The college football season is underway, and we’ve got a massive slate for Week 1 on Saturday.
We’ve already gone over many of the top games with our articles. The Texas-Ohio State game should be an epic showdown in an SEC-Big Ten game. Other intriguing games that we’ve discussed in numerous articles include LSU-Clemson, Florida State-Alabama, Notre Dame-Miami, and Tennessee-Syracuse.
We’ve already got bets on these games. With this article, I’m looking for the best value on the board. I don’t necessarily care if I’m playing some of the least anticipated games. I’m just looking for value. That said, I shared the value plays below. You’ll want to consider these at the top-rated sportsbooks after reading all of the in-depth analysis.
So without further ado, here are my college football expert picks for Saturday.
Thursday’s Top NCAAF Picks
When Week 1 begins, there aren’t a ton of intriguing games.
Often, top teams will battle mid-tier and lower-tier teams to prepare for conference play in a month. However, from time to time, Week 1 will provide exciting non-conference games to break down.
On Saturday, there are three important games that have had some buzz. Below, I’ll provide a bet for both of those games.
Ball State vs. Purdue (-17.5)
On Thursday, Rutgers narrowly edged Ohio, Minnesota earned a 13-point win over Buffalo, and Wisconsin scored just 17 points against Miami (OH).
No Big Ten team won a game by more than 17 points against a MAC opponent. That gives me confidence that Ball State can compete against the bottom-feeder of the Big Ten.
The Boilermakers are entering the season with a new coach in Barry Odom. While he’s a solid hire, it’s going to take time for Purdue to get back on track.
In addition, Ball State has Kiael Kelly, who is a dual-threat quarterback. As we saw with Parker Navarro at Ohio, dual quarterbacks are extremely hard to stop, especially in Week 1 of the season.
Plus, don’t forget Purdue forced just five turnovers all season last year. Let’s give Ball State a chance at +17.5.
Expert Pick: Ball State +17.5 (-105) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Marshall vs. Georgia (-38.5)
The Marshall Thundering Herd is starting from ground zero this year. They lost nearly the entire roster to the transfer portal after their former head coach left for Southern Mississippi. Ultimately, 20 of those transfers went to Southern Miss under the leadership of former head coach Charles Huff.
It’s hard to imagine a team with an entirely new roster will be prepared and gel together instantly, especially against a team like Georgia.
On the other hand, Georgia is probably feeling more confident with Gunner Stockton at quarterback this year. Carson Beck was solid for the Bulldogs. But he didn’t give them what Stetson Bennett did. As a matter of fact, Stockton looked better in the CFP than Beck did all year.
Expect a monster performance from Georgia right out of the gate.
Expert Pick: Georgia -24.5 First Half (+107) at Bovada
UTEP vs. Utah State (-5.5)
UTEP finished last season with a 3-9 record and went 3-5 in Conference USA. They were in the middle of the conference, but went 1-6 on the road last season. In addition, UTEP was 122nd in points per game last season and allowed more than 30 points per game last year.
On the other hand, Utah State went 4-8. However, the Aggies made a coaching change and brought in Bronco Mendenhall, along with most of the former New Mexico staff, to coach this Aggies team. Mendenhall has a very good track record, especially at making quick improvements when he moves on to a different roster.
After all, the talent at Utah State is much greater than UTEP’s. The Aggies brought in Bryson Barnes, who transferred from Utah after 11 starts and 24 career games. That’s a really good get.
Ultimately, the goal for Utah State is to make a bowl game. But if they want to do that in Mendenhall’s first season, they’ll need to win this game.
Expert Pick: Utah State -5.5 (-110) at Bovada
Bet College Football on Thursday With Your New Account!
It’s not the most appetizing slate of the year. But it’s college football on a Saturday to kick off the new season. We’ll take it.
If you want to get in on the action, consider opening up a new account at some of the sportsbooks listed under our odds section and consider placing these bets.
Currently, you can find these exact odds at a place like Bovada. This, along with other sportsbooks previously reviewed by our experts, is a fantastic book to get started with if you’re looking for a new platform to bet on college football.
Enjoy Week 1!
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
