NCAA Football Betting – CFB week 1 Odds & Picks
We continue our look at college football Week 1 with four more games to chew on.
Week 1 NCAAF Matchup: UNLV Runnin’ Rebels @ Wisconsin Badgers
Thursday, September 1, 9:15 p.m. ET
NCAA football betting favorite: Wisconsin -35
Naturally, this matchup is more Wisconsin versus the spread than Wisconsin versus lowly UNLV. I fear for the Runnin’ Rebels’ safety in this matchup. They’re on the road, where they didn’t win a game last season. They had a horrible run defense in 2010, ranking 116th in the country with 223.8 yards allowed per contest. 
Now, they face a Badgers team that went absolutely nuts against weaker competition with its rushing offense late last season. Tailback Montee Ball must be licking his chops and this is also a non-intimidating game to break imported quarterback Russell Wilson in. The Badgers won three games by 35 or more points last season and UNLV fits the bill as that type of victim.
Pick: Wisconsin -35
Week 1 NCAAF Matchup: UCLA Bruins @ Houston Cougars
Saturday, September 3, 3:30 p.m. ET
NCAA football betting favorite: Houston -3.5
Oddsmakers just don’t respect the smaller conferences, do they? UCLA was 4-8 last season and took its share of beatings in the Pac-10 (now known as the Pac-12). Yet the Bruins are only 3.5-point dogs on the road against Houston, even though the Cougars had the country’s 11th-ranked offense last season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Guess who’s back? Mr. Video Game Stats himself, Case Keenum. He’ll reclaim the starting quarterback reins in his sixth year of eligibility as he crusades toward the NCAA’s all time passing yardage and TD records. I think he and the Cougars will unleash hell on UCLA at home.
Pick: Houston -3.5
Week 1 NCAAF Matchup: South Florida Bulls @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, September 3, 3:30 p.m. ET
NCAA football betting favorite: Notre Dame -10
Week 1 will give us a good taste of whether or not the Irish are overrated this season. South Florida was pesky last season, winning eight games under Skip Holtz, and fielded one of the nation’s better defenses.
Since Notre Dame’s “D” is expected to make big strides this year, the Irish could improve. But I’m not sure they’ll rout the Bulls in Week 1, especially with the Dayne Crist/Tommy Rees quarterback battle not resolved yet. I see a win but a closer margin than 10 points.
Pick: South Florida +10
Week 1 NCAAF Matchup: Fresno State Bulldogs @ California Golden Bears
Saturday, September 3, 7:00 p.m. ET
NCAA football betting favorite: California -10
Fresno State was a respectable 8-5 a season ago but it isn’t enough to earn the Bulldogs respect since they toiled to that record in the WAC of all conferences. California should be angry after tanking and ending a seven-year playoff run at the end of last season. Its offense could be a question mark with Shane Vereen gone but its “D” should handle Fresno State. After all, the Bears held Oregon to 15 points at Oregon last season. Impressive stuff.
I like Cal to cover.
Pick: California -10
