NCAA Football Game Lines: Week 1 Sure Losers

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In terms of wagering, the opening week of the college football season can be more than a little tricky. There are absolutely some easy picks up for grabs, but the vast majority of those are at odds where you have to risk a lot to get a little in return. When looking for straight up picks, I tend to look at games that the bookies have listed as close, by which I mean that the spread is by a touchdown or less. Those are the types of games that we are going to focus on here, as we pick out a trio of matchups where I believe we will have a clear winner and loser. We already picked out some games in another article with sure winners, so let’s now look at a few teams that we believe will lose in Week 1 of the college football season.

College Football Odds: Week 1 Sure Losers | MyBookie Regular Season Football Betting Preview

Regular Season: August 26 to December 9
Week 1: Saturday, August 26 to Monday, September 4, 2023

Nebraska Cornhuskers

When: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 8:00pm ET
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
TV: FOX

We don’t always get conference matchups in Week 1 of the season, but that is exactly what we are getting here, with Nebraska going on the road to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It has been a nightmarish few seasons for Nebraska, who are now trying to rebuild and get back to being competitive again. This is a project that is going to take some time, though, and I don’t see things starting well on the road against a very tough opponent. The Golden Gophers are in as a 7-point favorite on Thursday night, which is a spread that I think they cover without too much difficulty, which is why I have Nebraska in as a sure loser in Week 1.

Bet Minnesota Golden Gophers to Win
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Stanford Cardinal

When: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00pm ET
Where: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
TV: CBSSN

Perhaps it’s because I am excited about the start of the season that the first couple of picks in this piece come prior to the full Saturday slate of games. The Stanford Cardinal will open their season on Friday night against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in what is sure to be an emotional home game after all that has happened in Hawaii of late. The Rainbow Warriors have already played this season, losing 35-28 to Vanderbilt in Week 0. Hawaii is always a decent bet in their own building, as they have covered in each of their last 5 home games. This looks like an ideal opportunity to get their first win of the season, which I believe they will do, albeit in a close one.

Bet Hawaii Rainbow Warriors to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF

Fresno State Bulldogs

When: Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 12:00pm ET
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
TV: BTN

We are closing things out with one of the games from the Saturday schedule in what is probably going to be the riskiest bet of this bunch. The Fresno State Bulldogs will hit the road to face the Purdue Boilermakers in Week 1 and will do so as a 3 ½ point underdog. I think there is a pretty good chance that the Bulldogs could cover the spread here, which would certainly be the safer way to play this game, but I think it’s also worth taking the risk that the Boilermakers will find a way to win what will likely be a close one. The Boilermakers have won 10 of their last 14 Saturday games, so certainly a lot to like here.

Bet Purdue Boilermakers to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAF