This is one of the best slates of football ever for the opening week of college football season. There are premier games on every day of the week from Thursday to Labor Day and lots of opportunities to get your palette wet betting on football again. Whether you want to bet on your favorite team or a matchup between highly ranked teams, Week 1 College Football can fit any of your needs.
Top Games of the Week
No. 9 Tennessee -20 vs. Appalachian State O/U 58
There’s a lot of buzz around the Volunteers this season. Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd are one of the best backfield combinations in the country and many experts consider Tennessee the overwhelming favorites to win the SEC East.
Appalachian State will be an early measuring stick to see how good this team can be. Few can forget the Mountaineers squad that went into the Big House and knocked off a highly-rated Michigan team nine seasons ago. That probably won’t happen here, but App State isn’t just a walkover Sun Belt team. If Tennessee gets caught looking ahead to its game against Virginia Tech the following week, App State can be close late into the game.
No. 8 Stanford -15.5 vs. Kansas State O/U 47.5
The Cardinal don’t return a lot of starters from last season, but return the most important starter in Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is being billed as one of the preseason Heisman favorites and could run wild against the Wildcats here.
Don’t sleep on Kansas State, this team has the potential to win eight or nine games and give Stanford a game. The Wildcats get back quarterback Jesse Ertz who was lost for the season in the first drive of 2015 and he is key to their success. He is the only legitimate passer on the team and he can put up some points against Stanford’s secondary.
Georgia Tech -3.5 vs. Boston College O/U 44
For the second time ever, the opening Saturday will have an early morning game in Dublin. Die-hards on the East Coast can check out Georgia Tech and Boston College play at 7:30 a.m. ET well before the rest of the day’s action starts.
Both teams had extremely disappointing seasons that were derailed by injuries in 2015, and have similar philosophies but varying schemes. The Yellow Jackets and the Eagles are both going to try to control the clock with their run games and rely on their stout defenses. This game should be played in the 30s and the under here is one of the best bets of the week.
No. 10 Notre Dame -3 at Texas O/U 60
It’s make or break time for Charlie Strong at Texas. The defense should be its best since Strong came to Austin and it will need to be at the top of its game with the Fighting Irish coming to town for the season opener. Brian Kelly has already stated his intention to play both DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire at quarterback in this one and the Longhorns better be ready for both.
Texas will also likely use two quarterbacks in the season opener. Shane Buechele has been touted as the next great hope for Texas all summer but he is a true freshman and will likely need some time to grow into the game. That means that Tyrone Swoopes will see action behind center as well and provide a running threat that Notre Dame will have to contain.
No. 4 Florida State -4 vs. No. 11 Ole Miss O/U 57
This Labor Day special may double as the most important game of the weekend. The Seminoles will be starting freshman Deondre Francois and if they fall to the Rebels, it will be tough for them to get back into the playoff picture in the weak ACC. Florida State is loaded at every other position and if it can get decent play from Francois it should be in good shape.
Chad Kelly has shown the ability to win big games and will need to have a great one to beat Florida State. He will have to do it with a new standout receiver, but has the arm and bravado to lead the upset if Francois falters.
Upset to Watch
UCLA might have the best quarterback in the country not named Deshaun Watson. Josh Rosen was amazing as a true freshman in 2015 and is already being touted as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Rosen will have to deal with a lot of pressure due to an inexperienced offensive line going against a great Aggie front four, but he has the temerity to handle it and will the Bruins to an upset win.
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