Week One College Football: Here’s our locks for the sportsbook

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Last week was a bit of an anti-climactic start to the college football season. The juice just wasn’t quite there and maybe the College Football Playoff is partially to blame.

It is very clearly not as important to win every game, so the first week pressure is not what it used to be. Now, full disclosure, there is not many teams who played in week zero with CFP aspirations so that could shoulder more of the lack of excitement.

And if you followed our locks of the week last week, we’re already losing locks, and the finances are unsteady. Memphis surprised us by going on the road as underdogs and coming out with the win and beat the four point spread oddsmakers gave to UNLV. Don’t bet on Dan Mullen when he runs out of a tunnel with an Elvis impersonator is the lesson learned.

Our number one lock that we said to hammer was the under in the UNC/TCU game which easily hit. The 25 combined points in that coma inducing game covered by a few touchdowns. We also locked in SJSU to cover against USC in what was supposed to be a blowout. The Spartans were lost and struggling for three quarters but played like King damn Leonidas himself was at QB in the fourth quarter scoring 23 points for a backdoor cover.

NOW ON TO WEEK ONE.

Week One Locks

• Colorado at Georgia Tech (-6.5) – This is why the post is out on Wednesday this week and not later. A boatload of value here for the Yellow Jackets against the visiting Buffaloes. Deion Sanders and his squad will be in balmy Atlanta for a Thursday night season opener, and I think Georgia Tech wins this one pretty easily. Last season, the Yellow Jackets won in Boulder, 27-20.
• NIU at Iowa (-31.5) – While the Hawkeyes have improved offensively, their head coach is still Kirk Ferentz, and while his defense is staunch, a 32 point margin seems like a lot for the black and gold even if it is Northern Illinois. This will be a low scoring game that will put you to sleep, so don’t watch it outside of the score updates on the ESPN app.
• Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (-20.5) – The other Sunday night game this week has me a little perplexed. Wisconsin went 4-8 last year and looked bad at times, but Luke Fickell is back for a rebound year potentially with a dual threat QB transferring in from Old Dominion. This game will be played at Lambeau Field, and I think this crowd will be fun as hell. Badgers cover against Notre Dame.
• Washington St. at Washington (O/U 50.5) – I would hammer the over in this game. Last year’s Apple Cup had more than 80 total points scored, and this year will most likely be more of the same. Jedd Fisch will have his offense clicking again, and WSU has a new young head coach from Mizzou who is going to find ways to get his team in the end zone in game one.

Week One Poison

• Louisville vs. Ole Miss (-7) – Stay away from the spread you guys. As much as you want to bet on this game, the Rebels and Cardinals could end up in a very tight game to start this season. The crowd isn’t going to be electric, so I would exercise some caution betting heavily on this game.
• Clemson at LSU (-10) – Don’t let the hatred of Lane Kiffin get you to blow a boat payment at the sportsbook. The Tigers may easily cruise in this game with a late kickoff against a Clemson team that last year was pulling some Jekyll and Hyde stuff.

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