Enough of that Week 0 nonsense. This Saturday, Week 1 of NCAA College Football features a full slate of games, including several intriguing top-ranked pairings.
Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Starting the day off at noon is a doozy of a matchup between the #1 Georgia Bulldogs and the number 14 Clemson Tigers. They are playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It isn’t a home game for the Bulldogs, but they’ve won a few SEC Championship Games and a CFP title there.
Clemson vs. Georgia Betting Line
- Point Spread: Tigers +13.5, Bulldogs -13.5
- Moneyline: Tigers +410, Bulldogs -585
- Over/Under: 48.5
USA sports betting sites predict a big win for Georgia, as Clemson is a 13.5-point underdog. A Tigers loss could mean trouble for an Atlantic Coast Conference that is already projected for a single automatic qualifier for the College Football Playoffs.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators
The unranked Florida Gators will host the #19 Miami Hurricanes at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. The temperatures in Florida at the 3:30 PM kickoff are expected to be in the neighborhood of 90 degrees—perfect football weather for these two Sunshine State rivals.
Miami vs. Florida Betting Line
- Point Spread: Hurricanes -2.5, Gators +2.5
- Moneyline: Hurricanes -130, Gators +110
- Over/Under: 54.0
Florida isn’t ranked, but they are a member of the SEC and should perform well at home. Miami is a top contender in the ACC this year, with the one-loss FSU Seminoles and Clemson representing their main competition.
Barring a Clemson upset over Georgia, a road win for the Hurricanes against a Southeastern Conference opponent will position them as the front-runners in the ACC.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas A&M Aggies
The #7 Fighting Irish venture south into the heart of the Lone Star State, where they’ll go up against the 20th-ranked Aggies. Even though Notre Dame enters the season with top-ten status, they are projected to lose by a field goal on the road in College Station, TX.
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Odds
- Point Spread: Notre Dame +3.0, Texas A&M -3.0
- Moneyline: Notre Dame +120, Texas A&M -140
- Over/Under: 46.5
Kickoff is at 5:30 PM, which should alleviate some of that August heat during the second half. A&M now has former coach Jimbo Fisher in their rearview, and Mike Elko looks to set the tone in his first game. Online gambling sites have them listed as the sixth most likely team to win the SEC.
While that outcome may sound dismal, A&M is currently the fourteenth-ranked program in the CFP odds to win. The Irish are listed as seventh in those same NCAAF futures.
Bovada Sportsbook (Review) – Sports Illustrated