College Football Odds & Week 1 Betting Guide

The calendar has flipped over into the month of August, which means that the countdown to the start of the college football season is now very much on.

We will, of course, have some games in what has become known as Week 0, but the real opening week of the season comes on Saturday, August 31.

My Analysis

There is a full slate of games to choose from, so now really is the time to start thinking about how you are going to wager in the opening week.

I tend to like to wait until much closer to the start of the season before diving in, but I do have a few games that I like know, keeping in mind that the lines might change, as might my opinion, before these games are played.

Clemson Tigers vs Georgia Bulldogs

They should be back in the playoff picture again this year, but they have a tricky opener, with the Clemson Tigers coming to Athens to start the year.

The Tigers have been on a bit of a downturn in recent years, but there is a sense that they should be stronger in 2024.

I certainly like Georgia to win their season opener at home, but I am not fully sold on the point spread.

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MyBookie NCAA Football Wager Lines to Win

Miami Hurricanes at Florida Gators – OVER 54 ½

This is one of the biggest games on the Week 1 schedule, as there is certainly no love lost between these in-state rivals.

With the playoffs extending to 12 teams this season, both of these teams will feel as though they have a shot at getting in, but things could become that much tougher with a loss in the opening game.

If you look at the last 10 meetings between these two teams, you see that the trend that stands out is the OVER, which has hit 7 times in those matchups.

Let’s follow that trend and play the OVER.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish over Texas A&M Aggies

Another absolutely huge Week 1 game here, as both teams will come into this season feeling as though they have a shot at getting into the playoffs.

The bookies see this one as close, as they have it in as a PK play at the moment. It would be easy to simply go with the home team in this one, but I’m not so sure that it’s that straightforward.

The Irish have dominated in matchups with the Aggies, winning and covering in 7 of the last 10 meetings.

I am on Notre Dame to win a close one on the road.

LSU Tigers at USC Trojans – OVER 62 ½

The opening weekend is not just devoted to Saturday, as we have a huge game set to go on Sunday night.

The LSU Tigers will head west to open their season against the USC Trojans in what is easily one of the marquee matchups in Week 1 of the college football season.

LSU has won in 8 of the last 10 meetings against the Trojans, but I am not totally sold on them extending that record, despite the fact that they are 6 ½ point favorites.

Then play I am looking at here is the OVER, which has hit in 9 of the last 10 games between these two.

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