College Football Week 1: Crazy Spreads You Shouldn’t Pass Up

Posted by Kenny Bell on Monday,July 3, 2017 11:40, EDT in

Only 53 days until the 2017 college football season opens as of this writing. Most teams will start fall camp late this month. And with that in mind, here’s a look at two interesting College Football Week 1 betting spreads from MyBookie, with my picks.

College Football Week 1: Crazy Spreads You Shouldn’t Pass Up

South Florida Bulls at San Jose State Spartans

When: Saturday, August 26, 5:30 PM
Where: Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California
TV: CBSSN
Radio: 820 AM (USF) / KLIV 1590 AM (San Jose State)
College Football Week 1 Odds: USF at -19½

Should any team be such a big favorite Week 1? After all, the opponent has all offseason to prepare for you. Of course that goes both ways. No team from outside a Power 5 Conference has made the College Football Playoff but don’t be shocked if USF does this year under new coach Charlie Strong.

The Bulls are stacked and should win the AAC. They would need to go undefeated to have any shot at the playoff.

Who’s Quinton Flowers?

South Florida has a dark-horse Heisman contender in quarterback Quinton Flowers. Last year, Flowers led USF to an 11-2 record and a final ranking of 19th in the AP poll – the first time the program finished a season ranked. He was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and the Birmingham Bowl MVP.

He threw for 261 yards and two scores while rushing 21 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns in the 46-39 overtime bowl win over South Carolina. Overall, Flowers threw for 2,812 yards and 24 touchdowns last year while rushing for 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns.

He was the first-ever 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher in not just South Florida history but first for any player from a school in the state of Florida. Only Heisman winner Lamar Jackson rushed for more yards by a QB in 2016.

How Well Did San Jose Starte Do Last Season?

San Jose State was 4-8 last year and has a new head coach in Brent Brennan. The 44-year- old spent the last six years in Corvallis coaching the receivers at Oregon State. But he is a familiar face at SJSU, having been an assistant from 2005-2010 under Dick Tomey and Mike MacIntyre.

Brennan coached tight ends, receivers, offensive tackles and special teams, and was the co-offensive coordinator in 2009. New offensive coordinator Andrew Sowder is only 28, but he’s been around some brilliant offensive minds and now gets his shot to crank up the attack.

He worked under now Syracuse head coach Dino Babers after starting out at Baylor. The offensive line must be better. The 2016 Spartans gave up a nation-worst 50 sacks and 101 tackles for loss – no team had allowed 50 sacks or more since 2013. It’s the first-ever meeting between these schools.

South Florida vs San Jose State College Football Week 1 Pick

I’m a big USF fan but I’d take all those points.

The Golden Gophers are favorites in College Football Week 1.

Buffalo Bulls at Minnesota Golden Gophers

When: Thursday, August 31, 5:00 PM
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: BTN
Radio: 1230 AM (Buffalo) / 100.3 KFAN (Minnesota)
College Football Week 1 Odds: Minnesota at -27

It’s the Gophers coaching debut of P.J. Fleck. He comes to Minnesota after spending four years as the head coach at Western Michigan, where he was 30-22 overall and 21-11 in the Mid-American Conference. While leading the Broncos, Fleck authored one of the most memorable turnarounds in college football history.

The Broncos were 1-11 in his first year in 2013, but ended last season with a No.  12 ranking, a 13-1 record, a conference championship and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and last year led the Broncos to their first MAC Championship since 1988.

What Can We Expect This Season?

Fleck’s Gophers return the core of the team that won nine games in 2016. But QB Mitch Leidner isn’t one of them. It’s a two-man race to replace him between senior Conor Rhoda and redshirt freshman Seth Green. Green’s size and skill set could be the deciding factor.

Minnesota has a chance to be one of the better rushing teams in the Big Ten. The Gophers return four starting linemen and have one of the better running back duos in the conference in Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith.

Does Buffalo Stand a Chance Against Minnesota?

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. QB Tyree Jackson started nine games as a freshman and is a big man who can run.

The leading returning receiver, Kamathi Holsey, had only 19 catches. UB tied for 10th in the MAC in pass plays of 20-plus yards two years ago and tied for eighth last year. The offense can’t and won’t be any worse after averaging just 354 yards and 16.5 points per game – among the worst in the country in both categories.

Buffalo at Minnesota College Football Week 1 Pick

Take Minnesota to cover.

Final College Football Week 1 Predictions

There are many more great games that will kick off College Football Week 1 in September. But these two that we mentioned should be on your watch list once the season starts. So, be sure to keep on checking out more betting guides and previews for the upcoming weeks. But remember, have fun this season!