Week 1 College Football Betting Preview

It’s here….. HOLY CRAP it’s here. College Football kickoff weekend is upon us (well technically the season kicked off with Hawaii vs Cal but who cares) 15 GLORIOUS weeks of betting on college football is here! and that doesn’t include the bowl games. Each week we will run down the marquee games of the weekend with reasons why each team will cover. At least one game a week will be our RideTheHothand free pick of the week. Week 1 of college football is the one week the NCAA has the whole football landscape to itself as the NFL is finishing up preseason. They take full advantage, scheduling great out of conference games played in NFL stadiums. In week 1 we will be looking at 3 neutral field games that look good on paper.

#1 Alabama vs #20 USC AT&T Stadium (Alabama -11.5, O/U 53.5)

For the second straight year the Crimson Tide begin their season at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys. For the 5th straight year they open up with a quality opponent. Alabama begins the season as the number 1 ranked defending national champs. This time their opponent is USC in what could be an interesting game in front of a packed house in Jerry’s world. The game is 3 days away and if Nick Saban knows who is starting at quarterback he’s not telling. It’s a two man race between junior Cooper Bateman and redshirt freshman Blake Barnett. Most people think Bateman will get the first crack but Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will not hesitate to switch if Bateman struggles. Most people also think it doesn’t matter and Alabama will be strong enough everywhere else that will allow them to win the 12 games and SEC championship needed to get back to the playoff. On the other side USC returns almost all starters from their offense except the most important one. Cody Kessler is gone and junior Max Browne will take over. Browne will get at least 2 games no matter the outcome in this game to prove he deserves the job. The Trojans return 4 O line starters and all of their backs and receivers from a year ago so they will be a dangerous offense…… BUT…… will they be able to stop anyone? The defense is YOUNG but have the talent to be good. Will they be good enough in week 1 vs an Alabama team that will try and punch them in the mouth?

Why Alabama Will Cover

1. Every year it seems like people say Alabama doesn’t have the quarterback to contend for a championship. Every year the quarterback does just enough and they are right there at end. Alabama lost Heisman winner Derrick Henry along with his 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. No problem they have two 5 star recruit sophomores in Damian Harris and Bo Scarborough who are chomping at the bit. They bring back their receiving core triple threat of Calvin Ridley, Ardarious Stewart and tight end OJ Howard. They also landed one of the best receivers from The MAC in 2015, landing grad transfer Gehrig Dieter, who was the number 1 receiver on Bowling Green Last year. Bama is going to have no trouble scoring points.
2. Alabama has the best defensive line in the nation year in, year out. You can’t run on them. Well guess what? Now they have a ferocious pass rush. They have the best pass rush in the country with their returning players combining for more than 45 sacks a year ago. USC has 2 monster senior offensive tackles who are beasts but are vulnerable up the middle. Max Browne will be short on time.

Why USC Will Cover

1. If anyone in the country can match Alabama’s skill position talent, USC can. USC returns their top 2 running backs from a year ago. Justin Davis and Ronald Jones combined for almost 1,900 yards last year. But their running backs won’t be why they will cover. USC returns their top 6 receivers from a year ago including JuJu Smith Schuster who could be a first round draft pick next year. Bama’s secondary is still their weak spot on defense if they have one.
2. USC returns only 3 starters out of their front 7 but return their entire secondary. Due to injuries their starting secondary were all freshman and sophomores last season, Well this season they are a year older and looking to be the best in the Pac 12. All four starters could play on Sundays in the future. They are fast, we mean really fast. They can close on the ball quick in pass protection and are all great tacklers. If they can shut down Bama’s passing attack… then maybe.

RTHH Free Pick

For some strange reason USC players and fan base have been talking a lot of trash before this game. If you believe that kind of thing matters or not is up to you. What does matter is if Alabama is controlling the game Nick Saban will remember those words and try and embarrass the Trojans. Alabama is loaded again and despite QB questions are still the favorite to win the SEC and get back to the playoff. Alabama doesn’t like to step on the throats of lesser out of conference opponents but they have no problem in week 1. Look at the scores of their last 4 openers against quality opponents in NFL stadiums

• 2012 – Beat 8th ranked Michigan 41-14 at Cowboys Stadium, covering as 13 point favorites.
• 2013 – Beat Virginia Tech 35-10 at the Georgia Dome, covering at 21 point favorites.
• 2014 – Beat West Virginia 33-23 at the Georgia Dome, failed to cover as 20 point favorites.
• 2015 – Beat #20 Wisconsin 35-17 at AT&T Stadium, covering as 12.5 point favorites.

The common theme in all those games is the other teams struggles to score. Saban gets Alabama’s defense ready to play right out of the gate. They will be fired up to show they are still the same dominating force without defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Look for Bama to dominate this game and win by 14+ points. The Pick: Alabama -11.5

Click Here To Buy This Game On Our Premium Picks Page

#4 Florida St. vs #11 Ole Miss, Florida Citrus Bowl (FSU -4.5, O/U 57)

Why Florida St. Will Cover

1. Two words Dalvin Cook. Dalvin Cook may be the best running back in all of college football. Yeah we know about Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb. We won’t know who is the best of the 3 until they are all in the NFL but Dalvin Cook is a superstar who can rush for 200 yards on every opponent they play this year after being hampered by injuries last year. Did we mention he still gained 1,700 yards and scored 19 times while nursing injuries last year? He’s healthy this year. Oh did we mention they return all 5 starters from the offensive line? Well they do. Yeah…. SCARY
2. Florida St. returns 5 of their 7 starters up front and Ole Miss has 5 new starters on the offensive line. Ole Miss does return senior QB Chad Kelly but if the line can’t give him time it won’t matter. This is a rough opening game for 5 new starters.

Why Ole Miss Will Cover

1. Chad Kelly. Yes we said up above that he has a whole new offensive line but Chad Kelly is good enough to beat anyone with his arm. After throwing for over 4,000 yards and 31 scores last year he looks to be even better this season. The secondary for USC are all returning starters but still relatively young and were the weak link on last years defense. Have they grown or will Kelly light them up with his group of dangerous and equally fast receivers?
2. Ole Miss will have an outstanding defense in 2016 despite a few key loses. The Rebels are one of the best teams in the country at stopping the run. So much so that teams stopped trying a year ago and tried to beat them through the air. They think their starting corners from a year ago (Ken Webster and Tony Bridges) will turn into a strength this season. 2014 starting safety Tony Connor is back after missing all of last season. This defense maybe good enough in week 1 to slow FSU down.

Click Here To Buy This Game On Our Premium Picks Page

#18 Georgia vs #22 North Carolina, Georgia Dome (Georgia -2.5, O/U 57)

Why Georgia will cover

1. Nick Chubb vs North Carolina’s defensive line. Nick Chubb was on his way to a 2,000+ yard season last year before his season ended on the first play from scrimmage against Tennessee. Well he’s back, healthy and out to prove he’s the best running back in the country. The Tar Heels were AWFUL on defense last year, ranked 117th against the run and 104th overall. From the looks of it they aren’t going to improve much in 1 season as they lost 3 of their top tacklers to graduation and will rely on freshman and sophomores this season. Chubb should have a big day.
2. Kirby Smart and DEFENSE! Georgia was one of the best defenses in the country last season and despite losing a bunch of talent up front they look to be even better under Smart. They have a ton of 4 and 5 star recruits ready to take over in their front 7 and will be greatly helped with the fact they return almost their entire secondary from last year including fantastic safeties Quincy Mauger and Dominick Sanders who are among the best in the SEC. This defense should be ready to dominate. Mitch Trubisky will take over at quarterback for the Tar Heels after 2 years on the bench. His first start could be a rough one.

Why North Carolina will cover

1. Offensive firepower. Yes Mitch Trubisky is making his first start. The rest of the offense is LOADED. They return starting running back Elijah Wood and backup TJ Logan. They return 3 of their top 4 receivers and 4 starting offensive lineman (including John Heck and Caleb Peterson both 2nd team ACC last year) If Georgia’s young front 7 aren’t ready to play immediately The Tar Heel offensive is capable of lighting them up.
2. Carolina’s defense has lots of questions but those questions aren’t in the secondary. The Tar Heels return almost their entire secondary. Last season they played well despite no pass rush whatsoever. These guys are good and will try and play tight man to man defense and bring extra guys up to the line to slow down Chubb.

Click Here To Buy This Game On Our Premium Picks Page

Some of the best Handicappers on Earth still have College Football pre season discount packages on everything to 1 week to full season. Pick the one you like and make this College Football season a winning one. Click Here For Details