College Football Week 2: Best Bets

It wasn’t a bad start to the real betting season, the football betting season.  Syracuse needed overtime to cover, but cover they did, South Florida did a number on Notre Dame, and LSU pounded Oregon.

The only loss out of my Top 4 picks last week was Georgia who just doesn’t have the experience to deal with a team of Boise State’s caliber.  If you follow my tweets @dssportsbets, you would have scored with Maryland this past Monday night as well.

On to Week 2 in college football with four more top wagers!

#6 Stanford at Duke

When:  Sept. 10 at 3:30 pm EST

Betting Line:  Stanford -21, Total 58 ½  

Analysis:  Stanford beat San Jose State 57 to 3 to cover the -30 point spread.  The Cardinal is only favored by 21 points over Duke…who blows.  The Blue Devils lost to Richmond 21 to 23 as -11 point favorites in their first game of the season.  Stanford QB Andrew Luck should pad his stats, and take another step forward to the Heisman Trophy, on Saturday.  Unless this game takes place on the set of Jeopardy, the Blue Devils have no shot.  Stanford rolls big time.

Pick:  Stanford

Nevada at #13 Oregon

When:  Sept. 10 at 3:30 pm EST

Betting Line:  Oregon -26 ½, Total 62 ½

Analysis:  I can forgive the Ducks for scoring only 27 points versus what could be considered one of the best defenses in the history of college football.  And, let’s be clear, the Ducks will not have the same turnover issues against Nevada up in Oregon that they did against LSU in Texas.  Saturday is Nevada’s first game of the season.  Nevada runs a spread offense and usually puts up a ton of points.  They did last season and they face an Oregon D that still has some work to do before being solid enough to keep Nevada from scoring at least 21 to 28 in this game.  Throw in a good 40 to 50 for the angry Ducks and suddenly the bet in this game becomes the over.

Pick:  Over 62 ½

18 Notre Dame at Michigan

When:  Sept. 10 at 8:00 pm EST

Betting Line:  Michigan -3 ½, Total 55

Analysis:  There are actually two decent bets in this game.  The first is under the total of 55.  Notre Dame had some miscues early on against South Florida accounting for 16 of the 23 points that they gave up to the Bulls last week.  Against Michigan, the Notre Dame D, which is a decent group of players, should be much more effective…provided that their offense doesn’t screw things up.  Michigan looked good on offense last week, but unless they unleash Denard Robinson, they’re not going to be nearly effective against the Golden Domers on “O” as they were against Central Michigan.  Eventually, DR could turn into a pocket passer, but that’s later down the road.  Unleash the dude, Coach Hoke! 

Notre Dame lost 24 to 28 to Michigan last season.  I don’t anticipate that happening this season.  Brian Kelly will build a team in South Bend.  Michigan is giving up over a field goal to the Domers.  Notre Dame to the under looks like a solid parlay to me.

Pick:  Notre Dame to under 55

North Carolina State at Wake Forest

When:  Sept. 10 at 3:30 pm EST

Betting Line:  NC State -2 ½, Total 49

Analysis:  NC State beat Wake 38 to 3 last season.  They won’t be that dominant this season but they should be able to cover a 2 ½ point spread.  QB Mike Glennon didn’t look very good when passing for only 156 yards and a single TD against Liberty in the Wolfpack’s 43 to 21 victory, but Curtis Underwood Jr. had 114 yards and a TD on only 14 carries.  That’s an 8 yard per carry average.  Wake’s D gave up 121 yards on the ground to Syracuse last week.  NC State could pound the ball, wear down Wake’s front seven, and then score at least a TD victory in this game.  The Wolfpack is the pick.

Pick:  North Carolina State