Sports

2019 college football betting lines for Top-25 teams in Week 1

by
Dave Bradstock
August 30, 2019

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.