2018 College Football Week 1 Against the Spread Betting Picks

The 2018 regular season is upon us, and some teams have already played their first games of the season. But there are more to choose from for College Football Week 1. On Thursday night, for example, Texas A&M opened the Jimbo Fisher era with a 59-7 tattooing of Northwestern State (Louisiana). There are a lot of cupcake matchups in Week 1, but there are also some intriguing games that will challenge sports betting enthusiasts. We have come up with three primo NCAA Football odds picks for you against the spread, so take a look at our thoughts. Make this college football season your most profitable one yet! Home teams are in all caps.

2018 College Football Week 1 Against the Spread Betting Picks

College football is BACK! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/zMfUWuNJQg

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 31, 2018

Saturday, September 1

Florida Atlantic (+21) over OKLAHOMA, 12:00pm ET, FOX

Lane Kiffin is going to use this game to make his case for returning to coaching in a Power 5 conference when he takes the Owls to Norman to take on the Sooners. FAU finished 11-3 a year ago, using a run-pass option spread offense that saw tailback Devin Singletary rumble for 1,918 yards. Last year, Oklahoma had a dreadful defense under coordinator Mike Stoops, and things aren’t going to get much easier for the Sooners in 2018, as pass-rusher Obo Okoronkwo has left, along with both starting safeties, linebacker Emmanuel Beal and defensive tackle Du’Vonta Lampkin. The replacements are largely freshmen and sophomores, and they will face an Owls team that likes to run inside zone from a spread set, along with some quick options for passing to the outside to give more cushion to go back to the run. FAU has both of their starting offensive tackles back, and they have a variety of options at wide receiver. While Oklahoma should be able to pull away for a win at home, this three-touchdown line doesn’t make a lot of sense. College Football Week 1 Pick: Oklahoma 27, FAU 20

Texas (-13.5) over MARYLAND, 1:00pm ET, FS1

I’ve flipped on this game from my earlier perspective, because I didn’t think that Texas would be able to go up to Maryland and win by double digits against a Terrapins team that won a barnburner down in Austin a year ago. However, the Maryland pro. gram is in turmoil, as head coach D.J. Durkin is under a cloud of suspicion for player abuse in the wake of the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair as a result of heat stroke after conditioning sessions. Texas had issues last year with their offensive line, as they only averaged 3.6 yards per carry, ranked #110 in the nation. They ran the ball against Maryland 31 times for just 98 yards. However, Texas has an improved O-line, which should open more holes. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger returns healthy for the Longhorns and, if he can avoid cataclysmic contact, then the Longhorn offense should move smoothly. College Football Week 1 Pick: Texas 27, Maryland 10

West Virginia (-9.5) over Tennessee (in Charlotte), 3:30pm ET, CBS

Jeremy Pruitt leaves a decorated career as a defensive coordinator at both Alabama and Georgia to take the head job at Tennessee this year, and his aggressive style will mark a change from the porous defenses of years past. His offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton, helped turned Sam Darnold into one of the best pure passers in the nation at USC. Pruitt has his job cut out for him on defense, as the Volunteers permitted more than 250 yards on the ground per game, permitting 5.4 yards per attempt. Will Grier, the West Virginia quarterback, is rated the top signal-caller in the Big 12 and may be one of the top five in the nation. If the Mountaineers can establish the running game early and then open up the pass, this could be a long day for the Tennessee defense, which brings back the same front seven that gave up all those yards a year ago. College Football Week 1 Pick: West Virginia 30, Tennessee 16