Conquer Week 1 College Football ATS Lines with Our Picks

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College Football Week 1 kicked off last Saturday on August 26. The NCAA kicks it up a notch starting on Thursday this week when the Florida Gators throw down against the Utah Utes. Then on Saturday, TCU takes on Deion Sanders’ Colorado squad and Tennessee starts their title quest against Virginia. The best matchup of the week happens on Sunday when LSU throws down against Florida State in Tallahassee.

Check out College Football odds against the spread, analysis, and free picks for eight of week 1’s top games.

2023 College Football Week 1 ATS 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

Florida Gators at 14 Utah Utes

NCAAF Odds: Florida +4.5; Utah -4.5
Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 8:00 pm | ESPN
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT

This season, Billy Napier continues Florida’s rebuild, which means the Gators should struggle against a solid Utah side.

The Utes will be looking to win the Pac-12’s final football championship before heading to the Big 12 next season. Although Florida is an SEC squad, Utah want to get off to a fast start. Without Anthony Richardson, it’s tough seeing Florida keeping up with Utah’s offense. Utes cover.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: Utah -4.5 | Bet Florida at Utah
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Virginia Cavaliers at 12 Tennessee Volunteers

NCAAF Odds: Virginia +27; Tennessee -28
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 12:00 pm | ABC
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

Virginia starts 5 new players on offense including quarterback Tony Muskett who transferred from Monmouth. Muskett’s first foray into Division 1 football won’t be easy because Tennessee is loaded.

The Volunteers return enough on offense and defense and start one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC in Joe Milton III to challenge Georgia for the SEC East title. Any squad that can challenge the Dawgs should dominate a team like UVA.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: Tennessee -28 | Bet Virginia at Tennessee
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

Colorado Buffalos at 17 TCU Horned Frogs

NCAAF Odds: Colorado +20.5; TCU -20.5
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 12:00 pm | FOX
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

Deion Sanders overhauled Colorado‘s roster. Although Sanders will get the most out of his players, it’s going to be difficult to keep it close against a better than they look on paper TCU squad.

Sonny Dykes will ensure the offense rocks. But that’s not the reason to back the Frogs to cover. TCU returns 8 players from a defense that was good enough to contain Michigan in the CFP Semifinal win. Horned Frogs roll.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: TCU -20.5 | Bet Colorado at TCU
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

3 Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana Hoosiers

NCAAF Odds: Ohio State -30; Indiana +30
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 3:30 pm | FOX
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

This game won’t answer the question whether Ohio State is good enough to win the College Football Playoff.

Against Indiana, OSU is going to look like the best team in the country. Indiana doesn’t have the players to keep up. The Hoosiers also start freshman Tayven Jackson at quarterback. Buckeyes cover.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: Ohio State -30 | Bet Ohio State at Indiana
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

West Virginia Mountaineers at 7 Penn State Nittany Lions

NCAAF Odds: West Virginia +20.5; Penn State -20.5
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 7:30 pm | NBC
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

Buzz keeps building around Penn State. The Nittany Lions face a down on their luck West Virginia squad. Since this happens at Happy Valley, Lions cover.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: Penn State -20.5 | Bet West Virginia at Penn State
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

South Alabama Jaguars at 24 Tulane Green Wave

NCAAF Odds: South Alabama +6.5; Tulane -6.5
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at 7:30 pm | NBC
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

This won’t be a walk in the park for the Green Wave because South Alabama return talent and experience on both sides of the ball.

But Tulane has a legit Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback in senior Michael Pratt. Even if the Tulane defense struggles, Pratt and the offense will score enough for the win and cover.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: Tulane -6.5 | Bet South Alabama at Tulane
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

5 LSU Fighting Tigers at 8 Florida State Seminoles

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

NCAAF Week 1’s top matchup pits the Florida State Seminoles against the LSU Fighting Tigers. No matter which team wins this game, both teams could end up in the College Football Playoff.

That’s how deep both teams are. It’s tough to go against Florida State since this happens in Tallahassee. But this is Brian Kelly’s second season and LSU will have the best overall player in the game in linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. LSU sneaks by FSU with a 3-point victory.

College Football Week 1 ATS Pick: LSU -2.5 | Bet Florida State vs. LSU
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

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MyBookie Odds for the Games

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NCAAF season is just around the corner, and it’s time to start taking a look at some of the matchups in Week 1. Let’s give our straight-up NCAA Football Betting selections for a few of the top games in Week 1.

College Football Week 1 SU Betting Selections to Wager On

Colorado State Rams @ Michigan Wolverines

Michigan has to replace a lot of pieces, they have two new coordinators, and they know that the upcoming Big 10 schedule is going to be very tough. That won’t stop them from battering the Colorado State Rams.

West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pittsburgh Panthers

The “Backyard Brawl” will take place in Pittsburgh this season. These two haven’t met since 2011, so a lot is on the line. Pittsburgh is too talented for West Virginia in this one.

Arizona Wildcats @ San Diego State Aztecs

The Arizona football program is headed in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to do. They’ll have a hard time beating a good San Diego State team on the road. We’re taking the Aztecs.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ Arkansas Razorbacks

The Bearcats are coming off of a playoff appearance, while Arkansas should be one of the best teams in the SEC this season. Cincinnati will put up a good fight, but we think the strength and talent of the Hogs will be too much for Luke Fickell’s squad.

UTEP Miners @ Oklahoma Sooners

Brent Venables’s debut will be successful, as the Oklahoma Sooners should run the Miners out of the stadium.

Oregon Ducks @ Georgia Bulldogs (Atlanta)

Former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning’s head coaching debut will be against his former school, as the defending national champions host the Oregon Ducks at the Mercedes Benz Dome. Georgia lost a lot of key pieces from last year’s championship squad, but they will have a ton of talent to replace those players.

We think the Ducks will hang around early, but Georgia’s talent will overwhelm them late.

Utah Utes @ Florida Gators

Utah should be one of the best teams in the Pac-12 and in the country. Florida is in a rebuilding state right now. Even though this game is at “The Swamp,” Utah has the better team, and they’ll be ready for everything Florida throws at them. Utah is the more experienced squad and will win by a touchdown.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Ohio State Buckeyes

In NCAAF Week 1, we’ll have a great scene in Columbus as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame come to town. Marcus Freeman will be making his debut in this one; the defensive mastermind will have a plan to slow down OSU’s powerful offense.

The season didn’t start off well for the Buckeyes last year, as Oregon came into Columbus and upset Ohio State. We think Ohio State will be ready this season and will beat the Irish.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Purdue Boilermakers

A trip to Purdue used to be an easy victory. Not any more. Jeff Brohm has turned the Boilermakers into a legitimate contender. This one will be close, but Penn State is the better team and will win.

Clemson Tigers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Clemson is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2021 season. They want to regain their ACC crown and will have a conference game to start the season. Clemson is too talented for Georgia Tech.

Florida State Seminoles @ LSU Tigers

Let the Brian Kelly era begin at LSU. The Tigers had a horrible 2021 and are looking to get back into the thick of the SEC title race.

Florida State hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire over the past few seasons. This one will be sloppy, but the home field advantage in “Death Valley” will help lead the Tigers to a win.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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MyBookie Odds for the Games

Previous Betting News

It’s never too early to think football. After a tough 2020, college football returns with a vengeance in 2021. Expect full stadiums, tons of games, and a return to normalcy. Check out early analysis and picks for College Football Week 1 so you can start planning your bets against their NCAAF odds.

2021 NCAA Football Week 1 ATS Picks to Wager On

2021 College Football Week 1

When: Thursday, Sep. 2 – Monday, Sep. 6

Thursday, Sep. 2nd Matches

Boise State / UCF

Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel is on the short list to win the Heisman Trophy. The Knights are solid on offense with Gabriel under center, but Boise State is loaded on both sides of the ball with juniors and seniors. The Broncos cover.

College Football Pick: Boise State

Ohio State / Minnesota

Big Ten handicappers always overplay >Ohio State. This is especially true because the Buckeyes have dominated the conference in recent seasons. But in Week 1, it’s difficult to cover a gargantuan spread on the road. Minnesota sends 10 seniors on offense to the field, including the entire line and quarterback Tanner Morgan.

College Football Pick: Minnesota

Friday, Sep. 3rd Matches

North Carolina / Virginia Tech

This is a great test for the Tar Heels who many believe is the only team in the ACC with a shot of upsetting the Clemson Tigers. Quarterback Sam Howell Jr. and the offensive line returns mostly intact. If the Heels are for real, they should have no trouble covering against Virginia Tech. We believe North Carolina is for real.

College Football Pick: North Carolina

Michigan State / Northwestern

Michigan State’s program has been on the downturn for years. Northwestern’s has made the Wildcat’s the Stanford of the Big Ten. Expect Northwestern to roll.

College Football Pick: Northwestern

Saturday, Sep. 4th Matches

Penn State / Wisconsin

On paper, this looks like the toughest College Football Week 1 matchup to handicap. But in reality, Wisconsin has a big edge. The Badgers are at home, but that’s not Wisconsin’s biggest advantage. The offensive line starts 4 seniors and a sophomore. Wisconsin should run over and run around the Nittany Lions.

College Football Pick: Wisconsin

Alabama / Miami

Yes, it’s true that Alabama reloads, but before dumping on the Crimson Tide to cover a big spread against a quality team like Miami, we must remember that last season’s Bama team had Steve Sarkisian calling plays. Bill O’Brien doesn’t have the same philosophy as Sark. Miami’s D’Eriq King has as much talent as Bama’s Bryce Young and Miami’s defense has taken strides every season under coach Manny Diaz. The Canes cover.

College Football Pick: Miami

Georgia / Clemson

It’s impossible to think of a more competitive Week 1 game. Both teams send top quarterbacks, strong offensive lines, great coaching staffs, and fantastic defenses to the field. Oddsmakers favor Clemson but Georgia is just as talented. The Bulldogs get the nod only because JT Daniels has more starter’s experience than D.J. Uiagalelei.

College Football Pick: Georgia

LSU / UCLA

LSU has no business not covering. Even though starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal entered the transfer portal, the Tigers should beat and cover against the Bruins. Coach Ed Orgeron said redshirt junior Cameron Wire will take over for Rosenthal. So, if you’re an LSU fan, no worries.

College Football Pick: LSU

Sunday, Sep. 5th Match

Notre Dame / Florida State

In 2020, former Memphis coach Mike Norvell coached Florida State to a 3-6 record. Winning 3 games is a big deal for the Seminoles, which is odd to write, but true. FSU should win at least 5 games this season. One of the wins won’t happen against Notre Dame, though. Irish all the way.

College Football Pick: Notre Dame

Monday, Sep. 6th Match

Louisville / Ole Miss

Mississippi quarterback Matt Coral can win the Heisman. Also, the Rebels are talented enough to upset some teams in the SEC West. Louisville won’t come close to beating Clemson, Miami, or North Carolina in the ACC.

College Football Pick: Ole Miss

Previous Betting News

With the start of the 2018 college football season just days away, now is the perfect time for some expert collegiate gridiron picks that could help you get your new betting campaign off to a fast and furious start. If you’re looking for some value, then you’re going to find the pair of expert NCAA Football Week 1 odds and picks that you’re about to get simply salivating!

2018 NCAA Football Week 1 ATS Odds & Betting Picks

Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma

When: September 1, 2018 at 12:00 PM ET Where: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma -21 /Total: 68.5

Analysis: The Oklahoma Sooners may have reached the four-team playoff a year ago and they might be playing at home in their regular season opener, but I’m going with Florida Atlantic to cover the chalk as three touchdown road dogs, simply because the Owls can put points on the board with the best teams in all of college football and have a head coach that knows just what to do against bigger school in the polarizing Lane Kiffin.

Florida Atlantic had a fantastic 2017 campaign in going 11-3 last season and the Owls averaged a stellar 40.6 points per game to rank eighth in scoring nationally. Florida Atlantic has a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Devin “Motor” Singletary who led the nation with 32 rushing touchdowns while racking up a jaw-dropping 1,920 rushing yards last season.

Oklahoma will have a new starting quarterback thanks to the graduation of Heisman trophy-winning signal-caller Baker Mayfield and I believe the Sooners will struggle early on because of it. The Owls are 4-1 ATS in their last five games and 4-2 ATS in their last six road games and that should be good enough to help them cover the chalk in an absolute shootout.

NCAA Football Week 1 Pick: Oklahoma 35 Florida Atlantic 31

Louisville at Alabama

When: September 1, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET Where: Camping World Stadium NCAAF Odds: Alabama -24.5 /Total: 60.5

Analysis: Louisville may have gone an understated 8-5 last season in Lamar Jackson’s final season under head coach Bobby Petrino, but the fact of the matter is that the Cardinals have a bunch of elite talent and a really good head coach that knows how to put points on the board no matter who’s running his offense.

New starting quarterback Jawon Pass is more of a passer than Jackson and he has an array of playmakers to get the ball to with skill position speedsters like Jaylen Smith, Dez Fitzpatrick and Seth Dawkins who combined for more than 2,300 yards and 20 TDs last season. Louisville has a lot of question marks to answer on defense, but I think they’re more than capable of keeping the final score against Alabama inside three touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide have yet to announce who their starting quarterback will be for the upcoming season, but it really doesn’t matter a lot to me, nor do the names on the backs of their defensive players matter much. You know Alabama is going to play power rushing and super lockdown defense because, hey, that’s what they do under Nick Saban.

However, with Louisville going 4-2 ATS in their last six games and Alabama going 2-3-1 ATS in their last six, I think the handwriting is on the wall. The Cardinals cover with just a bit of room to spare!

NCAA Football Week 1 Pick: Alabama 34 Louisville 20

Previous Betting News

The college football season has started, with a handful of games played last week, but this coming Saturday serves as the official Week 1 of the season. It is a full slate of games on tap and the schedule has some absolutely amazing matchups for us to watch and wager on. The game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Clemson Tigers is the pick of the bunch and is sure to see a lot of betting action, but there are countless others that you can play, too. In the lead up to the opening weekend of action, we are going to do all we can to deliver some picks that we hope will be winners. The opening few weeks of the season are always tough to handicap, but we are going to give it our best shot. For the purposes of this piece, we are picking three games against the spread along with their NCAAF odds, so let’s get right to it.

2021 College Football Week 1 ATS Picks to Wager On

Alabama Crimson Tide (-19) Vs Miami Hurricanes

The defending National Champions will head to Atlanta for the opening weekend and a neutral site game against the Miami Hurricanes. The Crimson Tide come into the new season with a ton of holes to fill on both sides of the football, but the reality is that this is nothing new to them. Alabama is able to consistently recruit the best players in the nation, making it seem as though reloading and winning is something easy to do. The size of the spread here might make some people nervous, but Alabama is on a run where they have covered in 5 straight opening week games. They are also 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall. Miami has been able to cover the spread in 4 of their last 6 games as an underdog, but I just don’t see them hanging with the Tide in this one.

Indiana Hoosiers at Iowa Hawkeyes (-3 ½)

There is nothing like a good conference matchup to get the ball rolling, and this one looks to be one of the games of the week. Indiana is in tough in the Big Ten East, as they have Ohio State and Penn State to contend with there. Things are a little more forgiving in the West, which is where Iowa plays, but they are already looking up at Illinois, who took out Nebraska last weekend. At first glance, you have to say that Indiana looks like a good bet, as they have covered the spread in 8 of their last 9 and are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 versus conference foes. Iowa does not have a great Week 1 record against the spread, but they are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 overall. I am leaning towards the home team.

San Jose State Spartans at USC Trojans (-14)

The PAC 12 was hit hard by COVID last year, but the problems with the conference go back further, as they are now making a habit of not sending a team to the playoffs. The USC Trojans are looking to remedy that this year and have a chance to get out to a quick start against San Jose State. The Trojans have met the Spartans 4 times and have won by an average of 28 PPG. They have not been a particularly good bet against the spread in the month of September, but I think USC gets a comfortable win here and covers the spread.

Previous Betting News

There is perhaps nothing better than the opening week of college football. There is something truly special about this sport and you can’t help but be hyped up when a new season begins. We have probably all been looking at the Week 1 odds and thinking how to best use our bankroll. Some bettors like to pick some low hanging fruit in the opening few weeks of the season, while others go all out from the start. I have been looking at the ATS odds and trying to settle on a few surefire picks, while reminding myself that there really is no such thing as a surefire play. Still, I have picked out a few games where I will definitely be playing the spread. Let’s get right to it so you can get ready to bet against the NCAAF odds.

College Football Teams that Will Cover No Matter the Spread on Week 1

Bowling Green Falcons (+34) Vs Tennessee Volunteers

Don’t get me wrong here, this is a game that I fully expect the Volunteers to go out and win, but this is also a team that has not been particularly good for a few years now. A straightforward non=conference win is a good way to start the season and build some confidence, but that 34-point spread makes me more than a little nervous. Yes, the Bowling Green Falcons have been poor ATS, but so have the Volunteers, who are just 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 games as a favorite. I think a more realistic result where would see Tennessee winning by 21-24 points.

Ohio State Buckeyes (-13 ½) Vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

Despite once again being forced to reload after the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes are once again in as one of the favorites to win the National Championship this season. They have what looks to be a bit of a tricky game in the opening week of the season, but the point spread is one that I really like them to cover. After all, if you look at the last 10 meetings between these teams, Ohio State has won all 10 and by an average of around 23 points per game. This looks like a straightforward pick in Week 1.

Penn State Nittany Lions (+4 ½) Vs Wisconsin Badgers

This looks to me like one of the better matchups of the opening week, as well as being a game that might be worth betting on when it comes to the spread. If you look back at the last 10 meetings between these two teams, you see that Penn State covered the spread in 7 of those games. They are in fact 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. They also went 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games of last season, although that might not mean so much when looking at this one.

Michigan State Spartans Vs Northwestern Wildcats (-3 ½)

The Northwestern Wildcats are coming off a very good season and a trip to the Big Ten Conference Game in 2020. They will start out the season against a Michigan State team that struggled last season, winning just 2 conference games. They closed out last season by covering in 6 of their last 7 games and are also on a run where they have covered in 4 of their last 5 games as a favorite. This 3 ½ point spread is certainly manageable and one that I like Northwestern to cover.

Previous Betting News

Just because a team is favored by 20 or 40 points doesn’t mean that it will fail to cover the points and, similarly, being favored by 3 or 7 points isn’t a guarantee that the spread will be covered. College football betting lines should be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the strength of the teams involved in a given matchup. For the teams highlighted below, our NCAAF odds appear to offer them great opportunities to cover the spread in their respective Week 1 online college football odds.

Teams That Will Cover No Matter The Spread On College Football Week 1

Indiana Hoosiers (-8.5) vs. Florida International Golden Panthers, Sept 01

Week 1 NCAAF Pick: Golden Panthers (+8.5)

I am well-aware that the Florida International Golden Panthers lost 36-22 to the Hoosiers last year, as quarterback Nate Sudfield threw for 234 yards and a TD and tailback Jordan Howard rushed 27 times for 159 yards, with the defense also picking off a late pass in that game and returning it for an insurance touchdown. Unfortunately for Indy’s fans, Sudfield and Howard are now in the NFL after graduating, so the team will be breaking into some new boom-or-bust players. The Panthers, meanwhile, have their standout QB Alex McGough (2,722 yards, 21 scores against 6 interceptions in 2015) and his top receiver Thomas Owens (9 receptions for 166 yards and 2 TDs vs. Indiana in 2015) back in the fold. To me, this smells of a clear upset, but just to be on the safe side, take the very affordable 8.5 points being offered here.

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Tennessee Volunteers (-21), Sept 01

Week 1 NCAAF Pick: Mountaineers (+21)

Like many of you, I am already on board in the Tennessee hype train. In fact, I strongly believe that dual-threat quarterback will lead us to a very profitable season, most likely winning the coveted SEC East crown. And with 9 starters returning on both sides of the ball, the Vols will have a heavily experienced group that will offer a lot of balance in the team. That said, I just don’t see the Vols beating the Mountaineers by 20-plus points. For starters, Appalachian State had a pretty good season last year, their second in the FBs, finishing 11-2 overall, and capping their year with a victory over a very good Ohio University team in the Mountaineers’ first-ever bowl game. Next, App State–the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite–returns with 15 starters from last year, including QB Taylor Lamb and stud running back Marcus Cox, two players that aren’t far off from the talent of Dobbs and his top running back Jalen Hurd. So, while hell will probably freeze before Appalachian State delivers an outright upset over the more fine-tuned Vols, I’d expect the underrated Sun Belters to make a game out of Tennessee to at least cover the spread.

Furman Paladins vs. Michigan State Spartans (-41), Sept 02

Week 1 NCAAF Pick: Paladins (+41)

In their lone game against a Power 5 team in 2015, Furman lost 42-3 to Virginia Tech. With not much changes in the team, Furman looks set for another underwhelming Week 1 performance, and there is no doubt that Michigan State will be winning this game. The problem, though, is that Sparty is returning just 10 starters and Mark Dantonio will be breaking into new players at several key positions such as QB, WR and a number of defensive slots. This type of transition is bound to have a bit of an effect in this game, especially in offense. No doubt, the Spartans will be winnining big, but doing so by as many as 40-plus points doesn’t look likely for Tyler O’Connor and his iffy offense. Plus, with MSU’s next game coming at Notre Dame, the Spartans will most likely be looking to keep its starters healthy, so Dantonio will probably take out his starters once his team builds a comfy lead. That should allow Furman to record one or two garbage scores to ruin this bloated spread.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Stanford Cardinal (-15), Sept 02

Week 1 NCAAF Pick: Stanford (-15)

Bill Snyder’s reputation as a big-game spoiler preceded him and that’s the main reason many pundits are rooting for K-State to at least grab the points in this game. The problem, however, is that Stanford’s 2016 gold ticket Christian McCaffrey is an unstoppable bulldozer of a player, as was evidenced by his stunning 2015 campaign that saw him break several records en route to a No. 2 finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. All that Stanford needs to do in order to win this game is for Keller Chryst or Ryan Burns–the two competing QBs in Stanford–to hand over the ball to McCaffrey and the star runner will do the rest. And even if K-State defensive coordinator Tom Hayes will have a plan to limit McCaffrey’s game, Stanford’s excellent defense should be more than capable of clamping Kansas State’s lethargic offense that finished 113th in the nation in total yards last season.

Previous Betting News

It has been a long wait but we are now just over a month away from the opening night of the 2016 college football season. In readiness for all that action, we have taken the time to break down and present the top college football spreads for 2016 Week 1 below.

Analyzing The 2016 Week 1 College Football Top Point Spreads

Hawaii Rainbows vs. California Golden Bears (-23) NCAAF Betting

My NCAAF Pick: Rainbows (+23)

The Golden Bears were among the hottest offensive teams in the nation last year, thanks to the stellar exploits of 2016 No. 1 overall NFL draft pick QB Jared Goff. With Goff gone and a new offensive coordinator in charge of the team, Cal suddenly looks beatable or at least vulnerable to weaker opposition. That’s something we believe the Hawaii Rainbows, who’ve hanged pretty well with some FBS teams in recent years, should be able to take advantage of, limiting projected starting QB Chase Forrest and the Golden Bears to avoid being beaten by 23-plus points.

South Carolina Gamecocks (-3) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores NCAAF Betting

My NCAAF Pick: Gamecocks (-3)

If you are looking to watch a thrilling offensive matchup featuring tons of scores, please do NOT watch this game. Defense comes first for South Carolina and Vandy, at least based on how these teams played last year, so expect a cagey and stifling turnover-riddled affair when these two SEC teams take on each other. Playing at home will be a huge advantage for the Commodores, but I have seen enough of Coach Will Muschamp from his days back with Florida to trust him for the win plus the cheap field-goal spread in this game.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Stanford Cardinal (-16.5) NCAAF Betting

My NCAAF Pick: Cardinal (-16.5)

2015 Heisman Trophy runner Christian McCaffrey is coming off a monstrous season that helped Stanford to win the Pac-12 Conference title and the hope that he will be up for another big season in 2016 for the Cardinal. It won’t, however, be all smooth for the Cardinal, as they will be facing a tough test out of the gate in the sly Bill Snyder-coached Wildcats. Even so, Stanford is well-aware of the costly loss against Northwestern in their 2015 season-opener, something that should see them play this game with better urgency and awareness, leading to a comfy win for McCaffrey and the Cardinal.

BYU Cougars (-1.5) vs. Arizona Wildcats NCAAF Betting

My NCAAF Pick: Wildcats (+1.5)

I love BYU like the next guy and I think new head coach Kalani Sitake will do wonderful things for the Cougars football program. The problem, though, is that I don’t see him starting his career with a win. Arizona has an offense that can dizzy you with scores all day, which should bode well for the team against BYU’s iffy defense. So, although the Cougars’ abled offense is capable of keeping things interesting in this game, and maybe even get the win at the end of the day, I am more inclined to trust the RichRod O for some key plays down the stretch to hand the Arizona Wildcats an upset win in this season-opener.

Missouri Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (-7) NCAAF Betting

MY NCAAF Pick: Mountaineers (-7)

Playing Mizzou’s solid defense will cause all kinds of headaches for the Mountaineers in this game, and the Tigers will get a decent number of points against West Virginia’s porous defense. But with a helluva offense to keep the Mountaineers in this game, I expect Dana Holgorsen to make the necessary adjustments as this game goes on, allowing the West Virginia to eventually run away with the SU and ATS.

Oklahoma Sooners (-7) vs. Houston Cougars NCAAF Betting

My NCAAF Pick: Cougars (+7)

Heisman hot-shot QB Baker Mayfield is coming off an outstanding season and there is no reason to believe he will struggle in 2016, given the Sooners return with one of the most talented units in the country. But even with Oklahoma’s strong pedigree as an elite football team, I wouldn’t be too quick to put anything past Group of Five’s best team, Houston, which proved to be a thorn in the flesh in 2015, not only in its own conference, but in tough non-conference games as well, as was clearly showcased when the Cougars won the Peach Bowl last season. Not to forget, the Cougars have a Heisman contender of their own in QB Greg Ward Jr., who threw for 2.828 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions while leading the Cougars to a stellar 13-1 record overall last season. Add to the crowd support the Cougars will enjoy in this game, I’d expect Ward and Co. to put up a spirited fight all the way to the wire, earning Houston the points, at the very least.

Previous Betting News

It’s not too early to start betting on the first week of the college football season as sportsbooks like Mybookie.ag already have spreads out for the majority of the Week 1 games — although no totals yet. Here are a few of my Week 1 recommendations on NCAA football lines.

Closer Look at the Top College Football ATS Betting Picks Week 1

Fresno State at Nebraska (-29)

This Saturday, Sept. 3, matchup will be carried in prime time on the Big Ten Network. Kickoff for the Bulldogs’ second trip to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln has been set for 8 p.m. ET. Fresno State is 0-2 all-time against the Huskers, losing 42-29 at Memorial Stadium in 2011 and 55-19 at Bulldog Stadium in 2014. Both head coaches here are on the hot seat. FSU was just 3-9 last season under coach Tim DeRuyter, three years removed from their first conference championship in 14 seasons, two years removed from winning back-to-back titles for the first time in 21 years, and one year removed from a division title. At end of the season, offensive coordinator Dave Schramm was not retained and defensive coordinator Nick Toth was reassigned – Toth returns as the inside linebackers coach. Under first-year coach Mike Riley, there are a lot of moments from the 2015 football season that Nebraska fans would just as soon forget, as the Cornhuskers finished the regular season 5-7, with just three Big Ten wins. It was just the third losing season in Lincoln since 1962. The Huskers did win three of their final four games, including a victory over No. 7 Michigan State and a Foster Farms Bowl win over UCLA. I like NU here.

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College (+3.5)

This ACC matchup tips off at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 3 from Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The game, which will be the official ACC opener for both schools, will be held at Aviva Stadium, and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2. The game will mark the ninth college football game held in Ireland and the seventh featuring FBS schools. It will be the second college game played at Aviva Stadium. It will mark the first international game for the Yellow Jackets football program. It will be head coach Paul Johnson‘s second football game in Ireland; he was Navy’s offensive coordinator when the Midshipmen played Notre Dame in 1996. It will be the first series meeting since Oct. 20, 2012, a 37-17 Yellow Jackets win on The Flats. Georgia Tech leads the brief series 6-2, including a 3-0 mark away from Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Jackets win this one.

Hawaii at Michigan (-41.5)

This is the largest spread on NCAA football lines for Week 1, also on Sept. 3. Hawaii will be actually playing its second game of the season as the Rainbows open the season on Friday, Aug. 26, against California in Australia. Talk about some rough travel for UH! First Australia, then a long flight to Ann Arbor. Hawaii’s first-ever road game at Michigan will kick-off at 12:00 p.m. ET at Michigan Stadium and will be televised on ESPN. The game will mark the third meeting between the schools and first since 1998. Both previous meetings were held at Aloha Stadium with the Wolverines winning both – 27-10 in 1986 and 48-17 in 1998. The Warriors have played five previous road games at Big Ten teams – at Michigan State (1948 & 2005), at Iowa (1956 & 1991), and at Wisconsin (1987). That’s too many points to give; go Hawaii.

Previous Betting News

So I’m supposed to write about sure picks for Week 1 of the 2016 college football season? Well, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but here are two games I feel pretty comfortable about on NCAA football odds.

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

Clemson at Auburn (+7.5 on NCAA football odds)

It’s a matchup of Tigers here on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 9 p.m. ET from Jordan-Hare Stadium and televised by ESPN. Clemson of course won the ACC title last year and was the only school unbeaten entering the bowl season. The Tigers, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson, beat Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal but lost to Alabama in the national title game.

Auburn was preseason Top-10 team last year but flopped and the pressure is on Coach Gus Malzahn. And now Auburn won’t have its top returning rusher. That would be Jovon Robinson, who was dismissed from the program this week. Malzahn he made the decision because “He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn Tiger football player. … We’re going to have zero distractions on this team this year.”

Robinson, who missed five games due to an ankle injury in 2015, rushed for 639 yards rushing and three touchdowns with five 90-plus yard outings in the final six games, including 126 yards and a score en route to being named Birmingham Bowl MVP. The dismissal leaves Auburn with a large void not just in the backfield, but the offense overall as Robinson was expected to be a focal point of Malzahn’s run-centric scheme this year. Peyton Barber led Auburn with 1,017 rushing yards last season, but he's moved on to the NFL. Roc Thomas, who rushed for 261 yards last season, transferred to Jacksonville State.

The first opportunity will go to sophomore Kerryon Johnson, who was in line to be the No. 2 option behind Robinson. Johnson was solid in multiple roles as a freshman in 2015, totaling 753 yards on the season. He rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns while recording carries both at running back and as the Tigers’ Wildcat quarterback. Johnson had 159 receiving yards on 14 catches and added 386 yards in kick returns.

This is the last thing Auburn needed. Clemson has won the past two meetings in the series, last in 2012. The Tigers will win here as well and cover the spread.

Notre Dame at Texas (+5 on NCAA football lines)

This game was moved to Sunday, Sept. 4 for TV reasons and will be played at 7;30 p.m. ET on ABC from Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Irish pummeled Texas in Week 1 last year, 38-3 in South Bend. Malik Zaire threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, and Notre Dame held Texas to 163 yards of total offense. Zaire was 19-of- 22 passing, an 86.6 percent completion rate that was second-best in school history. Steve Beuerlein completed 10 of 11 passes against Colorado in 1984, a 90.9 percent completion rate. Ten of those passes went for 15 yards or more. Will Fuller caught a pair of touchdown passes — one a 66-yarder — and finished with 142 yards receiving. Fuller is now a rookie with Houston.

The Irish improved to 9-2 against Texas, and to 10-2 in home night games. Notre Dame will be without a key player for this game and season in tight end Alize Jones. He will sit out the year due to academics. The 6-4, 240-pound Jones was a four-star 2015 recruit, rated by 247Sports.com as the No. 1 tight end in the country. As a true freshman, Jones started five of the eight games in which he played. He caught 13 passes for 190 yards, with five of those receptions going for a first down. Jones was poised to take on a larger role in 2016, especially after wide receiver Corey Robinson decided to walk away from the game.

As for Texas, the pressure is on Coach Charlie Strong this season. Win at least nine games or be fired most likely. But this will be a young team. The nation’s seventh-ranked recruiting class from this past year should pay immediate dividends at Texas, which could open the season with eight true freshmen on the two-deep. Quarterback, receiver, both of the lines, and the secondary will rely on freshman to fill in depth or start — including at QB.

The Irish will cover the NCAA betting spread here.

Previous Betting News

It’s almost time to crank up the volume on your favorite college fight song and don the colors of your team. The 2016 college football season is right around the corner, just as we were all about to pass out from football withdrawal. The Week 1 online college football spreads are already up, and that means we can start to break down some of the big games from the opening week. We have already posted a piece about a trio of the best picks for Week 1, but for this piece, I want to look at some of the bigger games. There are plenty of those in the opening week of the season, as teams are out to impress the Playoff Committee early on. Remember, there is a good chance that these spreads will change over the next couple of weeks, so keep checking back for updated odds.

College Football Week 1 ATS Winning Favorites

Georgia (-3) vs North Carolina

You have to go all the way back to 1971 to find the last time that these two teams hooked up, which makes this one all the more intriguing. Adding to the drama is the fact that the Kirby Smart era will be kicking off in Georgia, and expectations are high in Georgia Bulldogs nation. This is a bit of a risky pick, as Georgia may be without both Sony Michel and Nick Chubb at RB, and the QB position is still up in the air. I like 5-star sensation Jacob Eason to get the start under center, and this kid will be chucking it all over the field. Taking Georgia ATS here.

USC (+10.5) vs Alabama

The defending national champions are in for a tough start to the season against the USC Trojans, which makes me believe that the current spread is a little too generous. I certainly like Alabama to win, but this is a team with some question marks on offense, specifically at the QB position. I see this as more of a grinding things out type of win, with the margin of victory more likely in the 4-7-point range.

Wisconsin (+9.5) vs LSU

This is another game where I believe that the spread is just a little too high. These are a pair of teams that play hard hitting, defensive football, which leads me to believe that points are going to be very hard to come by here. I expect this to be a low scoring affair, and I actually would not be surprised to see this game coming down to a last second field goal.

Notre Dame (-5) vs Texas

This is one game where I am actually a little surprised to see the spread set so low. When these two teams met last season, it was the Fighting Irish who came away with a comfortable 38-3 win. Notre Dame haven’t fallen off that badly, and Texas have not made a huge improvement. It may not be the same type of blowout this time around, but I don’t think the Irish will have any problem covering that spread.