After spending the summer betting against the White Sox—sadly not as lucrative as one might hope—it is time to turn my attention fully to college football and aspire to as yet undiscovered levels of degeneracy.
Let’s see what wonders Week 1 has in store for us.
First up, Western Carolina vs. NC State. State is a 32.5-point favorite, and the over/under is 61. This is a tough one all around, as Dave Doeren doesn’t like to pile on his mostly-helpless opponents when he encounters them. No 60-point laugher is in the offing.
Doeren’s NC State teams are 10-0 against FCS opponents, with eight of those being of the big blowout variety. In those eight games, State has averaged about 28 points in the first half and 17 in the second, as the reserves come in and the foot eases off the gas. State scored more than 50 points just once (55 vs. Charleston Southern, 2022). But tonight they’re going to make it twice, and I’ve got WCU hitting 13 points, so give me the State -32.5 and the over. Let’s have a day.
Now it’s time to introduce my new segment:
Obligatory Bet Against UNC Of The Week
Minnesota +2
The Gophers’ offense was hot poop last season, and they lost 31-13 in Chapel Hill. They return a lot of production, though, and should be a little better there—and that defense will be good. I don’t expect UNC’s quarterback play to be good, certainly not on the road in Week 1. Unless Omarion Hampton can play both running back and QB at the same time, and UNC may be exploring this option by October, I don’t foresee a lot of points from the Heels.
Around The Country
Colorado -9.5 vs. North Dakota State: As much as I would enjoy an upset, and no doubt there’s a lot of money headed in that direction, NDSU ain’t quite what it used to be. The Buffs still have Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, and that should be enough.
Clemson vs. UGA, under 49.5 points: I like Clemson’s defense a lot, and I am confident that Cade Klubnik still isn’t any good. So Georgia probably wins this game like 24-10.
FSU -16.5 vs. Boston College: Florida State has had a long plane flight home and an extra couple days to stew ahead of this Monday-nighter, and I suspect the Noles’ loss to Georgia Tech says more about the Jackets than anything else. If the Noles do struggle again here, it might be time for the panic button.