Massive spreads and major roster changes create intriguing value across the NCAA Division I landscape
It’s starting to feel like fall, with college football cranking up and the NFL about to start its schedule on Sept. 9.
College football’s first full Saturday and Sunday slate of games arrives with national title contenders, high-profile coaching debuts, and wild point spreads eclipsing 40 and higher.
Clemson-LSU, Wisconsin-Notre Dame and Louisville-Ole Miss rank among the most-bet games.
Lane Kiffin’s LSU home debut (7:30 p.m. EST) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA, against Clemson, is the biggest storyline, and there’s some strong betting value in backing underdogs elsewhere on the board.
Transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt makes his debut, with a heavily reconstructed roster working together in a real game for the first time.
In college football betting at Betway, No. 11 LSU is a -400 moneyline favourite, while Clemson is a +300 underdog. The Tigers are 10.5-point favourites at -105, with Clemson +10.5 at -115. The total is set at 50.5 points, with both the over and under priced at -110.
Clemson’s defence gives it a chance to be competitive. My pick is Clemson at +10.5. LSU should win, but that is a substantial number for a reconstructed roster playing its first game under Kiffin.
Oregon hosts Boise State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., starting at 3:30 p.m. EST.
At Betway, No. 2 Oregon is a -3300 moneyline favourite, while Boise State is a +1100 underdog. The Ducks are 25.5-point favourites at -105, with the Broncos +25.5 at -115. The total is set at 51.5 points, with both the over and under priced at -110.
Oregon can win comfortably, but Boise State’s running game and experienced quarterback can eat up the clock. Boise State +25.5 is playable at that number– I’m going to lean there.
No. 4 Notre Dame plays Wisconsin at Lambeau Field at 7:30 p.m. EST tomorrow night. At Betway, Notre Dame is -1600 betting favourites, with Wisconsin at +800. The spread is Notre Dame -20.5 (-115) and Wisconsin +20.5 (-105), with the total at 46.5 points (over -115, under -105).
No. 24 Louisville versus No. 9 Ole Miss is tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. EST at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, a neutral-site season opener. At Betway, Mississippi is -250, Louisville +200, while the spread is Mississippi -6.5 (-115), Louisville +6.5 (-105). The total is 55.5 (over is -105, under is -115).
In Notre Dame versus Wisconsin, I’m leaning under 46.5 points, with Wisconsin going into the game with a new quarterback, more than 30 transfers and injury concerns along their offensive line. They are up against Notre Dame’s elite secondary and powerful defensive front.
Wisconsin team total under 13.5 (-135) has some appeal, with their new-look offence up against that defence.
For Louisville at Ole Miss, that under looks good, with all the changes that both offences have undergone. But my best bet is Ole Miss -6.5, since experienced quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is in there as starter, along with star running back Kewan Lacy. Some analysts point to the advantages Mississippi’s superior defensive line has against Louisville’s interior offensive line.
