Time for Week 1! Last week was not great for our college football game spread picks. In the four Week 0 picks, we went 1-3 thanks to Georgia Tech winning outright, New Mexico keeping it close, and Nevada impressively made SMU sweat.
Now, we are on to Week 1! This time, to keep tallying up the totals easier as we go along, let’s pick six games. Here’s to hoping for a better week. This time, we are rolling with four underdogs!
College Football Week 1 Game Spread Best Bets
North Dakota State (+11.5) at Colorado
Heading into the season, there is no team in college football with more hyp surrounding it than Colorado, for better or for worse.
Head coach Deion Sanders is coming off a 4-8 season and has since banned certain journalists and outlets from asking him questions in a move that is reminiscent of some political leaders. Either way, on the field, Colorado was not good last year. This year, the Buffaloes brought in and lost a whole host of transfer portal talent but they’ll still be led by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, two of the best playmakers in the nation.
Overlooking North Dakota State would be a massive mistake. While they aren’t coming off a National Championship, the Bison have won nine since 2011 which included a stretch of winning eight in nine seasons. Quarterback Cam Miller is a gamer and likely turned down a few NIL deals to stay in town.
There will be an FCSl-over-FBS upset at some point this year. This looks like as good of an opportunity as any. AND you’re giving us 11.5 points? Take ’em and run.
Colorado State at (4)Texas (-34.5)
The Texas Longhorns‘ season ended in the College Football Playoff semifinals and they’re looking to get back. Before a massive showdown with Michigan in Week 2, Texas must dispatch Colorado State.
Quinn Ewers is likely on the Heisman Trophy shortlist throughout this season. He’s easily one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and he has an opportunity to lead Texas to an SEC championship in the program’s first season in the nation’s toughest conference. His top target will likely be Isaiah Bond, the former Alabama receiver.
Colorado State made headlines this offseason by claiming quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton were offered massive NIL deals to transfer out. Whether or not it’s legit matters not at this point. Horton is one of the top Group of 5 receivers in the nation and they’ll likely lean on him to make plays against one of the best teams in the county.
Despite having a few guys who could shine, CSU is way overmatched in this one. Arch Manning may get significant playing time in this one.
Akron (+46.5) at (2)Ohio State
Speaking of CFP hopefuls, Ohio State opens its 2024 campaign at home against in-state MAC foe, Akron. Do you remember the last time the Buckeyes lost to the Zips? Unless you have memories of your birth and was born in 1896, chances are, no, you don’t.
Ohio State is loaded. They have NFL-ready players on both sides of the ball. They’ll dominate.
Akron was not one of the better teams in the MAC last year…or even average, to be honest.
However, Ryan Day’s teams start slow. Two years ago when Akron came to town for CJ Stroud’s first start, Ohio State won 20-2. The Buckeyes will still win by multiple touchdowns but Akron should cover.
Fresno State (+21.5) at (9)Michigan
The reigning National Champion has a sneaky difficult matchup in Fresno State here.
This is the first game of the Serrone Moore era, those Jim Harbaugh suspension games notwithstanding. Who is playing quarterback? Either way, Michigan‘s defense is elite and Donovan Edwards finally has the opportunity to take over the offense.
Fresno State is just another Mountain West team, right? Wrong. The Bulldogs are a sneak pick to win the MWC and contend for that G5 CFP spot. Mickey Keene is a stud and is coming off a year where he threw for 2,976 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The Wolverines should be able to take care of business. However, the questions at quarterback (Alex Orji has attempted one pass in his career) lead to pause. They might win by three touchdowns…but the spread is 21.5. Take Fresno State.
Ohio (+17.5) at Syracuse
Here’s an under-the-radar matchup to watch. The Ohio Bobcats hail from the MAC and Syracuse is, well, about as good as a MAC team.
Hey, without looking, who had the fourth-best total defense and sixth-best scoring defense in 2023? If you said Ohio, you’d be correct! Now, they did lose quite a bit to the portal, most notably on offense. Kurtis Rourke and each of the top running backs are gone. It’s Parker Navarro‘s team now.
Syracuse made a change at head coach after finishing with a losing record for the sixth time in Dino Babers’ eight seasons. They went out and got Kyle McCord after he transferred out of Ohio State after not being guaranteed the starting job after the 2023 season and they are ecstatic.
Both of these teams are question marks. There are MAC-over-Power 4 wins yearly and the Bobcats could win this one outright. Either way, let’s just take the points.
Idaho at (3)Oregon (-44.5)
Seriously?
Oregon is one of the best teams in the nation with one of the best quarterbacks and wide receiver corps.
Dillon Gabriel is in street clothes by halftime.
