2018 College Football Week 1 Straight Up Betting Picks

Are you ready for the 2018 college football season? Then you’re in luck, because the calendar is about to turn to September, and the NCAA is about to kick off play. The first week often features some intrigue, whether it is a cupcake or two sneaking up on a major power, or a nonconference matchup between Power 5 foes from different leagues. We have selected a couple of matchups for your College Football Week 1 betting consideration, and we feel confident about our picks going into the weekend. Home teams are in all caps.

2018 College Football Week 1 Straight Up Betting Picks

“If you look at the top 4 coaches in earnings, 3 have gone to the playoffs and won a National Championship. The only guy that hasn’t done it is Jim Harbaugh… Michigan is the most overrated college football program in the history of the United States.” — @RobParkerFS1 pic.twitter.com/E4B2hBtHCA

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) August 31, 2018

Saturday, September 1

Auburn (-2) over Washington (in Atlanta), 3:30pm ET, ABC

Washington enters this game with a 10-0 straight up record in their last 10 September contests. However, this weekend features one of their toughest early matchups in several years. This is technically a neutral-site game, but Atlanta is a lot closer to Auburn, in the heart of SEC country, than it is to Seattle. Washington comes into the season hungry for redemption after an early loss at Arizona State was the first of a series of stumbles that kept them even from competing in the Pac-12 title game, despite starting 2017’s season as the favorite to win the whole conference. Here’s a less favorable number for the Huskies — they have only won once straight up in their last 11 games as an underdog, and have lost each of their last four contests in those situations. Last year, Auburn went 9-1 straight up after losing by eight points to Clemson, and they knocked off Alabama and Georgia. They did lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship and then to UCF in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (despite entering as a 15-point favorite). Both teams are hungry, but Auburn has the better defense and may have an offense on par with Washington’s, as the Tigers’ Jarrett Stidham took down both of the national finalists last year, while Washington’s Jake Browning still has some work to do on the game’s biggest stage. College Football Week 1 Prediction: Auburn 24, Washington 16

NOTRE DAME (-1) over Michigan, 7:30pm ET, NBC

Both Michigan and Notre Dame are still looking to establish themselves as national contenders on the college football scene. The Fighting Irish looked like playoff material last year until they were dismantled by Miami, and Michigan found themselves without a solid quarterback for much of the year, costing them key Big Ten games. Michigan’s defense should be solid, as they return eight starters, including their whole nickel package in the backfield, as well as top tackler Devin Bush ane key pass rushers Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich. Notre Dame had to replace a pair of elite offensive linemen and return only two starters, and quarterback Brandon Wimbush has to overcome that benching that he took as the Irish had to come back to beat LSU in their bowl game. The run-pass option should be more of a factor for Notre Dame this year, which could test the solid Michigan defense. On offense, Michigan has a new quarterback in Shea Patterson, but they should still key on the big run game, and they have the size on their offensive line to do it, if they can execute in the passing game when needed. I’m not sure that the Michigan offense is ready for this big win on the road, though. College Football Week 1 Prediction: Notre Dame 20, Michigan 13

Monday, September 3

FLORIDA STATE (-7) over Virginia Tech, 8:00pm ET, ESPN

Both of these teams are getting right after it in terms of conference play — and both of these teams are difficult to predict. Florida State had an awful season last year once starting quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a season-ending injury in the first game against Alabama. They did end up winning seven games, but it took some nailbiters over the likes of Syracuse, Duke and Wake Forest to get them there. Jimbo Fisher is out, and Willie Taggart from Oregon is in, and his high-flying offense will test an inexperienced Virginia Tech secondary. The Hokies have a 19-8 record in Justin Fuente’s first two seasons at the helm, and defensive coordinator Bud Foster is elite. However, Virginia Tech has to replace five defenders who were all-ACC a year ago. Virginia Tech ranked #16 in the nation against the run last year, and their defensive front is still stout. If Florida State is going to win, it likely will have to do so through the air — but I don’t think that will be a problem. College Football Week 1 Prediction: Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 16