College football is officially back, and with it, the best season of the year for gamblers.
Week 1 offers several intriguing matchups, with numerous powerhouse programs facing off against each other, as well as a few teams looking to continue to build on newfound success.
With over 100 FBS programs kicking off their season this weekend, it would be impossible (and fiscally irresponsible) to bet every game on the slate, so we’re narrowing it down to seven games you may want to consider throwing a few coins on this weekend.
Below are your best seven bets of the first Saturday of the college football season.
Michigan (PK) over Notre Dame
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines have won their past two season openers by a combined score of 96-20. Michigan has high expectations this year and extremely little room for error, with a ton of pressure on Harbaugh to finish better than third in a tough East division of the B1G that features powerhouses Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State. Notre Dame is a tough place to win on the road, but Michigan will be prepared and has more at stake.
Alabama (-24) over Louisville
Saban is essentially unbeatable Week 1. He’s 11-0 in his opening games as Alabama’s head coach, including six wins over other ranked teams, all of which came by double-digits. I hate the idea of laying 24 points with a team that hasn’t even named a starting quarterback, but it’s tough to bet against the Crimson Tide in this spot.
Washington (+2.5) over Auburn
Possibly the most intriguing matchup of the Week 1 slate. Both Washington and Auburn have hopes of competing in the College Football Playoff this year and will be looking to get off to a strong start. Both teams have top-tier coaches and quarterbacks expected to compete for the Heisman, so I’m closing my eyes and taking the points in what should be a slugfest.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Here are the new college football uniforms for the 2018 season
- Nick Saban stonewalls reporters over Alabama’s starting quarterback just days before season opener
- WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The last 20 Heisman Trophy winners
