Week 1 of the college football betting season started last night, but this weekend features a full slate of matchups over the Labor Day holiday.
All the Top-25 teams playing games Friday through Monday are listed here with the betting lines, odds, and analysis needed for first-time bettors and experienced handicappers.
The betting lines seen are available through MyBookie.
Friday, August 30
Tulsa at #18 Michigan State
- Spread: MSU -23.5
- Over/Under: 48
- Odds: MSU 94.55%, Tulsa 5.45%
- Kickoff: 7:00 PM on FS1
- Location: Spartan Stadium ‒ East Lansing, MI
- Analysis: With Tulsa’s quarterback controversy and Michigan State’s tough defense, don’t expect the Golden Hurricane to be pumping out any high scoring number in this.
#19 Wisconsin at South Florida
- Spread: WISC -10.5
- Over/Under: 58
- Odds: WISC 78.91%, USF 21.09%
- Kickoff: 7:00 PM on ESPN
- Location: Raymond James Stadium ‒ Tampa, FL
- Analysis: If USF can contain Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor, they might have a chance. Otherwise, look for the Badgers to win by double-digits.
Saturday, August 31
Florida Atlantic at #5 Ohio State
- Spread: OSU -27.5
- Over/Under: 64.5
- Odds: OSU 96.51%, FAU 3.49%
- Kickoff: 12:00 PM on FOX
- Location: Ohio Stadium ‒ Columbus, OH
- Analysis: FAU must travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State and new Buckeye head coach Ryan Day starts his tenure. The Owls, 27.5 point underdogs, are going to have a tough time.
Northern Iowa at #21 Iowa State
- Spread: ISU -19.5
- Over/Under: 41.5
- Odds: ISU 89.80%, UNI 10.20%
- Kickoff: 12:00 PM on FS1
- Location: Jack Trice Stadium ‒ Ames, IA
- Analysis: The first in-state game of the weekend takes place in Iowa between NIU and the ranked ISU. The Cyclones are expected to own this Hawkeye State showdown.
South Alabama at #24 Nebraska
- Spread: NEB -36
- Over/Under: 66.5
- Odds: NEB 89.80%, USA 10.20%
- Kickoff: 12:00 PM on ESPN
- Location: Memorial Stadium ‒ Lincoln, NE
- Analysis: South Alabama was terrible in rushing, passing and scoring offense in 2018. They’re not expected to do much better in 2019. Nebraska should get an easy win.
Eastern Washington at #13 Washington
- Spread: UW -22.5
- Over/Under: 54.5
- Odds: UW 91.98%, EWU 8.02%
- Kickoff: 3:00 PM on Pac 12 Network
- Location: Husky Stadium ‒ Seattle, WA
- Analysis: FBS-FCS matchups usually never go well for the FCS school. Unfortunately, that’s the case for EWU against #13 Washington. An upset doesn’t seem likely.
Duke at #2 Alabama
- Spread: ALA -32.5
- Over/Under: 56.5
- Odds: ALA 98.54%, Duke 1.46%
- Kickoff: 3:30 PM on ABC
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium ‒ Atlanta, GA
- Analysis: Alabama is one of the favorites for the national championship with QB Tua Tagovailoa as a Heisman contender. Duke probably won’t put up much of a fight.
Idaho at #15 Penn State
- Spread: PSU -39.5
- Over/Under: 58.5
- Odds: PSU 97.93%, Idaho 2.07%
- Kickoff: 3:30 PM on BTN
- Location: Beaver Stadium ‒ University Park, PA
- Analysis: In another FCS-FBS game, Idaho faces an uphill battle with #15 Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 39.5 point favorites so things could get embarrassing fast.
Northwestern at #25 Stanford
- Spread: STAN -6
- Over/Under: 48
- Odds: STAN 68.64%, NU 31.36%
- Kickoff: 4:00 PM on FOX
- Location: Stanford Stadium ‒ Stanford, CA
- Analysis: Despite being ranked, Stanford is only a 6 point favorite against Northwestern. The Wildcats went 9-5 last season and won’t make it easy for the Cardinal tomorrow.
Liberty at #22 Syracuse
- Spread: SU -18.5
- Over/Under: 68
- Odds: SU 88.81%, LU 11.19%
- Kickoff: 6:00 PM on ESPN+
- Location: Williams Stadium ‒ Lynchburg, VA
- Analysis: Liberty will play this game at home and could set a new attendance record against Syracuse. Nevertheless, the #22 Orangemen are likely to take this season opener.
#3 Georgia at Vanderbilt
- Spread: UGA -22
- Over/Under: 58
- Odds: UGA 92.76%, Vandy 7.24%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on ESPN
- Location: Vanderbilt Stadium ‒ Nashville, TN
- Analysis: With Hurricane Dorian moving the FSU-BSU game, Vandy and Georgia are now ESPN’s Saturday night game. UGA has national title aspiration and will likely start their campaign blowing out Vanderbilt.
Georgia Southern at #6 LSU
- Spread: LSU -22
- Over/Under: 58
- Odds: LSU 92.76%, GSU 7.24%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on SECN
- Location: Tiger Stadium ‒ Baton Rouge, LA
- Analysis: The NCAA is fascinated with powerhouses playing mid-majors early each season. GSU travels to Baton Rouge to play LSU in what will be an easy victory for the Tigers.
Middle Tennessee at #7 Michigan
- Spread: MICH -34.5
- Over/Under: 54.5
- Odds: MICH 98.70%, MTU 1.30%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on BTN
- Location: Michigan Stadium ‒ Ann Arbor, MI
- Analysis: Middle Tennessee had a respectable 8-6 record in 2018. Despite Michigan running a new offense for 2019, the Blue Raiders won’t be able to handle the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
#11 Oregon at #16 Auburn
- Spread: AUB -4
- Over/Under: 55.5
- Odds: AUB 62.21%, ORE 37.79%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on ABC
- Location: AT&T Stadium ‒ Arlington, TX
- Analysis: The marquee matchup of the weekend is between the Tigers and Ducks. Although it will be a close game, Auburn is a 4 point favorite over Oregon in this neutral-site game.
Miami (OH) at #20 Iowa
- Spread: Iowa -22
- Over/Under: 47
- Odds: Iowa 92.76%, MOH 7.24%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on FS1
- Location: Kinnick Stadium ‒ Iowa City, IA
- Analysis: Like Miami (FL) did in Week 0, Miami (OH) is predicted to lose their first game of the season. Iowa, opening the season at #20, is a 22 point favorite at home.
Louisiana Tech at #10 Texas
- Spread: Texas -20.5
- Over/Under: 55.5
- Odds: Texas 91.68%, LTU 8.32%
- Kickoff: 8:00 PM on LHN
- Location: Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium ‒ Austin, TX
- Analysis: This will be the first-ever game between UT and LTU. Both are coming off bowl wins last season, but Tech is no real match for the top 10 Longhorns.
New Mexico State at #23 Washington State
- Spread: WSU -32
- Over/Under: 64.5
- Odds: WSU 91.68%, NMSU 8.32%
- Kickoff: 10:00 PM on Pac 12 Network
- Location: Martin Stadium ‒ Pullman, WA
- Analysis: The Mike Leach-led Washington State is a clear favorite at home in this game despite starting the season with a new quarterback and secondary.
Sunday, September 1
Houston at #4 Oklahoma
- Spread: OU -23
- Over/Under: 80
- Odds: OU 91.24%, HOU 8.76%
- Kickoff: 7:30 PM on ABC
- Location: Memorial Stadium ‒ Norman, OK
- Analysis: Not quite the Red River Rivalry, new QB Jalen Hurts hopes to recapture his Alabama magic of years passed for the Sooners. Oklahoma is a heavy favorite at home.
Monday, September 2
#9 Notre Dame at Louisville
- Spread: ND -23
- Over/Under: 80
- Odds: ND 89.30%, LOU 10.70%
- Kickoff: 8:00 PM on ESPN
- Location: Cardinal Stadium ‒ Louisville, KY
- Analysis: The last game of Week 1, Notre Dame is a 23 point favorite on Labor Day. Louisville finished last season 122nd in points per game and 109th in total offense; 2019 won’t start much better than 2018 ended.
