2010 Week 1 College Football Odds

2010 Week 1 College Football odds were now available at Sportsbook.com (find odds here)

College football betting season is finally here and it all starts tonight with 18 games on Sportsbook.com’s NCAA football betting board. Like every year, there are plenty of mismatches involving ranked teams favored by wide margins over seemingly outclassed opponents. However, there are also a number of compelling matchups, including three games where each of the opponents is ranked.

Key 2010 Week 1 College Football Odds:

Southern Mississippi +14 South Carolina Bet It Here

Connecticut +3 Michigan Bet It Here

UCLA +1 ½ Kansas Bet It Here (UCLA was getting 85 percent of the action)

Oregon State +13 ½ TCU Bet It Here

On Saturday, (21) LSU and (18) North Carolina will square off in Atlanta in primetime. Another primetime contest features (24) Oregon State and BCS party crasher (6) TCU. The biggest game of the weekend will take place on Monday night when (3) Boise State and (10) Virginia Tech meet up in our nation’s capital.

TCU and Boise State were among the nation’s best ATS last season as they both marched through their regular seasons undefeated straight up before squaring off in the Fiesta Bowl, which was won by Boise 17-10. The Broncos were 9-5 ATS, tied for ninth in FBS, while the Horned Frogs were 8-5 ATS, tied for 17^th. Virginia Tech was also a solid play last year, going 8-5 ATS.

Last season’s ATS champions were the University of Connecticut Huskies.  Randy Edsall’s squad covered the line in 11 of 13 games while posting an 8-5 record straight up, which included an overtime victory in South Bend. The Huskies’ five SU losses last year were by 2, 3, 4, 4 and 2 points. They are a small underdog this Saturday in the Big House. Michigan began last season 4-0 straight up and 3-1 ATS, but went 1-7 SU and 1-6 ATS the rest of the way (one game vs. FCS opponent). Fox Sheets show that the smart money is on UConn in this one. Play Against - Any team (MICHIGAN) - in the first week of the season, after closing out last season with 5 or more straight losses, with an experienced QB returning as starter. (36-10 over the last 10 seasons.) (78.3%, +25 units. Rating = 3*).

Michigan was not the only high profile program that struggled ATS last season. Despite all finishing with records of .500 or higher, USC (9-4 SU, 4-9 ATS), Florida State (7-6 SU, 4-9 ATS) and Notre Dame (6-6, 3-8-1) were ranked 111, 112 and 113 respectively ATS among the 120 FBS schools. All the teams below them had losing records. This should not be all that surprising given that lines are made with the public perception in mind. Backers of fabled college football institutions such as these must remind themselves that odds on these schools are often inflated because of their reputations.

(14) USC kicks off its season in Hawaii on Thursday night and is a three TD favorite at Sportsbook.com. Fox Sheets are not scared by that large number: Play Against - A home team (HAWAII) - poor passing defense from last season - allowed a comp pct of 58% or worse, with 5 offensive starters returning. (33-4 over the last 10 seasons.) (89.2%, +28.6 units. Rating = 5*). This Fox Sheet stat also pertains to Saturday’s Hoosier state battle between Purdue and Notre Dame in South Bend. The host Irish are a double-digit favorite. They defeated the Boilermakers 24-21 last season, but Purdue covered the 6-point spread. Further Fox Sheet ammunition for Purdue: Play Against - A home team (NOTRE DAME) - first month of the season, after closing out last season with 4 or more losses in last 5 games, with 5 offensive starters returning. (30-8 over the last 10 seasons.) (78.9%, +21.2 units. Rating = 3*).

(20) Florida State hosts FCS foe Samford (no line) as the Seminoles begin life after Bobby Bowden.

Top-ranked defending National Champion Alabama hosts San Jose State in one of those aforementioned “paycheck” games. The Tide, 14-0 straight up last year, was also kind to bettors with a strong 9-4 ATS record. On the flip side, the Spartans were 2-10 both SU and ATS. Their record ATS was worst among all FBS schools.

Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter