2024 College Football Week 1 action report reveals that Colorado is the most-bet team to cover. Football fans can finally rejoice as the college season kicks off.
This week’s schedule features several exciting matchups, including Coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes taking on the formidable North Dakota State, a team known for its consistent FCS championship contention.
Joey Feazel, head of football trading at Caesars Sports, noted, “I’m not surprised at all. The Colorado action has been pretty consistent. It’s not as much as last year, but the Buffaloes haven’t really lost their juice.”
As oddsmakers and seasoned bettors weigh in on various games, the anticipation for Week 1 of college football betting grows.
Ahead of the Curve
Bookmakers across Las Vegas have acknowledged their exposure to Colorado for Thursday night’s game in Boulder.
While Caesars Sports currently holds a different position, they anticipate a shift by 8 p.m. ET Thursday.
“We’ve been proactive with Colorado because we think highly of them,” Feazel remarked on Wednesday.
Originally set at Colorado -9.5 on April 22, the line fluctuated, dropping to -7.5 in May, then rising again to -9, and briefly reaching -10.5 on Wednesday.
Currently, the Buffaloes stand at -9.5.
Feazel added, “The public will come in on game day for Colorado.”
At BetMGM, significant point-spread action has already been noted for the Buffaloes, according to data analyst John Ewing.
“Colorado is the most bet team to cover in Week 1 at BetMGM,” Ewing tweeted.
In the broader context, Ewing highlighted that Colorado represents BetMGM’s largest liability for winning the College Football Playoff.
However, the Buffaloes remain a distant +15000 (150/1) to claim the championship trophy.
College Football Rocks on FOX
FOX Sports kicks off its first Big Noon Kickoff of the season in Morgantown, where the unranked West Virginia Mountaineers aim to upset the No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions in the noon ET slot.
DraftKings Sportsbook opened the line on April 25, establishing Penn State as a 12-point favorite. As of Aug. 11, that line had shifted to -10, with further adjustments bringing it to -8 before settling at -8.
DraftKings’ betting splits for this game show Penn State receiving 69% of point-spread wagers, yet the money is evenly split.
Bettors Bullish on Bulldogs
The highly anticipated clash between No. 14 Clemson and No. 1 Georgia is set to be a highlight of Week 1. This noon ET matchup will take place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Caesars Sports opened this game with Georgia as a 13.5-point favorite, with the line mostly fluctuating between -13.5 and -14. Recently, the Bulldogs dipped to -13 before returning to -13.5 (-120).
Feazel commented, “This is obviously the biggest game of the week. We’re seeing a lot of Georgia action, so we need Clemson to show up and lose by 13 or less.”
He added, “It’s probably gonna be our biggest decision Saturday.”
On-Campus Sharp Side
In the Clemson-Georgia matchup, betting expert Paul Stone has insights focused on the total, currently set at 48.5.
Stone favors the Under, citing a couple of key reasons:
- Clemson is missing a downfield passing game and must replace the production of running back Will Shipley, who accumulated over 4,200 all-purpose yards in three seasons.
- Georgia brings back Heisman hopeful Carson Beck at quarterback but will be without standout tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
“Points will be at a premium Saturday, in my opinion. I’m looking for a lower-scoring game,” Stone stated.
He also expressed interest in Colorado State +31.5 against fourth-ranked Texas.
“I believe Texas is a playoff team this year. However, the Longhorns will miss their defensive tackle duo of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat,” Stone explained. “Texas might be vulnerable in the back of their defense, and Colorado State’s Tory Horton could exploit that as one of the top wide receivers in college football.”
“Additionally, Texas has a significant game against Michigan next weekend, which could lead to a potential look-ahead scenario.”
Staying in Texas, Stone is keen on road underdog No. 7 Notre Dame against No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday night. He pointed out that Notre Dame will debut a revamped offensive line while A&M introduces new coach Mike Elko.
The Aggies have seen their line shift to -3.
“Riley Leonard is a significant upgrade at quarterback for Notre Dame,” Stone noted about the transfer from Duke.
He also highlighted that Notre Dame has a solid record of 4-1-1 against the spread as an underdog during Marcus Freeman’s coaching tenure.
Showdown in College Station
In the spotlight, the Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Despite the Fighting Irish holding a higher ranking, they find themselves as underdogs in College Station.
Caesars Sports initially had this game as a pick ‘em, with Notre Dame briefly favored by 1 point on August 5. However, the line has since shifted by four points, now placing the Aggies at -3.
Feazel commented on the line movement, stating, “The market was initially higher on Notre Dame than we were, but the market ended up coming our way. Sharps have been all over Texas A&M. We’re gonna see a lot of public action on Notre Dame, but the line isn’t moving in that direction.”
Tigers vs. Trojans in Vegas
Week 1 features a unique Sunday night game in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, where No. 13 LSU faces off against No. 23 USC, both teams adjusting to new quarterback situations.
Caleb Williams, the top pick in the NFL Draft, joined the Chicago Bears, while Jayden Daniels, last year’s Heisman winner, went No. 2 to the Washington Commanders.
Feazel noted, “Interestingly, we opened higher on LSU at -6.5, but sharp bettors have pushed the line down to LSU -4.5. Both teams will look quite different this season due to player losses.”
Despite the shorter travel for Southern Cal fans, Feazel anticipates a strong LSU presence on the Vegas Strip, with many wagering on the Tigers. LSU has also received considerable support in the Louisiana market.
“It’s not a big decision right now, but we expect a lot of LSU action as game time approaches. There’s a strong LSU fan base that loves to support their Tigers. We’ll need the Trojans to cover +4.5.”
“I’m curious to see how the total reacts. Both teams are known for their offensive schemes, but they also have some of the weakest defenses,” Feazel remarked.
I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie
Several significant wagers have emerged in the college football odds markets, particularly for the College Football Playoff championship and other futures. Here are some noteworthy bets at Caesars Sports:
- $15,000 on Georgia +300 to win the CFP. If the Bulldogs secure their third title in four years, the bettor stands to profit $45,000 ($60,000 total payout).
- $2,000 on Colorado +7500 to win the CFP. Should Coach Prime’s squad pull off the improbable, the bettor would earn $150,000 ($152,000 total payout).
- $630 on Texas running back Jaydon Blue +20000 (200/1) for the Heisman Trophy. If this unlikely scenario unfolds, the bettor would profit $126,000 ($126,630 total payout).
In another surprising turn, a bettor placed $200 on Army at 5000/1 odds to win the CFP, which could yield a $1 million profit. Another customer at Caesars wagered $100 on South Florida, also at 5000/1 odds, for a potential $500,000 payout.
As the season kicks off, fans are encouraged to stay mindful of their bets and enjoy the excitement of the opening weekend of college football.
