It’s finally here. Week 1 of the college football season is upon us, and that means jam-packed Saturdays until the end of the year. Let’s break down the best 5 bets against the spread for Saturday’s games.
New to sports betting? Read our point spread betting guide.
Penn State vs. Wisconsin Week 1 Preview
Nittany Lions vs. Badgers Predictions
Best Bet: Penn State +5.5
A trip to Camp Randall is never easy, but I expect the Nittany Lions to come out strong here and show the country that last year was just a blip on the radar and not the sign of the end for James Franklin. Penn State is just the most talented football team, and that is what I want to bet on here. Wisconsin showed signs of weakness last season as well, but somehow it’s been a bit swept under the rug relative to the struggles that Penn State had.
Last season, Penn State struggled, but they really dealt with a TON of randomness in a few early games that are misleading, to say the least. Expect the Nittany Lions to cover and win this game outright.
Indiana vs. Iowa Week 1 Preview
Hoosiers vs. Hawkeyes Predictions
Best Bet: Iowa -3.5
The Hoosiers are riding high, coming off one of the better seasons in school history. That being said, I think that they are a bit overrated, and the line suggests that these teams are equal and maybe even that Indiana is better than the Hawkeyes when we consider Iowa’s considerably strong home environment. Indiana has a bit more star power, but Iowa has the better roster, and that is the bet here in a low-scoring game that is decided by a Michael Penix Jr. interception.
Georgia vs. Clemson Week 1 Preview
Bulldogs vs. Tigers Predictions
Best Bet: Georgia +3
Clemson comes into this game with a defense returning a ton of production and the most proven first-year QB we have seen in a while, with DJ Uiagalelei showing off his abilities last season when Trevor Lawrence went out with Covid-19. Georgia, on the other hand, lost some defensive talent and lost George Pickens to an ACL injury in the spring, but they bring back good QB play and a ton of overall talent.
Returning production in elite programs is overrated in most cases because people and Vegas are lazy when it comes to learning about players that haven’t played yet. Heck, if Trevor Lawrence never got Covid-19 last season, is this line Clemson -3? No because DJ is an “unknown.” I am betting on roster talent here and taking the Bulldogs +3.
LSU vs. UCLA Week 1 Preview
Best Bet: UCLA +2.5
The Bruins host the Tigers in a game with huge implications on the rest of the season in a bunch of aspects. First of all, this is a rare SEC vs. Pac-12 matchup and a lot of our opinions on these conferences moving forward. We only have a few data points to go off of here, and this game could determine how we view the rest of the season if we see an outlier performance compared to the spread.
I think that UCLA is getting disrespected here, and I want the Bruins + the points in a game the features two programs that seem to be trending in different directions.
Alabama vs. Miami Week 1 Preview
Crimson Tide vs. Hurricanes Predictions
Best Bet: Miami +19.5
The Hurricanes are dealing with an absolute powerhouse on Saturday, but I think that this may be the weakest Alabama has been since Tua Tagovailoa took over at QB. This line suggests that Alabama should be able to move the ball at will, and I’m just unsure if that will be the case, specifically early in the season and in this game.
Take the points with the Hurricanes and hold on for dear life.
