Week 1 College Football Best Bets

(All betting odds provided are from DraftKings Sportsbook)

PETER CORNELL

Cincinnati @ Arkansas

Pick: Cincinnati +7 (-120)

This is no doubt not the Cincinnati from last year that made it to the college football playoff. Also make no doubt that Luke Fickell has built a program that is set up to replace good players with more good players. The Bearcats do lose a lot on defense but look to replace a lot of that talent with more talent. The key in this game will be in between the trenches. Cincinnati comes in with a brand new quarterback in either Prater or Bryant. Regardless of who starts, I believe Fickell will look to lean on the offensive line who returns all 5 starters from the team a year ago. They say the SEC is big boy football and I believe with the experience of the offensive line at Cincinnati, The Bearcats shorten this game and make it easier on the inexperience they have at quarterback. Give me the Bearcats.

Oregon vs Georgia

Pick: Under 54

Do I expect the Georgia defense to be as good as it was last year? The answer is no. Do I think the Georgia defense is one of the best in the country again? The answer is yes. This game is being played in Atlanta, Georgia which will be a home game for the Bulldogs (although I do expect the Ducks to travel well). Bo Nix does not have a good track record against Kirby Smart with 3 starts and not many points to show for it. On the other hand, Oregon has a brand new coach in Dan Lanning who just so happened to be the defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs title run last year. I expect him to have the defense at Oregon chomping at the bit to play well against the defending national champs. I also expect a bit of a conservative mindset from Lanning in his first start at the helm of the Ducks. Give me the under.

Utah @ Florida

Pick: Utah ML (-145)

For most informed bettors, we missed the boat on this line a long time ago. Over the summer this line was at one point floating around Utah +3 or so at some places. I am here to give you what I think on the lines at the present moment and I can not lie, I still like Utah. What is there not to like about this team? They have one of the best coaches in the country with Kyle Whittingham who almost always has his guys up front on both sides of the ball ready to roll. Cam Rising looks to improve off of a very solid sophomore season. The defense will be solid like it always is under Whittingham. The Utes come in with a lot of experience and continuity which is the opposite for the Gators. Billy Napier comes to Florida to try and fix the mess that was left behind with Dan Mullen. I do think the hire of Napier was an awesome get for the gators and over time will really help the university but just not his first game ever. The atmosphere will be absolutely electric at the Swamp on Saturday but I don’t believe it will be quite enough to beat the Utes. Give me the Utah Utes on the ML.

HENRY PORTER

Memphis @ Mississippi State

Memphis +15.5

The Tigers took down Mississippi State in this matchup last year at home, 31-29. Seth Henigan returns at quarterback after an extremely efficient freshman season. Their leading rusher, Brandon Thomas, is also back for an offense that is expecting to put up some points this season. This is a game that could easily be a shootout as the over is currently set at 57. I think that Memphis would welcome a shootout and that is their best way to leave Starkville with a win. The Bulldogs return a seasoned quarterback in Will Rogers who led the SEC in passing yards per game last season. Mississippi State is returning a lot of starters from their 7-6 team a year ago. This is an example of one team getting too many points. I always like a matchup where I’m getting over two touchdowns in a game where there are more than a few people siding with the underdog to pull off the big road win. I like Mississippi State to win this game 38-30 with our bet cashing easily.

Appalachian State vs UNC

Appalachian State/UNC over 56.5

This game has shootout written all over it. UNC struggled last week with a depleted Florida A&M team before pulling away to win by 32. If FAMU and their backup quarterback can hang 24 on the Tarheels, how many is App State going to score? Veteran QB Chase Brice returns for the Mountaineers after throwing for 27 touchdowns last season, but he will have some inexperienced receivers that he will need to get accustomed to. App State has an unreal running back group that almost produced two 1,000 yard rushers in Nate Noel and Camerun Peoples. I think this rushing attack will gash the Tarheel defense which will in turn open up the play action bombs for Brice. The Tarheel offense can hold their own as well. Drake Maye threw for 5 touchdowns and almost 300 yards in the season opener. I think he will commit a young QB mistake or two but I like Maye to have a solid day against an average App State secondary. This is a mediocre UNC defense that gave up 335 yards to FAMU and will give up plenty more to the Mountaineers. Give me Appalachian State to win this game 41-34 at The Rock and cash that over.

San Diego State vs Arizona

San Diego State -6

The Arizona Wildcats were abysmal last year; 1-11 including a loss to FCS Northern Arizona at home. You would think it’s only up from here but non-conference games this season against San Diego State, Mississippi State, and North Dakota State won’t help the cause. Washington State transfer QB Jayden de Laura will hope to provide a spark to this Arizona offense against a SDSU defense that was ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense. San Diego State will also have a transfer quarterback at the helm with former Hokie Braxton Burmeister slated to start Saturday night. I think that the Aztecs win this game, and they will win it handily. Arizona will be better this season but it’s not starting week one. I look for SDSU to control a lot of clock and force Arizona to make the most out of every possession, which they weren’t exactly good at last year. The Aztecs are also unveiling their brand new Snapdragon Stadium which will give them their first real home field advantage that they’ve had in years. I’m predicting San Diego State to cover the spread easily and start the season off with a 27-14 victory over the Wildcats.

ROGER MURDOCK

Appalachian State vs UNC

Appalachian State/UNC over 56.5

If you watched last weeks UNC game, this is a no brainer. They were in a close game with a suspension-riddled FAMU. Maybe they didn’t show any offense, but their defense was awful. App will make this their super bowl and it will go over.

Florida vs Utah

Florida ML (+115)

Utah is good. But not laying 3 points on the road against an SEC team good. Add in the cross-country travel, humidity, and swamp atmosphere and I’ll take the gators.

Kentucky vs Miami (OH)

Kentucky -15

This is already one of the biggest seasons in UK history. The hype is crazy; and even though I’m not buying them in the SEC, they will look to embarrass someone in week 1.