The opening week of the 2021 college football season features some real cupcakes (such as Fresno State visiting Oregon), but it also features some salty matchups, such as Alabama taking on Miami and Georgia taking on Clemson. For the sports betting enthusiast, there is plenty of suspense — and also plenty of opportunity to add to your bank account.
Take a look at some of our expert college football predictions for the first full week of action from the college gridiron.
NCAA News: Expert College Football Betting Predictions for Week 1
Saturday, September 4
#19 Penn State (+5.5) at #12 Wisconsin (12:00 pm ET, FOX)
Lots of Big Ten openers are taking place in Week One, including this crossover matchup between ranked opponents, both of whom would like to put 2020 behind them. Wisconsin gets Graham Mertz back for his sophomore season; last year, he was putting up huge numbers as a freshman before going into COVID-19 quarantine. When he returned, he just wasn’t the same — but his ceiling is sky-high. Sean Clifford leads the Nittany Lion offense; he also has a bit of an inconsistent reputation to overcome. Wisconsin has the size in the trenches to drive the rhythm of the game, and if Mertz’s passing is back to where it was before his quarantine, the Badgers should be able to move the ball up and down the field. Badgers to win and cover.
#1 Alabama (-18.5) vs #14 Miami (3:30 pm ET, ABC)
Nick Saban has a perfect 10-0 record in neutral-site opening contests at Alabama — including a 6-0 slate against ACC teams. This time around, the Crimson Tide are working in a new quarterback, in Bryce Young, under a new offensive coordinator, former Penn State and Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien. The Hurricanes get quarterback D’Eriq King back from injury, but it will be interesting to see if he is ready for the Crimson Tide defense. Can Alabama really win this by more than two and a half touchdowns? Saban’s system speaks for itself, and while the first half might be close, Alabama will put the hammer down. Tide to win and cover.
#17 Indiana (+3.5) at #18 Iowa (3:30 pm ET, BTN)
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr returns for a Hoosiers team that pushed Ohio State hard in the Big Ten East and could do the same thing again this season. Iowa does play well at home and has balance on both sides of the ball, but they don’t have the sort of dynamic X-factor that Penix represents, and they don’t come in with the same level of momentum. Iowa is basically getting the points that a home team collects, but I like the Hoosiers to win outright, so giving the points is just a bonus. Hoosiers to cover.
#16 LSU (-3.5) at UCLA (8:00 pm ET, FOX)
Yes, UCLA did roll Hawaii in their Week Zero opener. However, the Rainbow Warriors don’t have talent approaching what LSU will bring west. In Power 5 non-conference games, UCLA does not do well at all; LSU should show up in Pasadena and deliver a significant win. Tigers to win and cover.
Sunday, September 5
#9 Notre Dame (-7.5) at Florida State (7:30 pm ET, ABC)
Notre Dame has blown out Florida State the last two times they have met. This time, Notre Dame is working in transfer quarterback Jack Coan, who has come in from Wisconsin to lead the Irish attack. Florida State has McKenzie Milton, an intriguing transfer from UCF who has been out of the game for over a year due to injury. The Irish have covered in five of their last eight games as a road favorite, and I’m not sure Milton is ready for the Irish in his first start back. Fighting Irish to win and cover.
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