There will be plenty of college football favorites heading into week 2 of the 2017 season with a win in the victory column. As is always the case in week 1, finding those favorites that can actually cover a huge spread is the hard part.
The first few weeks of the college football season always features those four-t0-five touchdown spreads. Some teams are equipped to handling those types of numbers, while others falter. Here’s three favorites to back for week 1 of the college football season.
Check out the three underdogs that are the best bets for week 1
Colorado State vs. Colorado (-5.5)
Did you see how badly Colorado State made me look last week? The Rams ran over Oregon State. And now the betting public is hammering the Rams this week, moving the opening line from eight points in favor of the Buffaloes to less than a touchdown favorite.
Colorado State looked impressive last week, but let’s not blow it out of proportion. The week was a prime opportunity for the Rams to do well, opening a new stadium and hosting an Oregon State team still not ready to take the next step on either side of the ball.
Colorado is a different beast. The Buffaloes won the Pac-12 South last year and return plenty of weapons on offense. The defense will need to make a few adjustments, but the cupboard isn’t bare in Colorado. The value is high on this game, with a team competing for a power-five title versus a mid-major, still not ready to be a regular competitor against power-five teams.
Getting less than a touchdown in this game is like highway robbery. Book the Buffs. — Go Chalk with Colorado
Florida State vs. Alabama (-7)
When in doubt, take the Tide. Alabama owns these week 1 games. I don’t care what happened in the title game last year. Nick Saban is still the best coach in the nation when given time to prepare.
I never have to worry about the defense at Alabama, so the question marks generally surround the offense. And for once, I don’t have to worry about Alabama’s quarterback situation. Jalen Hurts will be back, representing the first time an Alabama quarterback has returned as a starter since A.J. McCarron in 2013. An experienced offense should be a scary sight for any team facing the Crimson Tide this season.
And for Florida State, they have the talent to keep up, but I’m fading Jimbo Fisher’s coaching ability against Saban’s. I’m only giving up a touchdown to favor the best program in the nation with months to prepare. That’s an easy decision. — Go Chalk with Alabama
Texas A&M at UCLA (-4)
I’m bullish on UCLA’s potential this season. Nobody’s talking about Josh Rosen, once the top young quarterback in the nation. The Bruins return an offense with four returning starters on the offensive line to go along with a healthy Rosen and a plethora of running backs.
Mix that in with a talented defense, and people are sleeping on UCLA’s ability to win games this season, including week 1 of the college football season.
The Aggies will bring in a new quarterback on the road for week 1 to go along with a defense that can’t stop anyone. Texas A&M can’t stop the run and it’s squaring off against a team in week 1 that shouldn’t have any trouble running the football this year.
Don’t sleep on the Bruins this season. They’ll show what they’re made of in week 1. — Go Chalk with UCLA
