Boilermakers to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

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MyBookie Odds for the Games

Previous Betting News

It’s a great time of the year to be a football fan, as both college football and the NFL are returning. It’s also a great time for bettors, as there are now even more opportunities to win money. For the purposes of this piece, we are going to focus on the college games coming this week by looking at a few games where we really like the straight up win bet. Sure, it would be easy to simply play the bigger teams against the minnows, but there is no money to be made there, so we are going to look at games that are much more evenly matched, on paper at least. With that in mind, let’s see if we can find some winners picks in Week 1 of the college football season.

College Football Odds: Week 1 Sure Winners | MyBookie Regular Season Football Betting Preview

Regular Season: August 26 to December 9
Week 1: Saturday, August 26 to Monday, September 4, 2023

Utah Utes over Florida Gators

When: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 8:00pm ET
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: ESPN

With the way in which college football operates, losing in the opening week of the season can make the rest of the year very difficult. The reality is that 2-loss teams rarely if ever go to the playoffs, so losing that first game can be a nightmare. That is what happened to Utah last season, as they lost to these same Florida Gators in Week 1. While they were able to bounce back and go on to win the PAC 12 Championship, the playoffs ended up being out of reach. They will be looking to do even better this season, and what better way to get things rolling than with a revenge win over the Gators on Thursday night.

Bet Utah Utes over Florida Gators to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

UNC Tar Heels over South Carolina Gamecocks

When: Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 7:30pm ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: ABC

The Tar Heels got off to a great start last season, going 8-1 through their opening 9 games before going on a bit of a swoon to end the year. Still, they will be looking to jump out to another fast start, going against the Gamecocks in a neutral site game. South Carolina showed some signs of life at the end of last season, taking out ranked teams in back-to-back weeks, with Tennessee and Clemson their victims. This should be an exciting game that goes back and forth, but I think it will be the Tar Heels who come out on top in the end.

Bet UNC Tar Heels over South Carolina Gamecocks to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

LSU Tigers over Florida State Seminoles

When: Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 7:30pm ET
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
TV: ABC

Every college football fan will have their own opinion about what the best matchup of Week 1 might be, but I think you might find that an overwhelming majority will list this game as the one that should be labeled as must watch. What makes it even better is that with this one coming on Sunday night, there are no other games playing at the same time, so we can all give it the full focus it deserves. Both of these teams are considered among the favorites in their respective conferences, and both are starting the season listed in the top 10. I have taken a pair of SEC teams to lose in my previous picks here, but I am going to break that trend and go with LSU to win a close one.

Bet LSU Tigers over Florida State Seminoles to Win
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It’s Week 1 of the college football season, and it’s time to start betting on college football games again. In looking at this week’s slate of games, we’ve found three teams that we think are sure-fire losers. Let’s take a look at those games so you can bet against their College Football Lines.

Who Will Be the Big Losers In Week 1 of the 2022 College Football Season?

Clemson Tigers (-21) @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Unlike many seasons, the Clemson Tigers will kick off their season with an ACC battle. Last season was a disappointment for Dabo Swinney’s squad, and they’re looking to get back to their winning ways this season. They have a very talented group that will have to battle with an improved ACC.

In last year’s game, Clemson only beat Tech by a score of 14-8, Further signifying Clemson’s struggles. After a poor 2021 season, Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is looking to prove to his critics that he is a pro prospect, and he can lead Clemson to an ACC championship.

Even though this will be a prime time matchup in Atlanta, we just can’t see the Yellow Jackets hanging with Clemson. Georgia Tech is on the rise, but they’re not near the standards of Clemson as of yet. They’ll be a formidable opponent, but they won’t be on Clemson’s level. The Tigers are out to prove that last year was a fluke, and they’re truly the class of the ACC.

Clemson wins the game by at least 28 points, showing that they’re ready to reclaim the ACC. Don’t even think about betting on Georgia Tech.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Ohio State Buckeyes (-17)

Everyone loves Ohio State this season! With much of last year’s starting offense returning, a plethora of talented skill-position players, and quarterback CJ Stroud under center, what’s not to like about Ryan Day’s offense? Last season, the offense carried the Buckeyes, while the defense is what led to their demise.

Former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was brought in to fix the problem, much like he did at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys could always score, but they could never stop anyone. That was until Knowles came to Stillwater. Now that he’s in Columbus, we’re looking for big improvements in the Buckeyes defense.

Speaking of defense, let’s talk about Notre Dame. Their former defensive coordinator, Marcus Freeman, was promoted to head coach when Brian Kelly left for LSU. Freeman is known as one of the best defensive minds in college football. He has a ton of talent at his disposal, as the Irish are thought to be one of the top teams in the country.

We’re not sure what the Irish will bring to Columbus, but we don’t think that it will be enough. We see the Buckeyes holding the Notre Dame offense at bay, and winning this one by at least 21 points, so don’t spend your hard-earned money on Notre Dame.

Ball State Cardinals @ Tennessee Volunteers (-32.5)

This one will be a Thursday night special in Knoxville! Josh Heupel and his Volunteers are ready to climb back into the thick of the SEC title chase, as they’ve gotten themselves ready to take the next step. Tennessee returns eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, including their quarterback, their top rusher, a starting receiver, and four offensive linemen. On the defensive side of the ball, they return seven starters. Tennessee looks to have one of the best offensive teams in the country this season, so look out for the Vols!

As for Ball State, they return five offensive starters, but will have a new starting quarterback. They’ll also need to replace seven starters from last year’s defense. Ball State made it to a bowl game last season, but it doesn’t look promising that they’ll return to a bowl this season.

A Thursday night kickoff in front of a raucous crowd at Neyland Stadium will be tough for Ball State to overcome. Tennessee’s offense will be one of the best in the country, and we don’t think Ball State will be able to contain it. Tennessee wins this one big, and covers the 32.5-point spread. Ball State doesn’t have a chance.

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Previous Betting News

Getting off to a fast start is any sport is always good, but in college football, it is almost an absolute must. The fact of the matter is that losing in the opening week of the season usually means that teams are left with zero margin for error, as getting into the playoffs with 2 losses is not something that we see all that often. In years past, the bigger teams used to start the season with a couple of games against lesser schools that amounted to little more than a practice scrimmage. With the advent of the playoffs, though, teams are now looking to impress the committee from the off, which is why Week 1 in college football usually has a few really big matchups. This season is no different and we have one of those games in our SU NCAAF Betting picks for Week 1, so let’s get right to it.

NCAAF SU Picks Week 1

Penn State Nittany Lions over Wisconsin Badgers

In the Big Ten, every team is looking up at the Ohio State Buckeyes and seeing that as the bar that needs to be reached. Whether anyone can do that remains to be seen, but you can bet that both of these teams will believe they have a chance. With that in mind, this game is absolutely huge, which is why I think it’s one that we need to be talking about in terms of making a pick. The safer bet here might be to take the Nittany Lions at + 4 ½, as I think this one will be tight and on the low-scoring side of things. I am all about taking some chances, though, which is why I am on Penn State for the SU win. They have won 7 of the last 10 meetings with Wisconsin.

Texas Longhorns over ULL Ragin’ Cajuns

There are some big changes coming in college football, Texas and Oklahoma moving to the SEC for the start of the 2025 season. Besides that, there is also talk of making the playoffs a 12-team setup as opposed to the current 4. That latter move is interesting, as it will give some of the lesser schools a shot at getting into the postseason. We will get a look at how these teams can compete against the Power 5 this weekend, with the ULL Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt taking on the Texas Longhorns. While Texas is in as an 8-point favorite here, I have a feeling that this one might be a good deal closer. That is why I am leaning towards the Longhorns for the SU win as opposed to taking them against the spread.

Georgia Bulldogs over Clemson Tigers

This is undoubtedly the biggest game of the opening weekend, as you have a pair of potential playoff teams squaring off in a neutral site game. A loss for either of teams will not kill off their playoff chances, but it will make the rest of their season that much more difficult to navigate. For the winner, it is a chance to impress the playoff committee right off the bat. For me, this one comes down to how quickly these teams can adjust to the new season. The Tigers have a lot of new players on the offensive side of the football, so getting rolling against a very good Georgia D is going to be difficult. I am on the Bulldogs in a close one.

Previous Betting News

If you like taking the guesswork out of making often arduous ATS picks and you love making simple picks on straight-up winners, then consider your ticket punched. We’ve got a trio of NCAA Football Week 1 SU betting picks that looks like sure-fire locks just waiting to happen.

2018 NCAA Football Week 1 SU Odds & Betting Picks

Coastal Carolina at South Carolina

When: September 1, 2018 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
NCAAF Odds: South Carolina -29.5 (-110) / U 57 (-110)

Analysis: While I have a special place in my heart for Coastal Carolina since I used to reside just down the road from the Myrtle Beach-based school, there’s absolutely no way the Chanticleers pull off the huge upset over a South Carolina team that is way bigger and more talented than they are.

Coastal Carolina is simply looking to rise up from the depths of a pitiful 3-9 season in its inaugural campaign as an FBS team a year ago while South Carolina looks to take the next step toward becoming a legitimate playoff contender under head coach Will Muschamp after going 9-4 last season. South Carolina has won 17 of their last 18 regular season openers. The Gamecocks are looking to have a more explosive offensive this season and they’ll have the best player on the field by far in electrifying wide receiver Deebo Samuel. South Carolina is also very good defensively and I can’t see Coastal Carolina scoring more than 17 points at best.

NCAA Football Week 1 Pick: South Carolina 35 Coastal Carolina 17

Furman at Clemson

When: September 1, 2018 at 12:20 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium-Coliseum
NCAAF Odds: TBA

Analysis: If you didn’t know already, Furman Paladins starting quarterback Harris Roberts actually attends Clemson as an engineering student. Unfortunately, Harris and his fine, 3.6 GPA won’t be enough to help pull off a major upset over a Tigers team that has some legitimate national championship hopes once again under widely beloved head coach Dabo Swinney.

Furman went 8-5 last season, but they’ll have a new starting quarterback this season in Roberts, plus they just don’t belong on the same field as a Clemson team whose starting defensive line will all be in the NFL before you know it. While the Paladins averaged a healthy 32.6 points per game last season and limited the opposition to a respectable 23.9 points per contest defensively, they don’t have nearly enough talent to stop a Clemson team that put up a fantastic 37.7 points per game and one that simultaneously limited their opponents to just 13.5 points per game defensively.

Clemson will be better offensively this season thanks to a fully year of experience from starting quarterback Kelly Bryant, who played well in his first season as a starter following the departure of superstar signal-caller Deshaun Watson following the 2016 season. Clemson will win this one by at least four touchdowns – if Dabo Swinney doesn’t decide to run up the score (he won’t).

NCAA Football Week 1 Pick: Clemson 49 Furman 14

Appalachian State at Penn State

When: September 1, 2018 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Beaver Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Penn State -23.5 / Total: 54

Analysis: I know Appalachian State went a solid 9-4 last season, but the fact of the matter is that the Mountaineers don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of upsetting the far superior, national championship hopeful Penn State Nittany Lions in their regular season opener. Penn State went 11-2 a year ago and narrowly missed out on reaching the four-team playoff for the second straight year.

While the Nittany Lions lose superstar running back Saquon Barkley, they’ve got another Heisman trophy contender leading them this season in senior signal-caller Trace McSorley. Penn State averaged almost 15 points per game more than Appalachian State last season while also allowing almost four fewer points per game than the Mountaineers. The Nittany Lions are absolute locks to win this week 1 matchup against a much smaller and lesser talented Appalachian State squad.

NCAA Football Week 1 Pick: Penn State 40 Appalachian State 21

Previous Betting News

The offseason in college football is one that seems to go on for an eternity, but the great news for fans and NCAAF Betting enthusiasts alike is that the wait is almost over. The first handful of games will go this coming Saturday, with the meat of the 2018 NCAA Week 1 schedule kicking off a week from Thursday.

We have already looked at teams we believe to be sure winners in Week 1, and now we are going to focus on a few teams that we feel will be on the losing side of things in their opener. Let’s get right to the predictions for the sure losers in Week 1 of the college football season.

2018 NCAA Football Week 1 Sure Losers

Utah State Aggies vs Michigan State Spartans

The Aggies came up with 6 wins in the regular season in 2017, good enough to get them into a bowl game, which they ended up losing to New Mexico State. Last season, the Aggies also chose to open with a game against a team ranked in the top 25 in the preseason, with the results being about what you expect.

In that one, they went down 59-10 to a Wisconsin Badgers team more known for its defensive play. This season, the Aggies will open up against an offensive-minded Spartans team with an eye on the Big Ten Championship. Look for the Spartans to get things rolling on Friday night with a lopsided win.

Tennessee Volunteers vs West Virginia Mountaineers

The opening week of the season will see the start of the Jeremy Pruitt era in Tennessee, as the Volunteers look to bounce back from a truly awful season last year. There are a lot of folks who believe that Pruitt is the right man for the job, but he is going to need more than one recruiting class to turn things around with this program.

The West Virginia Mountaineers have been knocking on the door of the playoffs for the past few seasons, and in Will Grier, they have a legitimate QB who can torch opposing defenses. Look for him to post some big numbers in an opening week win.

Louisville Cardinals vs Alabama Crimson Tide

This is a match-up that would have been a great deal more exciting had it happened last season before Lamar Jackson headed off to the NFL. The last time these two teams met was in the Fiesta Bowl back in 1991, a game that Louisville won 34-7.

That game now seems like a distant memory, especially when you consider what had happened since then, most notably with Alabama collecting championships with stunning regularity under coach Nick Saban. There is a little bit of a QB controversy in Tuscaloosa right now, but that probably all disappears once the season begins with an Alabama win.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Michigan Wolverines

This is arguably the best match-up that Week 1 of the college football season has to offer, and while it’s one I should probably avoid in terms of sure winners and losers, I am going to take a stab at it. This is a big season for Michigan, as patience is beginning to wear thin among fans of the Big Blue.

This is not to suggest that Jim Harbaugh is on the hot seat, but more is expected of him. He can ease some of the pressure by getting a win here, just as Kirby Smart did when his Georgia Bulldogs won in South Bend in the early part of last season. I am on the Wolverines in this one.

Previous Betting News

This coming Saturday will see a handful of games played to begin the College Football Betting Action, and while that is certainly exciting for both fans and bettors, the reality is that the real stuff begins later in the week, with the early ranked teams getting underway starting on Thursday. There are some huge games on tap for the opening week of the season, as well as countless betting opportunities all over the place.

We have taken a look at the full schedule and come up with what we believe to be 5 NCAA Football Week 1 sure winners. We also have 5 sure losers lined up, but that will be saved for a separate piece. Without further ado, let’s get right to the winners for Week 1 of the college football season.

2018 NCAA Football Week 1 Sure Winners

UCF Knights over Connecticut Huskies

The first pick for the college football season is the UCF Knights, the self-proclaimed champions of last season. This was a team that went unbeaten last year and spent most of the playoffs and offseason talking about how they, and not Alabama, should be the national champions.

Yes, it was a great season, but if this team had run into either Georgia or Alabama, my guess is that they would have been steamrolled. They are going to open their 2018 season with a game against Connecticut, a team they beat 49-24 last year. Expect more of the same this time around in the Thursday night game.

Wisconsin Badgers over Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

There is a trio of preseason ranked teams going on Friday night, but it is this game that appears to be the most intriguing. The Wisconsin Badgers came ever so close to a perfect season and a playoff spot last year but fell short when losing the Big Ten Conference Championship to Ohio State.

They are going to be good again this year, but have a lot of spots to fill on the defense. It’s going to be interesting to see how they hold up, and how well the offense performs early on. This will be a win for Wisconsin as they look to begin their season of redemption.

Ohio State Buckeyes over Oregon State Beavers

The Buckeyes come into this season as the defending Big Ten Champions, although they are sure to still be a little salty after being left out of the final four last season. Their new campaign is still somewhat up in the air as we wait for word on the status of coach Urban Meyer.

This is a high-level distraction that cannot be good for the team as a whole, although word is that we are very close to a resolution. Regardless, his absence for the last few weeks is going to have an impact on this team, which makes you wonder how they are going to come out for the season opener. I think the Buckeyes will be okay here, as I expect them to get the win.

Washington Huskies over Auburn Tigers

Okay, so the previous picks have all been games where the outcome is very much expected, but this one is a little different. You have a pair of ranked teams, both of whom have playoff aspirations, meeting in Week 1 in what should be a great game.

This is time for me to put my money where my mouth is, as I believe that the Huskies are a real dark horse team this season, as well as a team that I think could be in the final four discussions all season long. That only happens if they get the win here, and that is why I am taking the Huskies to win.

Previous Betting News

Just 22 days from today, Thursday, Aug. 4, until the 2016 college football season kicks off! It’s almost hard to believe — but then before you know it, the season will fly by. The NCAA season is really too short. But here are three winning picks for the Week 1 season in online college football betting.

Let’s Take a Closer Look at the 2016 College Football Week 1 SU Picks

Appalachian State at Tennessee (-22 in NCAA betting)

This game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 1 from Neyland Stadium on Knoxville and will be televised by the SEC Network. The Vols are the preseason betting favorites to win the SEC East Division as they appear to have their most talent since Phil Fulmer’s glory days.

This game wasn’t originally scheduled for Thursday of Week 1 but was moved to accommodate TV. And if you happen to be a student at Tennessee, there won’t be any classes that day. Additionally, most campus offices will be closed. However, to keep the number of days in the academic calendar consistent, another day of class will be added at the end of the semester. The measures were taken to accommodate traffic, parking and security. The season opener will mark the first time since 1938 that UT has hosted a Thursday night game.

App State, a fairly new FBS program, is no pushover. Appalachian State was one of just 14 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision to win 11 or more games last fall, joining Alabama, Stanford, San Diego State, Western Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, TCU, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Clemson, Houston and Navy. The Mountaineers have as much momentum as anybody in the Sun Belt and should win their first FBS conference title this fall. Key returners are QB Taylor Lamb and all-purpose back Marcus Cox. Last year, Lamb had one of the best seasons at the quarterback position in App State history, where he threw for a single-season school record 31 touchdown passes, surpassing Appalachian State and SoCon Hall of Famer Armani Edwards’ 30 touchdown tosses in 2008. The 31 touchdowns through the air ranked first in the Sun Belt and ninth in the nation. Lamb also threw just nine picks, which led to more than a 3:1 touchdown-to- interception ratio. Lamb’s 2,387 passing yards were good for 10th in App State history and third in the league. He also ranked fourth in the conference in total offense with 2,823 yards.

I like App State to cover that large spread but UT to win.

Rice at Western Kentucky (-16 in NCAA betting)

This Sept. 1 game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Sports Network from L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. These teams are members of Conference USA and Western Kentucky is the defending conference champion.

WKU visited Rice early last October and rolled 49-10. 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. Doughty finished 28 of 38 for 343 yards. He connected with Taywan Taylor for 10 yards, Jared Dangerfield for 39 and Antwane Grant for 45 in the first quarter. In the second he connected with Tyler Higbee for 30 yards to make it 28-3. Doughty, the best player in WKU history, is gone now, however.

Rice finished 5-7 overall last year and 3-5 in C-USA. Coach David Bailiff said senior Tyler Stehling, who was the backup QB in 2015, is the Owls’ starter under center. He closed out spring drills by completing 15-of- 21 for 167 yards in the Blue-Gray game. Last year, Stehling saw action in five games, completing 24-of- 48 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown. He came on in of Driphus Jackson vs. WKU and set career bests by hitting on 11 of 19 for 150 yards. His best attribute is his arm strength. At 6-6 and 210 pounds, Stehling can get a lot of power on his passes.

Go WKU on NCAA football odds.

Previous Betting News

One of the better College Football Week 1 games on the schedule is LSU taking on BYU in Houston – except that game likely will be moved because of the unprecedented flooding in that city from Hurricane Harvey. It likely will be shifted to New Orleans, which would be an advantage for LSU playing down the road from campus. I’ll have a preview of that game later this week. Here are two picks with great betting odds for Week 1 of College Football.

Sure Winners College Football Week 1

Buffalo at Minnesota

When: Thursday, Aug. 31, 7 PM ET
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: The Breeze 1230 AM (Buffalo) / 100.3 KFAN (Minnesota)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: Minnesota -24.5

Fleck’s Debut

It’s the Minnesota head coaching debut of P.J. Fleck, who led Western Michigan to the 2016 Mid-American Conference title and a Cotton Bowl berth against Wisconsin. Fleck had been a hot coaching-market name, coming up at places like Oregon and Purdue, and it looked like he would stay in Kalamazoo until the Minnesota job opened.

In four seasons at Western Michigan, Fleck rebuilt the program. The Broncos were 4-8 in 2012, and went 1-11 in Fleck’s first season in 2013. Fleck righted the ship quickly, improving to 8-5 in 2014 and going 8-5 again in 2015 before breaking out with a 13-0 regular season in 2016. With the MAC conference title in tow, the Broncos played in the Cotton Bowl and lost to Wisconsin 24-16.

Fleck replaces Tracy Claeys, who went 9-4 in his first season as a full-time head coach and 11-8 overall. Claeys’s dismissal was tied in part to his poor public handling of a sexual assault scandal in his program. Minnesota players considered skipping the Holiday Bowl this season because of the school’s treatment of the 10 players involved in the sexual assault investigation.

Fleck says Blaise Andries, the top recruit in Minnesota in the 2017 recruiting class, won’t redshirt during his freshman season with the Gophers. The Gophers’ projected starting offensive tackles are junior Donnell Greene and senior Garrison Wright. Both have missed time during fall training camp with undisclosed injuries, putting Andries into the mix sooner than Fleck would prefer.

Bison Need Better On D

Buffalo took a step backwards last season, winning just two games after going 5-7 in head coach Lance Leipold’s 2015 debut. The Bulls ranked last in the MAC in points scored and 10th in points allowed per game, so there’s room for improvement on both sides of the ball.

In the last three seasons since current Oakland Raiders star Khalil Mack left, the Buffalo football team has ranked 10th, 11th and ninth, respectively, in points allowed in the Mid-American Conference. The run defense was 12th, 11th and seventh in MAC games. Last year’s run defense ranked 124th out of 126 teams in the nation against the run. The run defense needs to keep UB in games. Last year UB allowed a school-record 253 yards a game on the ground.

Tyree Jackson started nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2016 for Buffalo at QB. He finished with nine TD passes and nine interceptions. Jackson rushed for 459 yards and passed for 180 yards a game. The UB offense was 126th out of 128 teams in scoring last season. They didn’t score on any opening drive. Jackson will be counted on to play at a higher level in a critical transition year for Leipold.

Tulsa at No. 10 Oklahoma State

When: Thursday, Aug. 31, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: (Tulsa) / (Oklahoma State)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: OSU -17.5

Cowboys In Playoff?

I believe Oklahoma State will win the Big 12 title this season and reach the College Football Playoff – it’s surely the most talented team that Mike Gundy has had there, led by Heisman contending QB Mason Rudolph and star WR James Washington.

Rudolph has been an Oklahoma State student for 44 months. He’s been the starting quarterback for 34. By the end of this year, he’ll have started more games than any quarterback Mike Gundy has ever coached. Just year, Rudolph was the only player in the country in 2016 who surpassed 4,000 passing yards while throwing less than five interceptions. He was also the only quarterback in the nation who averaged more than 34 pass attempts per game while throwing less than five interceptions. At one point, Rudolph threw 164 consecutive passes without an interception and he finished the season with a second streak of 123 consecutive passes without being picked.

His 4,091 passing yards ranked as the third-most in a season in school history, trailing only Brandon Weeden’s 2010 and 2011 campaigns. Rudolph also completed 284 passes and attempted 448, both of which rank second in school history. His 28 passing touchdowns also rank as the fourth-highest total by an OSU quarterback.

This marks the second consecutive year the Cowboys have opened their season at home, and the 60th time overall they have opened the season in Stillwater. OSU’s overall record in season opening games at home is 48-7- 4 and its overall record in season opening games is 69-41-5.

Rising Star At Tulsa

One of the rising star coaches in the FBS is Tulsa’s Philip Montgomery. Montgomery, the former offensive coordinator at Baylor, is 16-10 in two seasons, including last year’s 10-win campaign in which the team scored 42.5 points per game. It’s been a swift turnaround after the Golden Hurricane won five games total in 2013-14. The Golden Hurricane made FBS history last year as the first team to have a 3,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and two 1,000-yard rushers.

Following the graduation of Dane Evans, the top passer in program history, the QBs are young and mostly inexperienced. Chad President played in six games in 2015 and the opener in 2016, completing one pass. Each season, D’Angelo Brewer has boosted his rushing production, totaling 1,435 yards as a junior in 2016, despite splitting carries with senior James Flanders.

The defense returns seven starters, but those that are gone were key contributors on a unit that fared better in 2016, but still gave up plenty of yards and points.

Expert College Football Week 1 Predictions

Both home teams will win comfortably here. The Pokes have won 21 straight home openers and five straight in this series overall. So, these College Football Week 1 winning picks should give you an extra in your pocket.

Previous Betting News

Will Indiana have WR Simmie Cobbs when it hosts No. 2 Ohio State on Thursday? Earlier this summer, Cobbs was arrested on charges that included failure to identify, resisting law enforcement and public intoxication. Coach Tom Allen has been noncommittal. In 2015, Cobbs led the Hoosiers with 60 receptions for 1,035 yards. After being named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list over the summer, his 2016 season began with a suspension for the opener against FIU. On the first play from scrimmage after his suspension ended, the receiver tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season. Indiana’s going to lose to the Buckeyes. Here are two other games where I know one team is going to lose in College Football Week 1, along with the latest betting odds for each college football game.

Sure Losers College Football Week 1

New Mexico State at Arizona State

When: Thursday, Aug. 31, 10:30 PM ET
Where: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe
TV: Pac-12 Network
Radio: KXPZ 99.5 FM (New Mexico) / 98.7 FM (Arizona State)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: ASU -23.5

Wilkins Wins QB Duel

Arizona had a QB battle this fall between Manny Wilkins and former Alabama top recruit Blake Barnett and Wilkins has won the job – for now. Last year, Wilkins started 10 games for the Sun Devils and finished the season with 12 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns. He had 2,329 passing yards and rushed for 246 yards for the season. Wilkins joined Danny White and Todd Hons as the only other Sun Devil quarterbacks since 1970 to go 4-0 in their first career starts.

Barnett, who went to high school in the Los Angeles area, signed with Alabama as a five-star prospect in the 2015 recruiting cycle; he was the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the class, behind Josh Rosen, and a top-25 prospect overall. After redshirting during his first season with the Tide, he started last season’s opener against USC. But Hurts came on early during that game and never lost his hold on the job.

Preseason polls have ASU picked to finish toward the bottom of the Pac-12 South. Coach Todd Graham’s squad is coming off two consecutive losing seasons. They’re a combined 2-9 on the road in that span. And the Sun Devils ended last season losing seven of their past eight, including the embarrassing loss to Arizona in Tucson. It’s still a lot better than New Mexico State.

Aggies In Transition

New Mexico State is entering its final season as a member of the Sun Belt as the Aggies will become an FBS Independent in 2018. Head coach Doug Martin does have 16 starters returning. QB Tyler Rogers was solid last fall, cutting back on interceptions (12) that plagued him in 2014 (23) while proving to be a legitimate dual threat. He finished third in the Sun Belt in total offense, rushing for a career-best 333 yards to go along with his 2,603 passing yards.

Star RB Larry Rose III is back, but he wasn’t healthy throughout last year. If he’s in one piece, the Aggies have their weapon to work everything around. With four starters back up front – and young size ready to fill in the gaps – the running game will be solid.

The defense was awful last year as the Aggies were repeatedly abused both on the ground and through the air last season. New Mexico State finished 121st in the country allowing 38.8 points a game. They also surrendered just under 500 yards per contest (121st). There has to be more of a pass rush – generating just 11 last season.

Temple at Notre Dame

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 3:30 PM ET
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
TV: NBC
Stream: NBC Sports
Radio: 97.5 FM The Fanatic (Temple) / 93.1 FM The Fan (Notre Dame)
Opening College Football Week 1 Lines: Notre Dame -18

Kelly Better Win

Few coaches enter this season on a hotter seat than Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly – if the Irish lose this game, I don’t see how Kelly is back next year off a 4-8 record in 2016 because there are at least a handful of other losses likely on the schedule. Defensively, Notre Dame struggled against the run last season and ranked 42nd nationally in total defense (378.8 total yards allowed per game) and No. 62 in scoring defense (30.9 points allowed per game). However, seven starters return, led by playmaking linebacker Nyles Morgan.

DeShone Kizer left for the NFL so the new QB is Brandon Wimbush. He played in two games as the backup quarterback last year, seeing action against UMass and Pittsburgh. Wimbush. accounted for 109 yards of total offense against the Minutemen, gaining 92 yards on four carries while completing three of his five passes for 17 yards. He also had a 58-yard TD run. Wimbush had a 17-yard run among his three carries against the Panthers.

Wimbush has an army of capable receivers, anchored by top targets Equanimeous St. Brown and Cam Smith, but will also get out and run when he needs to. St. Brown used his height and athleticism to create physical mismatches with defenders in 2016 to the tune of 961 yards and nine touchdowns.

The O-Line should be a strength. Senior offensive guard Quenton Nelson and graduate offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey of the were both named 2017 Preseason Associated Press All-Americans. Nelson, Notre Dame's 2016 Offensive Lineman of the Year, started all 12 games at left guard last season and has started 23 times in his 24-game, two-year playing career.

In 2016 Pro Football Focus ranked him eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision among offensive guards with a grade of 20.5. Nelson did not allow a sack and allowed just one QB hit in `16 (on 439 pass block snaps). In fact, Nelson has surrendered just three sacks and three quarterback hits over his Irish career (850 pass block snaps). McGlinchey started all 12 games in 2016 and enters 2017 with a string of 26 consecutive starts. McGlinchey has allowed just three sacks and four quarterback hits over his Notre Dame career (974 pass block snaps).

Owls Under New Leadership

It’s a new beginning for Temple, with former Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins taking over as head coach for the departed Matt Rhule, who went to Baylor. The 45-year- old Collins spent the last two seasons running the Gators’ defense under head coach Jim McElwain. In that two-year span, Florida’s defense put up top-10 numbers in the FBS in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense en route to helping the Gators earn back-to- back SEC East titles. Last year under Collins’ watch, the Gators defense allowed 17.9 points per game (10th in the nation), 298.3 yards per game (6th in the nation) and 156.3 passing yards per game (3rd in the nation).

Wide receiver looks to be one of the team’s strengths. Ventell Bryant, Keith Kirkwood and Adonis Jennings combined for 123 catches, 2,017 yards and 12 touchdowns (four apiece) for a team that had 31 rushing scores. Nobody in Temple’s quarterback derby has ever started a college game. In fact, nobody had played any meaningful football at the position because Phillip Walker started the last 47 games. Candidates are redshirt junior Frank Nutile, redshirt sophomore Logan Marchi, redshirt freshman Anthony Russo, and freshman Todd Centeio. Collins indicated last week that it’s possible three of the four could see action in the opener.

Temple’s defense was superb in 2016. They ranked third in the country in pass defense and total defense and 11th in scoring defense. The front seven did a superb job getting to the quarterback, but six starters on the front seven are gone, including star Haason Reddick.

Expert College Football Week 1 Predictions

Temple is in a mini-rebuilding season and won’t put up much of a fight at Notre Dame. New Mexico State is one of the worst programs in the FBS and will get pummeled. Before you go, be sure to check out all the odds for College Football Week 1!

Previous Betting News

If you like your college football picks like I like my favorite beverage…straight with no chaser – then you’re in luck thanks to the quartet of straight-up Week 1 college football picks that you’re about to get.

That’s right MyBookie college football spreadsq faithful, you’re going to have a great opportunity to strike pay dirt an insane six times in Week 1 thanks to the expert picks that you’re about to get. Okay, let’s get down to business.

Quartet Of Top SU Picks For NCAAF Week 1 Are Straight With No Chaser!

South Alabama at Mississippi State

When: Saturday, September 3, 2016
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
TV: SEC Network
NCAAF Odds: Mississippi State -32

While I absolutely abhor the insanely high point spreads associated with Week 1 and 2 mismatches, this Week 1 mismatch is a no-brainer of a straight-up pick with Mississippi State Bulldogs being infinitely better than South Alabama in every way, even with star quarterback Dak Prescott now plying his trade in the NFL.

The Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games in the month of September and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall, but I believe the 32-poinspread is both, insane and a few points too high for the ‘Dogs to cover.

My Pick: Mississippi State 35 South Alabama 14

Miami-Ohio at Iowa

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 3, 2016
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
TV: ESPNU
NCAAF Odds: Iowa -28.5

The Iowa Hawkeyes (12-2 SU, 7-6-1 ATS) played are far superior to Miami-Ohio in all three phases of the game and have a fantastic shutdown defense that will stifle the RedHawks from the outset in this Week 1 mismatch. The Hawkeyes played absolutely fantastic football in 2015 in recording a dozen wins and narrowly missing out on a shot at reaching the four-team CFB Playoff and I expect them to get their 2016 season off to a fine start with a blowout win in their opener.

My Pick: Iowa 35 Miami-Ohio 17

Boise State at Louisiana Lafayette

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 3, 2016
Where: Cajun Field, Lafayette, Louisiana
NCAAF Odds: Boise State -19.5

Louisiana Lafayette averaged a solid 26.4 points pr game in 2015 (83rd) but they need a new starting quarterback after starter Brooks Haack transferred and backup Jalen Nixon was moved to running back.

The Boise State Broncos have a blossoming quarterback in Brett Rypien, a gifted rusher in junior tailback Jeremy McNichols and an experienced wide receiver in senior Thomas Sprebeck, although the Broncos could use more depth at the skill positions.

These two teams probably shouldn’t even be on the same field together and Boise State will prove just that by blowing the Ragin’ Cajuns out of the water!

My Pick: Boise State 38 Louisiana Lafayette 17

Charlotte 49ers vs. Louisville Cardinals Odds & TV Info

Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
When: Thursday, September, 1
Time: 6:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN 3
NCAAF Odds: Louisville -39.5

Charlotte (2-10 SU, 3-6-3 ATS) was a complete mess in 2015 in their first season of FBS football as they averaged a modest 17.5 points per game while allowing a whopping 36.2 points per contest defensively.

Not only did Louisville close out the 2015 season by winning six of their final seven games, but the Cardinals also found out they have a seriously gifted dual-threat signal-caller in quarterback Lamar Jackson. A player that set a Music City Bowl record by rushing for a mind-boggling 226 yards while tossing two TD passes.

The Cardinals return a whopping 10 starters from last year’s squad and have a ton of talent at the skill positions, not to mention a now experienced offensive line after relying on a pair of true freshmen last season. Louisville wins going away, even if they don’t cover the insane 39.5-point spread.

My Pick: Louisville 38 Charlotte 17

Previous Betting News

The College Football season has arrived! The first set of games will take place on Saturday.

The first week of College Football is always unknown. We have no idea how good or bad teams will be and how they will match up with other teams.

Oddsmakers have an idea, and those who follow the game closely should have an idea. Let’s take a look at our feature on NCAAF: What college football games you must bet on Saturday and what games to Avoid.

Let’s start with a trio of games to bet on Saturday.

What College Football Games You Must Bet on Saturday and What Games to Avoid in Week 1 | MyBookie Regular Season Betting Preview

2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season | 154th season of college football in the United States
NCAAF Week 1: August 26th – September 4th, 2023

Here are three of games that you need to bet on Saturday.

Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

NCAAF Odds: Navy +21; Notre Dame -21
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 2:30 PM | NBC
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

The hopes are high for the Fighting Irish. There are many reasons they should be. Sam Hartman is going to immediately give Notre Dame something they have not had in a long time.

They will be able to move the football down the field. But, the first game of the season – a long travel, and a good head coach that has a ton of time to prepare – the Navy. Look for the Midshipmen to have a great attack, keep the ball on the ground, and limit the big plays for the Irish.

Notre Dame is going to win this game, but the Midshipmen are going to cover the three-touchdown spread in this one.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Make your Bet! | Bet Navy vs. Notre Dame
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

NCAAF Odds: Vanderbilt -17.5; Hawaii +17.5
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 7:30 PM | ESPN Network
FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN

FirstBank Stadium in Nashville is ready to get the 2023 party started. This is a Vanderbilt team that has their eyes on a bowl game this season.

The Commodores were one of the worst defensive teams in all of College Football a season ago. They allowed 36 points per game. They also struggled to pass the football.

But look for those things to be improved, especially early, as the Commodores have four games they should win to open the season. You have to wonder about the headspace of the Hawaii Warriors coming into this game.

With the tragic fires in their state. Hawaii was a horrendous offensive team a season ago, and that will be the theme coming into this one. Vanderbilt wins this game by 3+ scores.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Make your Bet! | Bet Vanderbilt vs. Hawaii
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

USC Trojans vs. San Jose State Spartans

NCAAF Odds: USC -30.5; San Jose State +30.5
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 7:30 PM | ESPN Network
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

San Jose State is likely going to end up having a pretty solid 2023 season. But, unfortunately, their schedule shows they are going up against a buzzsaw to start their year.

San Jose State is going to try to go toe to toe with them. The Spartans do not want to look outmatched. San Jose State would love to show the region they are to be taken seriously. But, in the end, the talent gap here is pretty strong.

USC is going to be really good this season. If the Trojans can figure out the defensive side of the ball, this team has a chance to win it all. Caleb Williams is back and ready to put up Heisman numbers.

Look for the Trojans to get to 50+ in this one. Bet USC -30.5 over San Jose State.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Make your Bet! | Bet USC vs. San Jose State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Now, here are a pair of games we suggest staying away from on Saturday.

San Diego State Aztecs vs. Ohio Bobcats

NCAAF Odds: San Diego State -2.5; Ohio +2.5
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM | FS1
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA

Too close for comfort here. The Aztecs get the home-field advantage, but the Bobcats, out of the MAC conference, are going to want to grab an early season upset. Both teams are going to be disciplined and ready to do what makes them best.

This should be fun football and probably the most competitive game of the day. We are not touching it, with the thought it could easily go either way.

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Be careful, better avoid | Bet San Diego State vs. Ohio
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

New Mexico State Aggies vs. UMass Minutemen

NCAAF Odds: New Mexico State -6.5; UMass +6.5
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM | ESPN
Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, NM

We have the Aggies on upset watch here. The Minutemen come to town and will be ready to push the football down the field. If New Mexico State is not ready, they will suffer a Week 1 loss.

The Aggies ran the football early and often a season ago but failed to be too successful in the passing game. As long as they do not try to overdo it, they should be fine, but too many long third downs will put this team in trouble. Be careful if you are betting on this game on Saturday!

NCAAF Week 1 Betting: Be careful, better avoid | Bet New Mexico State vs. UMass
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

MyBookie offers College Football futures to win the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

There it is. That’s a look at some of the games this weekend you should be on in College Football, and also some games you should avoid. We expect a great weekend of College Football. Best of luck with all your betting, and enjoy the games!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

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MyBookie Odds for the Games