NFL Week 1 Line Move Plays
September 7, 2023Week 2 College Football Teaser Best Bets
September 7, 2023Winning two-thirds of your college football bets will keep you in the black, so I’m off to a good start on my total best bets hitting two of three picks last week. I was confident in all my picks, especially backing the UNDER in a game featuring last year’s best scoring defense. Well, to prove that each season is different Illinois not only surrendered 28 points they scored 30 against Toledo. The Fighting Illini allowed at least 28 points just once last season leading the nation with an average of 12.8 points against. So, the bet I thought I would win turned out to be the only loser.
You could probably back the UNDER with Iowa all season and come out ahead. The Hawkeyes erupted for 24 points in their win over Utah State holding the Aggies to a touchdown and two field goals. Even a late Utah State score didn’t put me in jeopardy of losing that NCAAF bet. And as expected there was plenty of offense in the LSU/Florida State matchup with the teams combining for 69 points to easily cash the OVER. Check out the latest NCAAF lines and odds at BetRivers sportsbook to see where money can be won in Week 2 of the college football season.
Week 2 Total Best Bets
Ball State Cardinals at Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: OVER 52
The two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs were not satisfied with their season-opening 48-7 win over Tennessee-Martin, which means Ball State has a problem. Had the Dawgs played a tougher opponent the way they did against UTM the outcome would’ve been different. In his debut Carson Beck was solid going 21 of 31 for 294 yards and a TD and coach Kirby Smart proclaimed Beck will only get better with that first game out of the way. Beck has a bunch of playmakers at his disposal and the Bulldogs will use them more in an effort to put up bigger numbers.
Ball State had a 7-3 lead last week before Kentucky went on a 27-0 scoring spree to put the game away. The game was closer than the 44-14 final with the Cards having a fumble returned for a touchdown and giving up a 99-yard kickoff return score. Marquez Cooper is someone the Georgia defense is familiar with after he ran for 90 yards and a TD last season while at Kent State. A NCAAF odds favorite of 42 points I don’t think Georgia is going to lose the game. However, with a big enough lead we’ll see reserves take over giving Ball State a chance to put up points and take this OVER the total.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at Old Dominion Monarchs
Pick: UNDER 51.5
The Ragin’ Cajuns lost a good coach and their offense when Billy Napier moved up the ranks. They did bust loose in a 38-13 win against overmatched Northwestern State last week and won’t be so fortunate against the ODU Monarchs. The Cajuns should’ve had more points but they were undone by three turnovers. The defense was sharp holding the Demons to 77 rushing yards and 187 total yards while recording five sacks. And the group should feel good going against a Monarchs offense that hasn’t scored more than 20 points in its last six games.
With only six seniors on the roster the Monarchs are a young team. And prior to last week none of the quarterbacks had ever played in an FBS game. That inexperience at the most important position will lead to difficulties, though Grant Wilson emerged as the QB1 with a pair of TD passes and 81 rushing yards. Still, the Monarchs will have plenty of growing pains early in the year and ULL’s defense will limit their points keeping this one UNDER the college football line.
Auburn Tigers at Cal Golden Bears
Pick: OVER 53.5
I’m going to take a risk and say the offenses are real, at least better than they’ve been in previous years. I won’t go so far as to say they are as good as what we saw last week. Auburn and Cal combined for nearly 120 points in their respective Week 1 wins, though they were against subpar opponents. Still, scoring in the upper 50s is something for these squads. Auburn welcomed new coach Hugh Freeze with a 59-14 win over UMass getting three rushing TDs from last year’s starting QB Robby Ashford.
The Cal Golden Bears rushed for 357 yards, including 188 yards on 20 Jaydn Ott carries, and totaled 669 yards in their 58-21 over North Texas. Yards and points will be tougher to come by on Saturday, but giving me confidence to back the OVER on the NCAA football betting line is that both defenses are still a work in progress.
Check out the latest college football betting odds at BetRivers.