College Football Betting Odds Week 1: Picks Against the Spread for Top 25 Schedule

College Football Betting Odds Week 1: Picks Against the Spread for Top 25 Schedule0 of 4

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The Georgia Bulldogs could be in a class of their own in college football this season.

Kirby Smart’s top-ranked program is motivated by not making the College Football Playoff last season and it could make a statement in its opener against the Clemson Tigers.

The playoff is easier to get into now that it has evolved to a 12-team format, but that will not change the seasonlong motivation for the two-time champion under Smart.

Clemson has not kept up with the times of the transfer portal. The Tigers were the only non-service academy to not take in a single transfer during the offseason.

Dabo Swinney’s inability to adapt hurt the Tigers over the last few seasons and that could be one of the factors that showcases the gap between the No. 1 team and the No. 14 team on Saturday.

Clemson-Georgia is just one of a few fascinating contests taking place on Saturday that could either reinforce, or change, our thoughts on the early collection of CFB Playoff contenders.

Week 1 Top 25 Schedule and Odds1 of 4

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Friday, August 30

Temple at No. 16 Oklahoma (-42) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Saturday, August 31

No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (-12) (Noon ET, ABC)

No. 8 Penn State (-7.5) at West Virginia (Noon ET, Fox)

Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa (-22.5) (Noon ET, Big Ten Network)

Chattanooga at No. 15 Tennessee (-38.5) (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State (-9.5) (2 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Akron at No. 2 Ohio State (-48.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Colorado State at No. 4 Texas (-32) (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

No. 19 Miami (-2.5) at Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama (-31.5) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Furman at No. 6 Ole Miss (-42) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

UT Martin at No. 18 Kansas State (-36) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Idaho at No. 3 Oregon (-43.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)

No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3) (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan (-21) (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)

New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona (-31) (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Sunday, September 1

No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU (-4) (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Monday, September 2

Boston College at No. 10 Florida State (-16.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (-12)2 of 4

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The point spread in favor of Georgia dropped two points over the last week.

Georgia bettors must be over the moon with the movement because if you loved the Bulldogs at -14, you certainly are in love with them at -12.

Georgia has arguably the best roster in college football. Only Ohio State can make a case to challenge the Bulldogs on paper.

Kirby Smart’s team has a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback in Carson Beck, a strong running game led by Florida transfer Trevor Etienne and a defense that once again has first-round picks ready to head to the NFL in April.

Clemson is running it back with a similar roster whose only additions are from recruiting. The Tigers, Army, Navy and Air Force were the only FBS programs to not make an addition from the transfer portal.

The Tigers can still be a strong team in the ACC, a conference that looks weaker after the Week Zero loss from the Florida State Seminoles, but there are concerns they can challenge at the national level.

Georgia is the favorable bet on the point spread at any number within two touchdowns, but the even better bet could be the under.

Georgia’s defense will once again be strong, and although Clemson’s offense has not been great since Trevor Lawrence left, its defense can hold its own and that may be the only way the Tigers stay in the game.

No. 8 Penn State (-7.5) at West Virginia3 of 4

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Penn State head coach James Franklin is a master of covering spreads as a favorite.

The Nittany Lions have won 24 consecutive games under Franklin as a favorite of a touchdown or more. Penn State is 19-4-1 against the spread in those games, per Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.

Penn State has a long history under Franklin of beating the teams beneath in the rankings, but struggling with the elite programs. Saturday’s trip to Morgantown fits in the latter category.

The Nittany Lions controlled their meeting with West Virginia last season, and if it was not for a few missed field goals in the first half, the game could have been over at halftime.

The primary characters on both sides are back, including quarterbacks Drew Allar at Penn State and West Virginia’s Garrett Greene.

Penn State was a three-touchdown favorite at home against the Mountaineers last season, and although West Virginia improved last season under Neal Brown, it is staggering to see a two-touchdown drop in spread in just a year.

There’s never a guaranteed lock in college football betting, but backing Franklin’s PSU teams as a favorite is as reliable of a strategy as you can find.

No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3)4 of 4

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Saturday night’s clash at Kyle Field is arguably the most important game for the 12-team CFB Playoff in Week 1.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a chance to pick up a SEC road win in a year in which they have three preseason Top 25 foes on their schedule.

The clash with Florida State already looks worse because of the Seminoles’ loss in Ireland to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The USC Trojans are the other ranked foe on the Irish’s schedule and their season could go any way during its introduction to the Big Ten.

Texas A&M may not be in the playoff conversation at the end of the year, but right now it is the 20th-ranked team in the nation and a win over the Aggies could mean a ton for the Irish.

However, a win may hard to come by because of the familiarity between new A&M head coach Mike Elko and new Irish starting quarterback Riley Leonard.

Elko coached Leonard at Duke and should have his A&M defense prepared to deal with all of Leonard’s tendencies.

A&M’s offense may not be a great product, either, but its defense should at least be solid under a head coach with a defensive background.

The under 46 is probably the best bet because of how strong both defenses could be, but if you had to pick a side, the Aggies have the edge because of home field and Elko’s familiarity with Leonard.

A win would at least boost A&M close to the top 15, but the chase of a playoff spot may not be likely given its difficult SEC schedule.

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