Week 1 College Football Total Best Bets

Highlighting the number of available options to wager on college football, we’ll touch on the best total bets for Week 1. Also referred to as the over/under, the number represents the combined number of points the teams will score in their designated contest. All you have to do is pick if the point total goes over or under the projected number to score a football odds winner. Sounds easy enough, right? Well it’s much harder than it appears Oddsmakers are experts at their jobs with a majority of games ending right around the closing total. However, they’re not perfect leaving a window of opportunity to make some cash.

Week 1 of the college football season presents a number of challenges for sportsbooks and bettors. We don’t quite know what to expect from most teams and how the players acquired in the portal will work out. We caught a glimpse of some special offensive talent in Week 0 with USC’s Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams tossing four TD passes in a 56-28 win over San Jose State. If the Trojans continue to struggle on defense we could see more high scoring affairs throughout the year. Oddsmakers adjust, though, with USC’s Week 1 tilt against Nevada having a posted total of 66.5 at BetRivers sportsbook, up slightly from their 65.5 total last week, which they went OVER.

Week 1 Total Best Bets

Utah State Aggies at Iowa Hawkeyes

Pick: UNDER 44.5

The Hawkeyes were awful scoring the football last season prompting the team to use the portal for a quarterback upgrade. They landed a good one in Cade McNamara from Michigan, who was at the helm in 2021 when the Wolverines won the Big Ten and advanced to the College Football Playoff. And he’ll definitely improve the 122nd ranked pass offense from a season ago. Iowa averaged a paltry 156.7 yards through the air and QBs combined to throw just seven TD passes the entire season.

The issue for Week 1, though, is whether McNamara will be able to go against Utah State. Coach Kirk Ferentz used the word “cleared” when discussing the possibility of McNamara playing the opener. Not a solid endorsement but one that says McNamara will likely give it a shot. Keep in mind the Hawkeyes scored 17 points or less seven times in 2022 and still won seven games so they’re doing something right on defense. And with the Aggies having an influx of new players I don’t anticipate their offense firing on all cylinders initially leading me to back the UNDER on the college football line.

LSU Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles

Pick: OVER 56.5

Little did we know that when the teams met in Week 1 last season they’d end up where they did. They both reached double figures in victories thanks to some superb quarterbacking and the two are back for a rematch. FSU won, 24-23, last September thanks to a blocked PAT, but it’s safe to say LSU’s Jayden Daniels and FSU’s Jordan Travis elevated their game over the course of last season and both are looking for bigger things in 2023.

LSU won the SEC West thanks to a 32-31 win over Alabama and Daniels was electrifying throwing a pair of scoring passes and running for 95 yards and another score. The Tigers averaged over 450 yards and 34.5 points last season with a bunch of the talent returning. Travis threw for 3,200 yards and 24 TDs with an additional 417 yards and seven scores on the ground last season. “Two elite quarterbacks that can run, throw and are elusive,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. That means trouble for the defenses.

Toledo Rockets at Illinois Fighting Illini

Pick: UNDER 46

Casual followers of college football probably don’t realize that Illinois had the No. 1 scoring defense in the country last season. They also produced one of the better seasons in program history. It could’ve been much better if they didn’t lose four of their final five games. Even when the offense struggled, like it did during the late season slide, the Illini continued to play stingy defense. And the group got a boost when Jer’Zhan Newton decided to return.

Also giving me confidence to back the UNDER on the NCAA football betting line is that both teams saw more roster turnover on the offensive side. The Illinois will be breaking in Luke Altmyer as its new QB. Toledo coacyh Jason Candle said Illinois will “earn whatever they get” when the programs meet for the first time.

Check out the latest college football betting odds at BetRivers.