NCAA football fans got a little taste of the season to come last weekend with a thriller in Dublin, Ireland, where Northwestern came from behind to beat Nebraska. Illinois, Florida State, and North Carolina all got easy wins, and Vanderbilt went out to Hawaii and got a 63-10 victory.
But that was only Week 0. This is now officially Week 1, and all 25 of the nation’s Top-25 teams are in action, beginning on Thursday at Oklahoma State and finishing up on Monday night with Clemson and Georgia Tech.
NCAA Football Week 1 Picks Against the Spread
West Virginia (+7.5) at No. 17 Pittsburgh – Thursday
This is the 105th playing of the Backyard Brawl, but just the first since 2011. So while history can’t tell us about these two specific sets of players, we do know that four of the last five meetings have been decided by four points or less.
It will be rocking in Pittsburgh, and the Panthers probably win this game, but they will fall short of covering the touchdown spread. Take the Mountaineers.
Colorado State at No. 8 Michigan (-30.5) – Saturday
Here are the numbers that matter to you. Last season Michigan was 11-3-0 against the spread and 5-1 when that spread was more than two touchdowns.
On the other side, Colorado State was just 4-8-0 against the spread, and they lost their final six games of the season ATS.
CSU is ranked right around 95 in the country. Michigan is eighth. This is going to be a bloodbath that has the Wolverines covering no later than the third quarter.
No. 11 Oregon (+17.5) at No. 3 Georgia – Saturday
Considering that the Bulldogs lost 15 players to the NFL this past season, putting them as more than a two-touchdown favorite against a very good Oregon team is quite the leap.
Georgia is still loaded with talent, but they are a far greater unknown than a lot of teams because of their huge roster turnover.
You may want to roll with the Bulldogs most of the NCAA season, but this week look for the Ducks to cover.
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State (-17) – Saturday
It’s another huge spread for a game that, on paper, looks much closer than 17 points. But we know what we have in Ohio State, and it’s an offense led by C.J. Stroud that is going to put up points at will.
Notre Dame’s situation is far less certain, and their key players – like quarterback Tyler Buchner – are far less experienced.
In November, you might take the Irish to cover this spread. Right out of the gate and in Columbus, look for the Buckeyes to cover.
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