Thought I’d go ahead and post these early. For those unfamiliar with my daily posts in the Best Bets threads, my friend and I have a system where we each rank plays, and put our heads together to make selections. College football has been our best sport the two years we have used this system, though we have been tearing up baseball this season.
I will repost these on game day in Best Bets thread, but don’t want to let the lines move against us too much. Also, I will add totals on game days, as canbet does not post totals until then. All bets are -110 unless otherwise noted.
5* Bowling Green +2.5 @ Wisconsin. Wrong team favored here, as Bowling Green has proven capable of playing with big boys (9-0 all-time ATS vs. BCS conference teams, including a straight up win over Purdue), and the Wisconsin defense lost all four starting linemen, and their entire starting secondary. Bowling Green’s explosive offense should put up plenty of points. Prediction: Bowling Green 31, Wisconsin 20.
5* Syracuse -1.5 vs. WVU. West Virginia lost leading rusher in Harris, but more importantly QB Marshall, who did it all for the Mountaineers. Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, new Orange Head Coach, has enthused Syracuse, who is always tough at home. Prediction: Syracuse 27, WVU 17.
4* Georgia -8.5 vs. Boise St. We’re not going to dispute Boise’s offensive potential, but we expect Georgia to run all over their defense, and get enough stops to win by twenty. Boise’s last road trip into SEC country was a whipping at the hands of Arkansas, 41-14. Expect the same here. Prediction: Georgia 45, Boise St. 24.
4* Georgia Tech +7.5 (-105) Rumors flying that Auburn QB Brandon Cox will miss this game after being arrested this week. We feel it is unimportant who is starting for Auburn. Georgia Tech held a much better Auburn team to three points the last time they met two years ago. We feel the Yellow Jackets get enough points to win SU. Prediction: Georgia Tech 13, Auburn 10.
3* Texas -39.5 vs. UL Lafayette. We’re not crazy about laying this many points on all but the smallest plays, but this is a Mack Brown special. While we feel Mack Brown is one of the worst big game coaches in history, he routinely annihilates this kind of opponent. Last year’s season opener, vs. North Texas, ended up 65-0, and that score wouldn’t surprise us here, especially since QB Vince Young is one of the leading candidates for Heisman. Prediction: Texas 56, UL Lafayette 3.
3* NC St. +3.5 vs. Va. Tech. While we feel Va. Tech may be able to have a big season, NC St. is too good a value at home here. VT QB Vick will probably struggle in Week 1, and we expect NC St. QB Davis to outplay him. State had 10 sacks in this matchup last year in 17-16 road victory. Prediction: NC St. 17, Va. Tech 13.
3* Miami (OH) +14.5 @ Ohio St. Ohio St.’s best QB option, the versatile Smith, is unavailable for this game due to suspension. We think Miami can easily hang with the return of most of their potent offense. Prediction: Ohio St. 27, Miami (OH) 21.
2* Texas A&M -1.5 @ Clemson. Texas and Oklahoma receive all the hype in the Big 12, but A&M could surprise some people this year, led by Franchione‘s coaching and QB McNeal. Clemson has traditionally started slow under Tommy Bowden. Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Clemson 21.
2* Colorado St. +7 @ Colorado. There isn’t that much talent separating these teams, and this is a series dominated by the underdog. Prediction: Colorado St. 27, Colorado 24.
2* UCLA -9 @ SD St. UCLA has a lot to prove this year, and we believe they will get off to a good start against hapless San Diego St. Prediction: UCLA 38, SD St. 17.
2* Air Force +3 vs. Washington. Hard to understand why a Washington team that only won one game in a bad conference last year is a favorite here, as Air Force should run the ball with ease against the porous Washington D. Prediction: Air Force 21, Washington 17.
2* Miami (FL) -3 @ Florida St. Miami’s recent domination of Fla. St. combined with the fact that they are simply the better team makes it clear which side we want to take. Prediction: Miami 24, Florida St. 14.
1* Illinois +1.5 vs. Rutgers. We were going to research Rutgers’ recent history as a road favorite, then we realized there was none. Ron Zook wants to get his first win at his new school, and we think it comes here. Prediction: Illinois 27, Rutgers 20.
1* Tulsa +16 vs. Minnesota. Tulsa rarely gets blown out at home. Last time they were double digit HD was last year vs. Boise St., and they nearly won the game before eventually falling 45-42. Prediction: Minnesota 31, Tulsa 21.
1* Iowa -38.5 vs. Ball St. Ball State was absolutely dreadful last year, and they lost what little talent they had. We see no reason why Iowa doesn’t roll. Prediction: Iowa 52, Ball St. 6.
I will repost these on game day in Best Bets thread, but don’t want to let the lines move against us too much. Also, I will add totals on game days, as canbet does not post totals until then. All bets are -110 unless otherwise noted.
5* Bowling Green +2.5 @ Wisconsin. Wrong team favored here, as Bowling Green has proven capable of playing with big boys (9-0 all-time ATS vs. BCS conference teams, including a straight up win over Purdue), and the Wisconsin defense lost all four starting linemen, and their entire starting secondary. Bowling Green’s explosive offense should put up plenty of points. Prediction: Bowling Green 31, Wisconsin 20.
5* Syracuse -1.5 vs. WVU. West Virginia lost leading rusher in Harris, but more importantly QB Marshall, who did it all for the Mountaineers. Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, new Orange Head Coach, has enthused Syracuse, who is always tough at home. Prediction: Syracuse 27, WVU 17.
4* Georgia -8.5 vs. Boise St. We’re not going to dispute Boise’s offensive potential, but we expect Georgia to run all over their defense, and get enough stops to win by twenty. Boise’s last road trip into SEC country was a whipping at the hands of Arkansas, 41-14. Expect the same here. Prediction: Georgia 45, Boise St. 24.
4* Georgia Tech +7.5 (-105) Rumors flying that Auburn QB Brandon Cox will miss this game after being arrested this week. We feel it is unimportant who is starting for Auburn. Georgia Tech held a much better Auburn team to three points the last time they met two years ago. We feel the Yellow Jackets get enough points to win SU. Prediction: Georgia Tech 13, Auburn 10.
3* Texas -39.5 vs. UL Lafayette. We’re not crazy about laying this many points on all but the smallest plays, but this is a Mack Brown special. While we feel Mack Brown is one of the worst big game coaches in history, he routinely annihilates this kind of opponent. Last year’s season opener, vs. North Texas, ended up 65-0, and that score wouldn’t surprise us here, especially since QB Vince Young is one of the leading candidates for Heisman. Prediction: Texas 56, UL Lafayette 3.
3* NC St. +3.5 vs. Va. Tech. While we feel Va. Tech may be able to have a big season, NC St. is too good a value at home here. VT QB Vick will probably struggle in Week 1, and we expect NC St. QB Davis to outplay him. State had 10 sacks in this matchup last year in 17-16 road victory. Prediction: NC St. 17, Va. Tech 13.
3* Miami (OH) +14.5 @ Ohio St. Ohio St.’s best QB option, the versatile Smith, is unavailable for this game due to suspension. We think Miami can easily hang with the return of most of their potent offense. Prediction: Ohio St. 27, Miami (OH) 21.
2* Texas A&M -1.5 @ Clemson. Texas and Oklahoma receive all the hype in the Big 12, but A&M could surprise some people this year, led by Franchione‘s coaching and QB McNeal. Clemson has traditionally started slow under Tommy Bowden. Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Clemson 21.
2* Colorado St. +7 @ Colorado. There isn’t that much talent separating these teams, and this is a series dominated by the underdog. Prediction: Colorado St. 27, Colorado 24.
2* UCLA -9 @ SD St. UCLA has a lot to prove this year, and we believe they will get off to a good start against hapless San Diego St. Prediction: UCLA 38, SD St. 17.
2* Air Force +3 vs. Washington. Hard to understand why a Washington team that only won one game in a bad conference last year is a favorite here, as Air Force should run the ball with ease against the porous Washington D. Prediction: Air Force 21, Washington 17.
2* Miami (FL) -3 @ Florida St. Miami’s recent domination of Fla. St. combined with the fact that they are simply the better team makes it clear which side we want to take. Prediction: Miami 24, Florida St. 14.
1* Illinois +1.5 vs. Rutgers. We were going to research Rutgers’ recent history as a road favorite, then we realized there was none. Ron Zook wants to get his first win at his new school, and we think it comes here. Prediction: Illinois 27, Rutgers 20.
1* Tulsa +16 vs. Minnesota. Tulsa rarely gets blown out at home. Last time they were double digit HD was last year vs. Boise St., and they nearly won the game before eventually falling 45-42. Prediction: Minnesota 31, Tulsa 21.
1* Iowa -38.5 vs. Ball St. Ball State was absolutely dreadful last year, and they lost what little talent they had. We see no reason why Iowa doesn’t roll. Prediction: Iowa 52, Ball St. 6.
