If Week 0 is any indication, this college football season will be full of surprises. Last weekend, we only had four games, but there were upsets, surprises, and comebacks to keep any fan on the edge of their seats. This long weekend will have even more thrills, with games each day starting on Thursday, August 29. We’ve picked some of the top games we think will stand out. Let’s see how this NCAAF week 1 odds look like to make your choice.
Week 0 Update
Two teams flew to Ireland to start the season. The Florida State Seminoles were 10.5-point favorites heading into this game before losing on a 44-yard field goal as time expired. It isn’t the first time Georgia Tech’s coach, Brent Key, has caused an upset. But doing it in the first game of the season is a great way to get a lot of positive attention.
- Georgia Tech 24, Florida State 21
- Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
- SMU 29, Nevada 24
- Hawai’i 35, Delaware State 14
The Montana State Bobcats were 11.5-point favorites before New Mexico pulled ahead by 17 points. But the Bobcats recovered their composure and surged back in the second half to win. They didn’t cover the spread, but I’m sure they were happy with the win.
NCAAF Week 1 Top Matchups
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (-13.5, 49.5)
The Bulldogs lost their chance to win their third straight national title when Alabama beat them in the SEC Championship last season. But they’re ready for another winning year with senior quarterback Carson Beck returning and leading another impressive offense.
The Tigers had early upsets last season, which dropped them down in the standings. Their defense ranked 7th in yards allowed, but it wasn’t enough to do better than a 9-4 record. This year, they expect a strong defense returning, while 2nd-year quarterback Cade Klubnik hopes to boost a sometimes struggling offense.
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3, 46.5)
It’s surprising to see the Aggies favored against a top-10 team. They are tough to beat at home, and their new coach, Mike Elko, turned Duke into a nine-win team in his first season. Still, the Fighting Irish have one of the top defenses in the nation. It might be best for bettors to focus on the total points in the game. Expect a low-scoring outing with lots of field goal attempts.
No. 8 Penn State (-8.5) at West Virginia
The Nittany Lions have come close to the College Football Playoff but never quite made it since coach James Franklin took over in 2014. They’ve had two successive double-digit seasons and came in third in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan. This year, with the new 12-team expansion, they might have better luck making the CFP.
Penn State soundly beat West Virginia 38-15 when they met last season, but the Mountaineers were able to win five of their last six games. Will that improvement be enough to knock out a top-10 team like PSU?
No. 19 Miami (-2.5) at Florida
Quarterback Cam Ward is the key to the Miami Hurricanes ranking this season. He could be the top quarterback transfer in the portal, as he wanted to play his college football in Miami. Guarding him will be an impressive offensive line, giving him time to find wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. Their defense wasn’t always good last year, but it’s expected to be improved with the addition of defensive lineman Tyler Baron.
The Florida Gators ended last season with a five-game losing streak. They also went 1-6 against ranked opponents. Coach Billy Napier enters his third season with the team. Has he fixed the issues that caused their downslide last season, or will Miami be able to win by more than two points?
No. 13 LSU (-4.5) vs. No. 23 USC
Both teams have had two successful seasons coming into 2024. The USC Trojans have won a combined 19 games in Lincoln Riley’s two seasons with the team. Miller Ross replaces quarterback Caleb Williams, and star running back Woody Marks is a new transfer. The improved defense should help this team move up in the rankings.
The LSU Tigers had back-to-back 10-win seasons under coach Brian Kelly, who is entering his third season with the team. They’ve also replaced their high-level quarterback, Jayden Daniels, with Garrett Nussmeier. Both teams have new quarterbacks to contend with, which makes it difficult to estimate the spread of this game. Keep your limits in.
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