College Football Week 1: Early Lines, Odds & Predictions (2023)
One way to get ahead in the world of NCAAF sports betting is to attack lines/totals early in the week before the markets adjust to bettors’ movements. Here’s an early look at College Football Week 1 lines, odds, and predictions for how things will go this week.
Thor Nystrom’s Conference Preview Series
College Football Early Lines, Odds & Predictions: Week 1
Note: In the table below, ATL is my system’s projected spread, and ATT is my system’s projected total.
| Away | Home | Vegas Spread | Proj Spread | Vegas Total | Proj Total | Day |
| Kent St. | UCF | -36.5 | -33.5 | 57.5 | 55.9 | Thursday |
| North Carolina St. | UConn | 14.5 | 15.6 | 46.5 | 42.0 | Thursday |
| Nebraska | Minnesota | -7.5 | -7.0 | 43.5 | 43.3 | Thursday |
| Florida | Utah | -6.5 | -9.5 | 45.5 | 50.0 | Thursday |
| Miami (OH) | Miami (FL) | -16.5 | -22.4 | 45.0 | 41.5 | Friday |
| Central Michigan | Michigan St. | -14.5 | -18.0 | 45.5 | 50.3 | Friday |
| Louisville | Georgia Tech | 8.0 | 15.1 | 48.5 | 45.0 | Friday |
| Stanford | Hawai’i | 3.5 | 2.0 | 60.5 | 50.7 | Friday |
| Utah St. | Iowa | -25.5 | -30.5 | 45.0 | 39.7 | Saturday |
| Fresno St. | Purdue | -4.5 | -6.6 | 48.5 | 57.3 | Saturday |
| Ball St. | Kentucky | -26.5 | -27.6 | 48.5 | 40.0 | Saturday |
| Bowling Green | Liberty | -9.5 | -11.7 | 50.0 | 50.5 | Saturday |
| Northern Illinois | Boston College | -9.5 | -10.5 | 50.5 | 56.9 | Saturday |
| East Carolina | Michigan | -36.0 | -40.4 | 51.5 | 61.9 | Saturday |
| Virginia | Tennessee | -28.0 | -22.7 | 57.5 | 59.5 | Saturday |
| Arkansas St. | Oklahoma | -35.5 | -33.9 | 58.5 | 66.1 | Saturday |
| Colorado | TCU | -20.5 | -16.6 | 63.5 | 67.1 | Saturday |
| Louisiana Tech | SMU | -20.5 | -19.7 | 65.5 | 74.0 | Saturday |
| Akron | Temple | -10.5 | -10.1 | 55.0 | 50.1 | Saturday |
| UMass | Auburn | -36.5 | -36.5 | 52.5 | 44.9 | Saturday |
| Buffalo | Wisconsin | -27.5 | -29.4 | 54.5 | 50.7 | Saturday |
| Boise St. | Washington | -14.5 | -17.8 | 58.5 | 61.2 | Saturday |
| Rice | Texas | -35.5 | -34.0 | 59.0 | 56.1 | Saturday |
| Ohio St. | Indiana | 29.5 | 32.9 | 59.5 | 70.2 | Saturday |
| South Florida | Western Kentucky | -11.5 | -10.1 | 69.5 | 72.4 | Saturday |
| California | North Texas | 6.5 | 3.6 | 56.5 | 55.4 | Saturday |
| Nevada | USC | -38.5 | -40.5 | 66.0 | 70.7 | Saturday |
| Army | Louisiana-Monroe | 10.0 | 8.2 | 47.5 | 55.7 | Saturday |
| New Mexico | Texas A&M | -38.0 | -39.8 | 48.5 | 45.0 | Saturday |
| Washington St. | Colorado St. | 12.5 | 9.0 | 54.5 | 49.0 | Saturday |
| UTSA | Houston | 1.5 | 0.3 | 60.5 | 68.5 | Saturday |
| Texas St. | Baylor | -27.5 | -31.9 | 62.5 | 51.0 | Saturday |
| Toledo | Illinois | -9.0 | -7.5 | 46.5 | 43.1 | Saturday |
| West Virginia | Penn St. | -20.5 | -21.9 | 50.5 | 67.1 | Saturday |
| Middle Tennessee | Alabama | -39.5 | -39.2 | 51.5 | 60.7 | Saturday |
| Texas Tech | Wyoming | 14.0 | 14.1 | 52.0 | 49.4 | Saturday |
| North Carolina | South Carolina | 2.5 | 3.0 | 64.5 | 70.1 | Saturday |
| Old Dominion | Virginia Tech | -15.5 | -10.5 | 48.0 | 37.7 | Saturday |
| South Alabama | Tulane | -6.5 | -8.4 | 52.5 | 49.3 | Saturday |
| Sam Houston St. | BYU | -20.0 | -20.5 | 47.0 | 41.4 | Saturday |
| Coastal Carolina | UCLA | -14.5 | -20.5 | 65.5 | 69.0 | Saturday |
| Northwestern | Rutgers | -6.5 | -4.6 | 40.5 | 37.6 | Sunday |
| Oregon St. | San Jose St. | 16.5 | 21.1 | 54.5 | 47.9 | Sunday |
| LSU | Florida St. | 2.5 | 2.7 | 58.0 | 61.2 | Sunday |
| Clemson | Duke | 13.0 | 11.7 | 55.5 | 55.5 | Monday |
To see all of my bets for this week, follow me at BettingPros.com/thor, download the BettingPros app, and turn on notifications for my bets to be alerted whenever I post a new college football bet.
What is Betting Against the Spread?
Betting “against the spread†refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.
Thor Nystrom’s Conference Preview Series
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