Week 1 of the college football season is finally here. After an appetizer slate last Saturday, the action today is jampacked with lots of marquee matchups.
I've picked apart the entire board to bring you my 3 best bets for Saturday, August 30. Good luck!
LSU will be in Clemson at night to open this season, a place no team wishes to begin a quest to make the playoff for the 1st time in their coach’s tenure. Garrett Nussmeier is back for Brian Kelly at QB and may be the best in the country and a top NFL prospect. However, he will be playing behind an offensive line that will have a ton to prove after losing 4 starters. The defense should be solid after starting slow last season.
Like LSU, Clemson has a returning QB in Cade Klubnik and has one of the nation’s best groups of receivers. Moore, Wesco, and Williams are the 3 names you will hear a lot about when Klubnik goes to the air. Unlike LSU, the Clemson offensive line is filled with returning starters. On defense, the Tigers bring back multiple starters at all 3 levels and will be looking at former PSU coordinator, Tom Allen, who was hired over the offseason.
Clemson’s experienced players on both sides of the ball will be a major factor. Brian Kelly has notoriously been outcoached in season openers, and that is likely to happen again here against Dabo Swinney. We believe that after this game, the hype that Nussmeier has been garnering will shift towards Klubnik.
· LSU is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road.
· LSU is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games played in week 1.
· LSU is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games played when playing on the road.
· Clemson is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home.
The Tide heads to Florida to take on the rebuilding Noles to start their season this Saturday. Coming off a season without a playoff berth, Kalen DeBoer is likely looking to make a statement out of the gate here. Ryan Williams will lead a receiving corps for Ty Simpson.
He will be getting play calls from new OC Ryan Grubb, who previously worked with DeBoer in Washington. On defense, the Tide has arguably the best secondary in the country, and that could be a big problem for this FSU offense.
The rebuilding process is in full tilt in Tallahassee. Tommy Castellanos was brought in to run the offense. He transferred in from Boston College. He will have some decent receivers from the transfer portal, as well as an offensive line filled with experienced transfers. On defense, they are installing a new 3-3-5 scheme, which they hope can bring more pressure and lead to better success.
The Noles may be better than last season, but this opener against Bama is not the way to start. We expect the Tide to roll big here in a statement-making opening win on the road. Castellanos has experience, but he has never faced a secondary like the one he will see from the Tide. He should struggle in this opener, and if there are any short fields, Bama will make them pay.
· Alabama is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games against an ACC opponent.
· Alabama is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games played in August.
· FSU is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games played in August.
· FSU is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing as the underdog.
Easily the biggest matchup of the early portion of the season will take place in the Horseshoe on Saturday afternoon. The #1 Texas Longhorns will take on the #3 and defending National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. Texas is being led by the early Heisman favorite, Arch Manning.
He takes over full-time for Quinn Ewers, whom he filled in for at times last season, and will look to use his arm and legs in a memorable fashion, as he did last year. He will also be able to lean on a solid backfield that features returning 1,000-yard rusher Quintrevion Wisner. On defense, they will have edge rushers that should be top in the country and a linebacker in Anthony Hill Jr, who is an All-American candidate.
The Buckeyes have some new faces on the field this season. That begins with the newly named starter, Julian Sayin. He will be throwing to arguably the best receiver in the country, Jeremiah Smith. However, on defense, things are very different. They returned just 3 starters and saw their coordinator leave for rival Penn State. Hopes are high for another strong season, but this early test will be a tough one.
We love the veterans on this Texas defense. We believe that side of the ball is going to be the difference. If they can make Sayin a little uncomfortable, it will go a long way. And in what should be a tight game, as evident by the spread, we feel strongly that the experience that Manning has will be a difference maker.
· Texas is 11-0 SU in its last 11 games on the road.
· Texas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games played in week 1.
· Texas is 6-0 ATS in its last 6 games played in August.