College football odds, lines, schedule for Week 1: Ohio State, Georgia big favorites in openers

In the end, the primary full week of faculty soccer is right here, because the calendar flips from Week 0 and its sampling of motion to Week 1 and a full menu of appetizing contests. For action-starved followers of the game, this Saturday slate could also be trigger to cancel all different obligations for the sake of having fun with the video games with a multi-TV setup.

Actually, although, Week 1 is about extra than simply what occurs Saturday, because the motion begins Thursday and would not cease till Georgia Tech hosts Clemson on Monday evening. With a renewal of the Yard Brawl rivalry between Pittsburgh and West Virginia among the many contests on faucet for Thursday, we’re in retailer for a run of 5 straight days that includes energy convention motion.

For a lot of followers, it is time to begin getting severe on the wagering entrance. However even for these with no betting curiosity, the purpose spreads present good perception about what’s anticipated to transpire.

Caesars Sportsbook has launched odds for the Week 1 motion, so we have determined to spotlight the spreads from the few week’s greatest video games to see how issues are shaping up for what must be a wonderful week of faculty soccer.

Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook 

West Virginia at No. 17 Pittsburgh (-7), Thursday: The Yard Brawl will probably be renewed for the primary time since 2011, as West Virginia makes the 75-mile trek to Pittsburgh for a bitter regional rivalry that ought to present a charming begin to the Week 1 festivities. West Virginia gained the final three conferences in 2009, 2010 and 2011, however the Panthers personal a 61-40 all-time edge within the sequence and are the defending ACC champions. Regardless of dropping star quarterback Kenny Pickett and Bilentnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison at receiver, Pitt must be among the many ACC’s finest once more. West Virginia is trying to lastly break by after underneath fourth-year coach Neal Brown, and this will probably be our first have a look at former USC and Georgia switch quarterback JT Daniels in a Mountaineers jersey. Pitt’s nastiness up entrance on each side of the ball ought to give it an awesome probability to cowl this unfold.

No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State (-17): Welcome to the pinnacle teaching ranks, Marcus Freeman. On your first task, you will need to tackle an offense that may very well be the perfect in school soccer. With the trio of quarterback C.J. Stroud, working again TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Buckeyes have three Heisman Trophy candidates. The Preventing Irish are coming off 5 straight seasons of 10 or extra wins, however it is a powerful strategy to start a brand new period as Freeman steps up from defensive coordinator to exchange Brian Kelly. You possibly can’t rule out the potential for a backdoor cowl with a line this massive, however Ohio State can completely rating sufficient to cowl.  

No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia (-17.5), Atlanta: Final season, Dan Lanning was coordinating an all-time nice Georgia protection because the Bulldogs broke by for his or her first nationwide title since 1980. Now, he’s teaching towards the Bulldogs as he takes over an Oregon program nonetheless stocked with loads of expertise from the Mario Cristobal period. Georgia misplaced 15 NFL Draft picks, together with a pool of riches on the protection, however seventh-year coach Kirby Sensible has recruited so properly that Georgia is a heavy favourite for this sport anyway. With Auburn switch Bo Nix at quarterback and sufficient front-line expertise to compete for the Pac-12 title, the Geese ought to be capable to hold this one nearer than this line suggests.

No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas (-6): Solely Georgia and LSU had extra gamers chosen within the 2022 NFL Draft than Cincinnati, which bid farewell to 9 draft picks from final season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff squad. Regardless of the attrition, the Bearcats can instantly reassert themselves on the nationwide stage with a highway win over an SEC West foe. The Razorbacks had their finest season in a decade final yr, ending 9-4 with a No. 21 rating within the AP High 25. But when they will match or surpass that win complete in 2022, this may very well be a must-win sport as Arkansas faces one of many nation’s hardest schedules. Although chances are you’ll not acknowledge a ton of names from this Cincinnati workforce, the Bearcats ought to be capable to grind out yards on the bottom behind a veteran offensive line and hold this tight into the fourth quarter.

No. 7 Utah (-2.5) at Florida: When City Meyer left Utah for Florida after the 2004 season, Kyle Whittingham took over the Utes’ head teaching job, and he is by no means left. Florida is now on its fifth coach in the identical time-frame as Billy Napier takes over following a profitable four-year run at Louisiana. Coming off a Rose Bowl look, Utah could make a press release concerning the legitimacy of its CFP hopes with a win right here. However the Gators can have a major dwelling subject benefit and have sufficient expertise to indicate that final season’s 6-7 mark underneath former coach Dan Mullen was only a fluke. Ultimately, it is onerous to belief Florida’s defensive entrance sufficient to cease what must be a fierce Utah working assault.

Better of the remaining

Central Michigan at No. 12 Oklahoma State (-21), Thursday
Penn State (-3.5) at Purdue, Thursday
Western Michigan at No. 15 Michigan State (-20), Friday
Colorado State at No. 8 Michigan (-27)
No. 13 NC State (-11) at East Carolina
No. 24 Houston (-4) at UTSA
UTEP at No. 9 Oklahoma (-31.5)
Troy at No. 21 Ole Miss (-22)
No. 25 BYU (-12) at USF
Rice at No. 14 USC (-34.5)
Utah State at No. 1 Alabama (-40)
Florida State vs. LSU (-3), Sunday
No. 4 Clemson (-21) at Georgia Tech, Monday