– Last Updated on December 22, 2022 3:05 pm
Week 1: Roadrunners vs Wildcats Odds
College football betting sees the UTSA Roadrunners taking on the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday September 3 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions.
UTSA vs. Arizona
Week 1
Date: Thursday September 3
Time: 10:00 PM
Venue: Arizona Stadium – Tuscon, AZ
NCAA Football Spread: Arizona -31.5
NCAA Betting Total: 58.5
NCAA Moneyline Odds: Arizona -825, UTSA +625
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Arizona is looking to build on a season that saw them participate in the PAC 12 title game last season. With most predicting them to finish fourth they have something to prove and can start now.
For UTSA this is just the fourth year of the program and they are trying to prove they belong. Coach Larry Coker was a big winner at Miami but is still establishing this squad.
These teams have met in each of the past two seasons with Arizona winning both contests.
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UTSA has covered both times though and last year’s game was decided by a field goal.
UTSA
The Roadrunners enter the season on a two year trend of decreasing win totals. A trend that might be harder for them to reverse with a tough nonconference schedule and a less than dominant team in Conference USA.
Looking at that nonconference schedule this might be their best chance to get a victory, as they might catch the Wildcats looking past them and can possibly capitalize on the fact that it is their first game of the year. This club is well coached.
Key to this game and this season will be the development of sophomore QB Blake Bogenschutz.
He got his feet wet as a frosh but more is expected this season.
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Their chances are also helped by the fact that even though they are taking on a Power 5 group the Wildcats are not the most physically dominating team out there.
Intensity will be key.
Arizona
Repeating the success of last season is going to be difficult for the Wildcats. First off the PAC12 West is likely to be even tougher and some of the performances they had a year ago might not be as sharp.
When I make that last statement I am looking at QB Anu Solomon and LB Scooby Wright. Solomon was a frosh last season and had very few hiccups – just two games with more INTs than TDs.
He certainly doesn’t have to regress but teams are likely to force him into more difficult situations and sophs often do.
On defense the performance of Scooby Wright earned him multiple postseason honours, and rightfully so. But only two of his 15 sacks came in the last 5 games so maybe offenses were figuring out how to neutralize him.
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I might be splitting heirs with these guys in terms of this game though as Arizona has way more talent than UTSA and it is not restricted to these two stars.
NCAA football handicapping trends
- Roadrunners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
- Roadrunners are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- Roadrunners are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Wildcats are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
- Wildcats are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games on grass.
- Wildcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Week 1 NCAA Football Prediction
It is a big number so I am going to take a pass most likely but the Wildcats are the play. They should be just as good if not better than they were a year ago, and it will be games like this that will show it.
They might want to make a statement after last year’s too close for comfort affair.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Arizona -31.5
Not the best bet on the board for week 1 but you can put it on your card.
Week 9 Score Prediction: Arizona 45 – UTSA 10
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