Cover 4: Lane Kiffin vs. Mike Stoops? Let's Get Weird
Cover 4: Lane Kiffin vs. Mike Stoops? Let's Get Weird
The college football gods gifted us a couple of layups in Week 1. Here are your four best bets against the spread.
You know what time it is.
College football is back—and, with it, so returns our weekly source for supplementary income.
The first few weeks of the season are always tricky. But, fortunately, the football gods gifted us a couple of layups in Week 1.
Let’s get to it.
Florida Atlantic (+21.5) over OKLAHOMA
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 11 AM CT | Norman, OK (Oklahoma Memorial Stadium)
Listen, it’s entirely possible that Kyler Murray goes for 450 total yards and five touchdowns and the Sooners hang 60 on the Owls.
But, it’s also possible that Murray has a few hiccups, television cameras pan nervously in the direction of Austin Kendall, and a Florida Atlantic offense led by 1,900-yard rusher Devin Singletary gashes Mike Stoops’ defense repeatedly and makes things real uncomfortable in Norman.
The points, here, are just too good to pass up.
PENN STATE (-23.5) over Appalachian State
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 2:30 PM CT | University Park, PA (Beaver Stadium)
Appalachian State is breaking in a new quarterback and a new defensive coordinator—and this is really not the place to be doing either.
Penn State has, in large part, been continually reminded that Saquon Barkley is gone and that the expectations are lower now. The only problem with that, of course, is that Barkley’s replacement is former five-star prospect Miles Sanders. And, around him, the Nittany Lions have the most talented offensive two-deep of the James Franklin era.
The real trick for Penn State will be replacing nine starters on defense, but that shouldn’t stand in the way of a blowout in the opener.
TROY (+10.5) over Boise State
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 5 PM CT | Troy, AL (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Troy is 42-18 at home since 2007 and lost to virtually the same Boise State team (plus linebacker Leighton Vander Esch) by 11 points in Boise last season—thanks to an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Avery Williams.
A year later, the Trojans are replacing their quarterback and both leading rushers, which is the only reason you’re getting them as 10.5 point dogs at home. And, while that does sound daunting, consider that Troy managed just 215 yards of offense and turned the ball over three times last year.
You’d like to believe that this group can simply clean up the sloppiness of the previous meeting and feed off of its home crowd.
NORTH TEXAS (-4.5) over Southern Methodist
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 6:30 PM CT | Denton, TX (Apogee Stadium)
Very simply put: North Texas is going to roll over SMU on Saturday, so 4.5 points is stealing.
These aren’t Chad Morris’ Mustangs. Courtland Sutton isn’t walking through that door. Justin Lawler isn’t walking through that door.
Seth Littrell is a 10-win season away from a Power Five gig and win No. 1 comes on Saturday.