Did you join us in picking Illinois to stop Nebraska in college football Week Zero action last weekend? If so, you got your sports betting for the college gridiron off to a positive start. Week One features many more matchups, including a titanic clash between Georgia and Clemson — and a number of games that make for some wagering opportunities.
Take a look at these can’t-miss college football betting games as NCAA football gets underway.
NCAA News: College Football Must-Bet Games for Week 1
#23 Louisiana at #21 Texas (-8)
Texas will debut head coach Steve Sarkisian, who will not have quarterback Sam Ehlinger to gut out games for him. With a new head coach and a new starting quarterback, the Longhorns have a lot of meshing to do without the benefit of the same sort of preseason that prepares the NFL. Louisiana has the talent and the schedule to mirror the success that Coastal Carolina had in 2020. Texas has suffered with a culture of entitlement for three or four head coaches now, and it’s unlikely that Sarkisian has torpedoed that in just one off-season. I like Louisiana to cover.
Kent State at #6 Texas A&M (-28.5)
The Aggies start with a cupcake as they see if they can’t march all the way to a College Football Playoff spot. Kent State has been picked as the odds-on favorite to win the East Division in the MAC, but that’s not close to the level of competition in the SEC West. If Texas A&M has the sort of talent and system that we keep reading about, then this point spread might be covered by halftime. I like Texas A&M to win and cover.
Miami-Ohio at #8 Cincinnati (-22.5)
This is a team that Cincinnati must dominate if they want to get serious consideration for the College Football Playoff. It won’t be enough to win by a touchdown or two; instead, Desmond Ridder and the Cincinnati offense must lay a beating on this team. I expect the Bearcats to come out with plenty of motivation — and I also expect Miami-Ohio to end up in the woodshed. Cincinnati to win and cover.
Duke at Charlotte (+6.5)
Duke put together a 2-9 record in 2020, their worst season under David Cutcliffe. The 2021 campaign is not projected to be much better, as most predictions have Duke coming in last in the ACC Coastal Division. Charlotte is the best team Duke plays in their non-conference schedule, but the 49ers have a potent offense, and their defense may be able to make enough big plays to deliver the upset. Charlotte to cover.
Ohio State at Minnesota (+14)
The Golden Gophers turned “Row the Boat” into a national slogan in 2019, as they posted enough upsets to get to the brink of winning the Big Ten West. This time around, they host Ohio State in their opener — and the Buckeyes are working in a new quarterback. Minnesota is a difficult place to play for visiting teams, and if the Ohio State offense has some hiccups as they mesh under a new signal-caller, the Golden Gophers should be able to stay within this spread. Minnesota to cover.
Texas Tech vs Houston (+1)
Dana Holgorsen left West Virginia for a Group of Five school, hoping to find a place where his all-offense approach would work. Instead, he saw quarterback D’Eriq King head to the transfer portal and take his talents to Miami, as 2019 went down the drain. The 2020 season saw multiple cancellations due to COVID-19, but he now has a new quarterback, in Clayton Tune, behind a solid offensive line. The defense should be adequate, which is about all you can expect from a Holgorsen-coached team.
Texas Tech brings in Tyler Shough to run the offense. The transfer from Oregon will have several solid tailbacks behind him, and a stout O-line. On defense, Texas Tech returns 11 of their top 13 tacklers. However, they are still not a team known for posting stops. Texas Tech should be able to pull away in this game. Texas Tech to win and cover.
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