Week 1 College Football Predictions & Odds

Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 25, 2008

The 2008 college football season kicks off this week and Jimmy Boyd brings you his week 1 college football odds and predictions just as he did each week of the 2007 season. Jimmy has taken the point spread and the total and has used simple math to come up with the score for the game that odds makers have projected. This handicapping tool helps make it easier to see where odds maker errors lie for against the spread and totals handicapping, and it is also beneficial when picking straight up winners against your buddies in your office pool.

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Action gets started Thursday night with the 23rd nationally ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons playing in Waco against the Big 12′s Baylor Bears as the featured game. The Pig oddsmakers have made the Deacs 12.5-point favorites early on.

Saturday, there are many intriguing matchups. Rich Rodriguez makes his coaching debut for Big Blue as Michigan takes on the Utah Utes in the Big House. Odds makers have listed the Wolverines as just 4-point favorites against a Utah team which is expected to challenge for a Mountain West title. Perhaps, the fact that Michigan lost to Appalachian State at home in the first game of the season last year has odds makers not feeling to confident in the Wolverines.

Saturday’s two premier matchups are between 24th ranked Alabama and 9th ranked Clemson and 20th ranked Illinois and 6th ranked Missouri. Odds makers have made Clemson the 5.5-point favorite in its matchup and Missouri the 8.5-point favorite in its game. Clemson is expected to win the ACC Atlantic and appears to be the ACC’s best chance for a BCS title team, but will get a major test right out of the gate by a good Alabama defense. Missouri, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel, is expected to rule the Big 12 North, and would love nothing more than to get back in the BCS picture after getting snubbed last season. Seemingly, things could get a lot tougher on Mizzou if they go down to the Illini, who made a trip to the Rose Bowl last season.

Make sure you check out Jimmy Boyd’s week 1 college football picks article to see which matchups he’ll be focusing on to get the season started off on a winning note. And make sure you head on over to BetUS Sportsbook to get a big sign up bonus so that you can start another season of college football betting by playing with the house’s money.

Week 1 College Football Odds and Predictions:

Thu, Aug 28, 2008

UTEP Miners +3
Buffalo Bulls -3

Total 64

Odds Makers Predicted Score: UTEP 30 Buffalo 33

Vanderbilt Commodores +4
Miami Ohio Redhawks -4

Total 41

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Vandy 17 Miami Ohio 21

NC State Wolfpack +12.5
South Carolina Gamecocks -12.5

Total 48.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: NC State 18 South Carolina 31

Wake Forest Demon Deacons -12.5
Baylor Bears +12.5

Total 52.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Wake Forest 32 Baylor 20

Oregon State Beavers -3
Stanford Cardinal +3

Total 49

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Oregon State 26 Stanford 23

Troy State Trojans -6.5
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders +6.5

Total 57

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Tory State 32 Middle Tennessee 25

Fri, Aug 29, 2008

Temple Owls -7
Army Cadets +7

Total 44

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Temple 26 Army 18

SMU Mustangs +3.5
Rice Owls -3.5

Total 74

Odds Makers Predicted Score: SMU 35 Rice 39

Sat, Aug 30, 2008

Utah Utes +4
Michigan Wolverines -4

Total 42

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Utah 19 Michigan 23

Syracuse Orangeman +12
Northwestern Wildcats -12

Total 58

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Syracuse 23 Northwestern 35

Memphis Tigers +8.5
Mississippi Rebels -8½

Total 56

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Memphis 24 Ole Miss 32

Ohio Bobcats +10
Wyoming Cowboys -10

Total 54.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Ohio 22 Wyoming 32

Akron Zips +26
Wisconsin Badgers -26

Total 53.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Akron 14 Wisconsin 40

Western Michigan Broncos +14
Nebraska Cornhuskers -14

Total 63

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Western Michigan 24 Nebraska 38

Washington Huskies +14
Oregon Ducks -14

Total pending

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes -14
UAB Blazers +14

Total 68

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Tulsa 41 UAB 27

TCU Horned Frogs -7
New Mexico Lobos +7

Total 42

Odds Makers Predicted Score: TCU 24 New Mexico 17

Mississippi State Bulldogs -8½
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs +8½

Total 45.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Mississippi State 27 Louisiana Tech 19

Boston College Eagles -9½
Kent State Golden Flashes +9½

Total 49.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Boston College 30 Kent State 20

Oklahoma State Cowboys -6½
Washington State Cougars +6½

Total 68

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Oklahoma State 37 Washington State 31

No Illinois Huskies +8½
Minnesota Golden Gophers -8½

Total 59

Odds Makers Predicted Score: NIU 25 Minnesota 34

Bowling Green Falcons +12½
Pittsburgh Panthers -12½

Total 56.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Bowling Green 22 Pitt 34

Hawaii Warriors +34½
Florida Gators -34½

Total 72

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Hawaii 19 Florida 53

Virginia Tech Hokies -9½
East Carolina Pirates +9½

Total 48

Odds Makers Predicted Score: VA Tech 29 E. Carolina 19

Illinois Fighting Illini +8½
Missouri Tigers -8½

Total 59.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Illinois 25 Mizzou 34

Michigan State Spartans +4½
California Golden Bears -4½

Total 59

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Michigan State 27 Cal 32

USC Trojans -21½
Virginia Cavaliers +21½

Total 45.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: USC 33 Virginia 12

Alabama Crimson Tide +5½
Clemson Tigers -5½

Total 48.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Alabama 21 Clemson 27

Idaho Vandals +27
Arizona Wildcats -27

Total 63.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Idaho 18 Arizona 45

Utah State Aggies +12½
UNLV Rebels -12½

Total 49

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Utah State 18 UNLV 31

Western Kentucky +20½
Indiana Hoosiers -20½

Total 56

Odds Makers Predicted Score: W. Kentucky 18 Indiana 38

UL Monroe Indians +26½
Auburn Tigers -26½

Total 48

Odds Makers Predicted Score: UL Monroe 11 Auburn 37

UL Lafayette Ragin Cajuns +10½
So Mississippi Golden Eagles -10½

Total 53

Odds Makers Predicted Score: UL Lafayette 21 S. Miss 32

Florida Atlantic Owls +23
Texas Longhorns -23

Total 67

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Florida Atl. 22 Texas 45

Florida International +37
Kansas Jayhawks -37

Total 57.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Florida Intl. 10 Kansas 47

Arkansas State Indians +20½
Texas A&M Aggies -20½

Total 54

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Arkansas State 17 Texas A&M 37

North Texas Mean Green +24
Kansas State Wildcats -24

Total 71

Odds Makers Predicted Score: N. Texas 24 K-State 48

Sun, Aug 31, 2008

Kentucky Wildcats +3½
Louisville Cardinals -3½

Total 58.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Kentucky 27 Louisville 31

Colorado Buffaloes -11
Colorado State Rams +11

Total 60

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Colorado 36 Colorado State 25

Mon, Sep 01, 2008

Fresno State Bulldogs +4½
Rutgers Scarlet Knights -4½

Total 61

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Fresno State 28 Rutgers 33

Tennessee Volunteers -8
UCLA Bruins +8

Total 47.5

Odds Makers Predicted Score: Tennessee 28 UCLA 20