NCAAF Week 1: Best Bets and Leans
Gambling Opinion by Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt
All odds from Caesars Sportsbook
Game: #11 Oregon @ #3 Georgia
Ethan's Best Bet: Oregon +17 (-110) [Loss]
Oregon starts the season going to the east side of the country to face the reigning National Champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. With former defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs, Dan Lanning set to face his former team in his first game as head coach for Oregon what will we see from them? Oregon has the talent and speed to give the Ducks a chance in this game and a very good chance to cover. The Ducks come in with a set of units for an offensive line, a couple of whom will be NFL prospects and the defensive line is filled with future pro level talent as well. With a defensive minded coach coming in who knows a little something about the team on the other sideline I like Oregon here.
The line for this game has moved in Georgia's favor since opening at -14.5 but I'm going to fade a trend to start the 2022-23 College Football season. Oregon might end up being one of the best teams Georgia will have to face all season. With all this said I do not think Oregon will win the game, Georgia is still a powerhouse even after losing many guys to the NFL, I just think this number is overstretched. I think Oregon will come out firing and keep it within the number.
Ethan's Other Leans:
Memphis @ Miss St.: Miss St. -15.5 (-110) [Win]
NC State @ East Carolina: ECU +11.5 (-110) [Win]
Game: #23 Cincinatti @ #19 Arkansas
Josh's Best Bet: Arkansas -6.5 (-110) [Win]
Arkansas is one of my favorites to win the SEC... you know besides #1 Alabama and # 3 Georgia, but I believe that a healthy KJ Jefferson can beat anybody in the country. With that being said, there's not a doubt in my mind that they win this game by a touchdown and an extra point, if not more. Arkansas' Jefferson has an impact on the game can't be understated, the junior quarterback nearly beat Alabama last year with one working knee and I believe he's a candidate for a Robert Griffin III under the radar type Heisman season. Fanduel has Jefferson at +8000 for the award, take that for a futures bet.
Cincinnati's defense is depleted compared to last season's playoff team with a new starting quarterback, however the Bearcats do return all five offensive linemen and running back Charles McClelland. I don't expect this game to be a blowout by any means, but I do see Arkansas winning by ten or more points in a game that heads into the fourth quarter looking tight. Arkansas' All-SEC linebacker Bumper Pool (yes that's his name) and pre-season All-American safety Jalen Catalon will have a huge impact on this game and have the capabilities to blow it open in the later stages of the second half. One thing is for certain, we're in for a great weekend of college football.
Josh's Other Leans:
Central Michigan @ #12 Oklahoma State: CMU +21.5 (-110) [Win]
West Virginia @ Pittsburgh: Pitt -7 (-120) [Push]
BONUS: Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson to win the Heisman (+8000 on Fanduel) [TBD]