100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Rutgers +8½ -109

Each with one loss on the record, the Boston College Eagles (2-1) are set to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-1) on Saturday.

Thus far, Boston College has had very little trouble putting points on the board. Since an impressive 35-28 win over Virginia Tech to start the season, the Eagles have scored 45 and 48 points. Although Boston College is allowing 30 points per game, they’re scoring an average of 35.

After a strong start, Boston College suffered an embarrassing loss to Kansas after coming into the matchup as 21-point favorites. Against the Jayhawks, Boston College allowed 329 yards on the ground and 567 yards of total offense.

Eagles quarterback Anthony Brown completed just half his passes for 195 yards and a TD. Running back AJ Dillon rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown, but the Boston College offense was scoreless in the second half.

After a 48-21 win over UMass to start the 2019 season, Rutgers was demolished by #20 Iowa in the team’s second contest. With an extra week to prepare, Rutgers will attempt to improve its 24 points a game and 25 points allowed per game.

Against superior competition, Rutgers only managed 125 yards of offense. Now going up against a Boston College team that struggled to finish tackles a week ago, the Scarlet Knights should have more success on the back of Isaih Pacheco, who’s rushed for 223 yards and four TDs through the first two games of the year.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Air Force +8½ -110

A pair of undefeated teams will face off on the blue turf of Boise State as the #20 Broncos (3-0) host the Air Force Falcons (2-0). This game could have big implications for the Mountain West Conference standings at the end of the year.

The visitors are coming off an impressive overtime win against Colorado. Before that, the Falcons demolished Colgate in their season opener. The old-school Air Force offense has produced 454 yards per game while a strong defense is holding opponents to an average of 243 yards.

Don’t expect Air Force quarterback Donald Hammond to rack up a ton of yardage through the air. On just seven of 12 passes, Hammond threw for 155 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. The Falcons’ offense relies much more heavily on the run game, which is led by Kadin Remsberg, who rushed for 146 yards against Colorado.

Boise State has started the year strong, taking down FSU in the opener before earning a close win against Marshall and blowing out Portland State. In contrast to an Air Force team led by defense, the Broncos want to outscore opponents. Boise State is averaging 516 yards of offense while giving up 280.

Averaging more than 300 yards a game, Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier has thrown for 927 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions on the season. Bachmeier’s favorite target is Khalil Shakir, who’s reeled in 17 balls for 237 yards and a TD.

Against a triple-option team that will wear any opponent down throughout the course of a game, Boise State will need its freshman QB to protect the ball and be efficient through the air. A relentless Air Force defense will love getting 8.5 points against a Broncos team that only managed 14 points against Marshall.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Houston +5½ -110

Thursday night will feature an American Athletic Conference clash between the visiting Houston Cougars (1-2) and the Green Wave of Tulane (2-1).

Houston has two losses on the record, but they’ve also faced one of the toughest opening schedules in the nation. After an impressive performance in a loss to #4 Oklahoma, the Cougars easily defeated Prairie View before dropping last week’s contest to #20 Washington State by a touchdown.

On the season, Houston is scoring 30 points per game while giving up an average of 32.

Tulane has enjoyed an easier schedule, but they did run into a brick wall when they faced #10 Auburn, losing 24-6. The Green Wave easily took care of business against two inferior opponents in the lead up to this conference game.

So far, Tulane is scoring 35 points per game while allowing an average of 14. Tulane is also putting up 436 yards of offense per game while allowing 276.

Houston is getting 5.5 points on the road, which is an interesting line considering the Cougars dominated Tulane in a 48-17 game last season.

So far, Houston quarterback D’Eriq King is 42 of 77 for 434 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Tulane quarterback Justin McMillan is 37 of 67 for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on New Mexico State +16 -110

It’s Aggies versus Aztecs on Saturday night as 0-2 New Mexico State plays host to 2-0 San Diego State.

San Diego State is coming off an upset 23-14 win over UCLA a week ago. So far, the Aztecs are scoring 14 points per game but allowing just six, due in large part to their shutout victory over Weber State to kick off the season.

New Mexico State may be winless through two games, but both were against quality opponents. After kicking things off against #23 Washington State, the Aggies went into Tuscaloosa to face #2 Alabama. Both games, which were on the road, ended in losses of at least 50 points.

San Diego State will need to be sharp if they’ll cover a 16-point spread on the road. That means the Aztecs will be counting on an efficient performance from running back Juwan Washington, who’s averaging 96 yards per game.

However, it’s the defense that leads the Aztecs. A solid UCLA team managed just 261 yards against the San Diego State D last week. Against the run, the Aztecs rank eighth in the nation.

Despite strong competition, New Mexico State quarterback Josh Adkins has looked pretty good. Although he’s thrown two picks versus one touchdown, Adkins is completing 65% of his passes and put up 366 total yards against two ranked opponents.

Against the spread, San Diego State is 2-8 out of their last 10 games overall.

50* Powerhouse Play on TCU -1½ -110

Thus far, the TCU Horned Frogs (1-0) have played just one game, a 39-7 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Saturday night, TCU will go into Ross-Ade Stadium to take on the Purdue Boilermakers (1-1).

Favored by 1.5 points in this contest, the Horned Frogs figure to be in the mix when it comes to the Big 12 title.

Although TCU went up against an FCS opponent in their first game of the year, they certainly took care of business. With 200 yards on the ground and 284 yards through the air, the Horned frogs carried an advantage of 484-215 yards of total offense over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The most intriguing part of Saturday’s matchup should be TCU’s pass defense against Purdue’s pass offense. The Horned frogs gave up just 114 yards through the air in their opener, and Purdue is third in the nation after putting up 466 yards per game thus far.

In last week’s win over Vanderbilt, Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar threw for 509 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. However, the Boilermakers managed just two yards per carry on the ground.

Purdue’s defense could be in trouble after allowing 420 yards to Vanderbilt through the air.

50* Powerhouse Play on Hawaii +22 -110

Following a pair of impressive home victories, the Rainbow Warriors of Hawai’I (2-0) will go on the road to take on the #23 Washington Huskies (1-1).

Hawai’i is known for scoring points, and they’ve done just that through their first two games by averaging 37 per game. An opening game win over Arizona was followed by a 31-28 victory over the Oregon State Beavers. Despite a strong start, the Rainbow Warriors are getting 22 points in this upcoming contest.

Washington looked great in their 47-14 drubbing of Eastern Washington. However, a tough 20-19 loss at the hands of Cal brought the Huskies’ average points per game down to 32.

It’s fair to say that Hawai’i junior quarterback Cole McDonald is a gunslinger. So far, McDonald has racked up 799 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions on the season. With a strong Washington defense searching for turnovers, McDonald will need to take better care of the football.

The Rainbow Warriors have put up 542 yards per game thus far, which is good enough for 14thin the nation.

After a 349-yard performance in the first game of the season, Washington quarterback Jacob Eason threw for just 162 yards and a pick in last week’s loss to California. A decent game out of Eason alongside a Huskies defense that ranks 48thin the country in yards allowed should be good enough to win, but they’ll need to score at a high clip if they’ll make up the 22 points they’re laying in this one.

50* Powerhouse Play on Louisville -10 -109

A pair of unranked 1-1 teams will face off in a neutral location as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers go up against the Cardinals of Louisville in Nashville, Tennessee.

After a 35-28 defeat to Central Arkansas, Western Kentucky bounced back to beat Florida International by a score of 20-14. After both contests, the Hilltoppers are averaging 24 points and giving up an average of 24.

Louisville also lost on opening week, but they played tough against #9 Notre Dame. The Cardinals showed they’re not a pushover after putting up 17 against the Irish before dominating Eastern Kentucky 42-0. Per game, Louisville scores 29 points and allows 17.

Getting 10 points, the Hilltoppers will need to be more careful with the ball if they’re going to compete with Louisville. Against FIU, Western Kentucky forced zero turnovers and coughed the ball up twice, one of which was a pick-six.

Western Kentucky racked up 339 yards of total offense and held Florida International to just 217, but the level of competition will be much higher this Saturday.

It felt like Louisville was letting out some frustration after letting the Notre Dame game get away from them as the Cardinals ran up the score against Eastern Kentucky. Louisville earned 542 yards of total offense while allowing just 172 yards.

Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass is 24 of 46 for 330 yards and four touchdowns alongside one interception.

50* Powerhouse Play on USC -3½ -110

After a big win over #23 Stanford, the #24 USC Trojans (2-0) look to stay unbeaten as they go on the road to take on the unranked BYU Cougars (1-1).

After falling behind 20-10 against the Cardinal, USC scored the final 35 points of the game to get an impressive victory over Stanford. After two games, the Trojans are averaging 37 points per game while giving up 21.

The Cougars were expected to lose to #14 Utah in the season opener, and they did so by a score of 30-12. BYU faced Tennessee next, needing double overtime to win by three points. So far, BYU is averaging 20 points for and 27 points against.

The visitors come into this matchup as 3.5-point favorites, and the spread should be even bigger if USC will get a repeat performance out of freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis. In his first career start, Slovis was 28 of 33 for 377 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks.

Although quarterback Zach Wilson was able to lead the Cougars on a game-tying drive before an eventual 2OT win last week, he may have trouble finding time to pick out receivers with an offensive line allowing pressure. Wilson was 19 for 29 with 232 yards and a TD against Tennessee.

Following a win by 20 or more points, USC is 5-2 out of their last seven against the spread.

50* Powerhouse Play on Georgia -32½ -109

The 1-1 Arkansas State Red Wolves face a very tall task Saturday as they go into Athens to take on the #3 Bulldogs of Georgia (2-0).

Arkansas State has been able to put up points so far this season, scoring an average of 36 after scoring 43 in last week’s win over UNLV. With 93 total points through two weeks of play, Georgia has scored even more. With an average of 46 points scored and 11 points allowed per game, Georgia has gotten off to a fast start.

Although the Red Wolves were good against UNLV, they allowed almost 200 yards on the ground. That’s a scary statistic as they come up against a Bulldogs rushing attack that averaged 6.7 yards per attempt and racked up 269 yards last week against Murray State.

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm hasn’t been lighting up the passing numbers, but he hasn’t needed to. In his first two games, Fromm has thrown for 156 and 166 yards, but only had one incompletion a week ago. If the running game has the success we expect, Fromm could become deadly on play-action passing plays.

Following a win by 20 or more points, Georgia is 14-5 in their last 19 games against the spread.

50* Powerhouse Play on Miami-OH +18½ -110

The Redhawks of Miami of Ohio (1-1) will travel into Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats (1-1) in a noon kickoff on Saturday.

While Miami is coming off a 48-17 trouncing of Tennessee Tech, Cincinnati will be looking for a comeback performance after a dreadful 42-0 defeat at the hands of #5 Ohio State.

With the Redhawks getting 18.5 points in this contest, it’s worth noting that Miami of Ohio lost to #20 Iowa by 24 points. On average, Miami has scored 30 points per game while allowing 27. After the shutout loss, Cincinnati has averaged just 11 points per game while giving up 27.

If Miami is going to keep this game close, they’ll likely need a bigger performance through the air from quarterback Brett Gabbert. In his first two games, the freshman QB threw for 186 and 152 yards. Gabbert provides a threat on the ground as well, but the Redhawks will need his arm against a good Cincinnati defense.

While it’s no surprise that Cincinnati lost to Ohio State, the 42-0 score line was a bit of a shocker for most. Sophomore quarterback Desmond Ridder threw for just 166 yards and a pick against the Buckeyes, and might need a few plays to shake off that rough outing.

Against the spread, Cincinnati is 0-5 coming off a game in which they allowed 40 or more points.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Kansas +21 -115

Boston College has gotten off to a strong 2-0 start after dispatching both Virginia Tech and Richmond. Tonight, the Eagles with host the Kansas Jayhawks (1-1).

While Boston College has been able to put up points, scoring a total of 80 through two weeks of play, Kansas has struggled to do so. After squeaking out a 24-17 win against Indiana State, the Jayhawks managed only seven in a loss to Coastal Carolina.

Under new head coach Les Miles, the Kansas offense is expected to pick up as the season progresses, and the Jayhawks should be able to keep many games close with a defense that’s allowing an average of just 14.5 points per game on the season.

Offensively, Kansas can count on the running duo of Khalil Herbert and Pooka Williams Jr., the latter of whom was one yard shy of triple digits rushing on 22 carries last week.

Allowing an average of 20.5 points, the weakness of this Boston College squad could turn out to be a defensive line that lost plenty of talent from a year ago. However, the Eagles were able to comfortably take down Virginia Tech despite being 4.5-point dogs.

For Kansas, the key to this game will likely be turning the ball over. Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown hasn’t thrown a pick yet this season, but a Jayhawks defense that held Coastal Carolina to just 291 total yards last week could frustrate Brown enough to force the ball into tight windows.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Arkansas State +1½ -110

Seeking its first 2-0 start in two decades, the UNLV Rebels (1-0) will host the Arkansas State Red Wolves (0-1) Saturday evening in what figures to be a tight matchup.

Despite big passing numbers from its quarterback, Arkansas State lost to SMU by a touchdown at home in Week 1 of the season. Against Southern Utah, UNLV took care of business and won by a score of 56-23.

In their opening game loss, Arkansas State quarterback Logan Bonner threw for 324 yards and four touchdowns, all of which were caught by Omar Bayless. Bayless finished the game with 10 catches for 132 yards, and proved that the Red Wolves have a scary quarterback-receiver combination.

The downfall for Arkansas State in Week 1 came in the form of a kickoff returned for a touchdown and 11 penalties, both of which should be correctable coming into the second game of the season.

Against significantly inferior competition, it’s hard to gauge just how well UNLV can carry over its 534-yard performance against Southern Utah. However, they’ll be hoping for more from Charles Williams, who rushed for 143 yards on 15 carries.

Of UNLV’s last 13 Week 2 games, the Rebels have won only three.

50* Powerhouse Play on Eastern Michigan +15½ -109

Although Kentucky might be looking ahead to next week’s matchup with #11 Florida, the Wildcats (1-0) could have their hands full this Saturday when the Eastern Michigan Eagles come to town.

While Eastern Michigan took down Coastal Carolina by a score of 30-23 in their first game of the season, Kentucky jumped out to a 1-0 start by overwhelming Toledo to the tune of 38-24.

With their sights set on a MAC title, the Eagles would love to prove their might against Kentucky. To do so, they’ll need another near-perfect game from quarterback Mike Glass, who completed 20 of 22 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns against Coastal Carolina.

If Eastern Michigan can get running back Shaq Vann going, this offense could be dangerous. Vann rushed for 84 yards last week, but was expected to do better against a lesser opponent than the one they’ll face Saturday.

Kentucky received a good performance out of QB Terry Wilson in Week 1. Wilson threw for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but with Kentucky playing as more than two-touchdown favorites, he’ll need to be as good or better against Eastern Michigan.

DeAndre Square had a monster game from the linebacker position for Kentucky last week, yet the Wildcats allowed 24 points. If square can’t replicate his 11 tackles, 0.5 sack, and interception once again, Kentucky might be poised to give up a significant amount of points.

50* Powerhouse Play on Tennessee -3½ -105

One team will remain winless after Saturday’s contest between the Brigham Young University Cougars (0-1) and Tennessee Volunteers (0-1).

BYU was overmatched against #14 Utah in last week’s 30-12 loss. Against Georgia State, Tennessee suffered one of the most shocking defeats of college football’s opening week by a score of 38-30.

Although BYU quarterback Zach Wilson notched a career-high 21 completions for 208 yards, he also tossed a pair of pick-sixes that would’ve been enough to earn the Utes the win by themselves. Tyson Williams also fumbled away a possession that led to a TD for the Utes.

Taking care of the football will be a focus for BYU, but they also need to improve against the run. Utah tallied 262 yards on the ground and controlled the game.

Tennessee struggled to run the ball against Georgia State, racking up just 93 yards on the ground, but quarterback Jarrett Guarantano threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Like BYU, the real struggle for the Volunteers was defending the run. They allowed 213 rushing yards in what they hope to be a wake-up call for this defense.

Tennessee now has a great chance to bounce back against a weaker BYU team at home.

50* Powerhouse Play on UCLA -7½ -110

The Rose Bowl will be the venue for a Week 2 clash between the San Diego State Aztecs (1-0) and UCLA Bruins (0-1).

The Aztecs started their 2019 campaign with one of the lowest-scoring football games you’ll ever see: a 6-0 win over Weber State. UCLA wasn’t able to score much more, and lost to Cincinnati by a score of 24-14.

The Bruins are more than a touchdown favorite in this one, and the lack of production for San Diego State’s offense is a big reason why. Against Weber State, the Aztecs averaged just 3.3 yards per play. While the San Diego State defense did its job, allowing only 154 yards, the offense failed to find the end zone. Instead, it needed kicker Matt Ariaza to score all six of its points.

UCLA lost by 10 to Cincinnati in large part because of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson tossing two interceptions and losing two fumbles. Thompson Robinson completed just eight passes for 156 yards.

The Bruins’ offense struggled, but injuries have to take at least some of the blame. UCLA was without the services of two offensive linemen, its leading returning receiver, and 1,200-yard rusher Joshua Kelley. All four injured players were at practice this week and would provide a huge boost to the team.

UCLA has never lost to San Diego State.

50* Powerhouse Play on Connecticut +22 -110

It was hardly a fair fight when Illinois (1-0) defeated Akron last week. Now, the Fighting Illini shift their focus to their first away fixture of the year as they take on the UConn Huskies (1-0).

After jumping out to the lead on the first drive of the game and going into halftime up 28-3, Illinois coasted in their 42-3 drubbing of Akron last week. Meanwhile, the Huskies squeaked out a three-point win over Wagner at home.

Illinois earned 401 yards of total offense and forced two turnovers while holding Akron to just 192 yards of offense. It was a great start for Michigan transfer Brandon Peters, who completed 14 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns on top of 36 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground.

However, the loss of running back Mike Epstein, who led the team with 45 yards on eight carries, should hinder the Fighting Illini run game.

Although UConn was only able to defeat an FCS opponent by three, the Huskies led by a significant amount in just about every category other than turnovers. If they can limit those giveaways, one of which was a pick-six, UConn could be a tough opponent.

On top of a 26-12 advantage in first downs, the Huskies earned 392 yards of offense and allowed just 185. And with a strong run game that earned 234 yards on 60 carries, UConn could easily slow this matchup down and bleed the clock, giving Illinois a tighter window to reach the 22 points they’re laying.

50* Powerhouse Play on Rutgers +20 -110

Apart from Purdue and Northwestern, the Big Ten went undefeated through the first week of college football. That means we’ll see two 1-0 teams face off in Iowa City as the #20 Iowa Hawkeyes host the unranked Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.

Rutgers opened the season with a 48-21 throttling of UMass, while Iowa took care of business against Miami of Ohio with a convincing 38-14 victory.

The Scarlet Knights will obviously be facing tougher competition in this contest, but they’ll be encouraged by their come-from-behind victory after giving up the first 14 points of the game. Texas Tech transfer and starting quarterback McLane Carter threw a pick on his second pass of the game, but ended with 340 yards, two TDs, and three total interceptions in a 21-for-31 performance.

And while Rutgers can be excited about Carter’s arm talent, they may be even more eager to see if running back Isaih Pacheco and an improved offensive line can duplicate a 156-yard, four-touchdown performance. We’ll see how far the Rutgers running game can go against last year’s 12th-ranked rush defense.

Returning Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley has been safe, consistent, and efficient over the past two years with 52 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Stanley offered more of the same against Miami of Ohio when he racked up 252 yards and three TDs without a pick.

Only leading by a field goal at halftime versus Miami, the Hawkeyes will need to be much better out of the gate if they’ll have a shot at covering the 20-point spread against a tougher Rutgers squad.

50* Powerhouse Play on Akron +9½ -110

The Akron Zips (0-1) will aim to defend their home field when the UAB Blazers (1-0) come to town on Saturday afternoon.

Akron opened the 2019 season with a dreadful performance against Illinois, who dominated the Zips to the tune of 42-3. In their opening contest, the Blazers picked up a close win against Alabama State by the score of 24-19.

As the score line shows, Illinois had its way with Akron. The Zips managed just 192 total yards of offense while allowing the Fighting Illini to rack up 400 yards and score on six of seven trips to the red zone. Akron quarterback Kato Nelson threw for just 128 yards and a pick on 28 attempts.

However, Akron was without three starters – left tackle Trevor Brown, cornerback Alvin Davis, and nose tackle Davon’te Jest – who are all key players for the squad and should provide a boost if they’re available Saturday.

Although UAB claimed the win in their first game of the season, quarterback Tyler Johnston was just 8-of-19 with 114 yards and a touchdown. Most of the damage was done on the ground, where UAB ran for 176 yards.

A big worry for the Blazers will be there inability to score in the second half of the game, and needing a goal-line stand to keep Alabama State from taking the lead in the fourth quarter.

Akron will expect less pressure on Nelson with the potential return of his left tackle, which could be trouble for an ineffective UAB offense laying 9.5 points.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on William & Mary +35½ -110

Only two teams in the Coastal division of the ACC earned a victory in Week 1; Virginia was one of them. Tonight, the Cavaliers (1-0) will play host to the visiting William & Mary Tribe (1-0).

The Lafayette Leopards fell victim to William & Mary in the Tribe’s kickoff game by a score of 30-17. Virginia faced much stiffer competition in the form of Pittsburgh, but won by the similar score of 30-14.

Sandwiched between Pitt and Florida State, who the Cavaliers play next week, this William & Mary contest is shaping up to be a trap game for Virginia.

Getting 35.5 points, the Tribe will rely on their two best aspects of the game from a week ago to keep this contest as close as possible: the run game and turnovers. Led by Hollis Mathis, William & Mary rushed for 265 yards as a team. The defense provided assist after assist for the offense with four takeaways.

Defense led the way for Virginia in last week’s victory. In addition to only being penalized three times as a team, the Cavaliers held Pittsburgh to just 78 yards on the ground.

Time could fly by in this one with both teams attempting to get the running game going. If that’s the case, Virginia should struggle to reach the 35.5-spread.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Louisville +18½ -110

The Louisville Cardinals will open their 2019 campaign at home against the visiting #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Monday night.

After a dreadful 2-10 season, Louisville has overhauled the coaching staff and taken the program in a new direction. That fresh start is much needed for a team that allowed 44 points per game while scoring just 19 themselves.

It was a very different 2018 for Notre Dame, who ended the year with a 12-1 record with a loss in the semi-final round of the College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish scored an average of 31 and allowed 18 per game.

After earning a 47-16 record over five seasons with Appalachian State, new Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield will put his own twist on a team that returns 16 starters. Perhaps his most important job will be improving starting quarterback Jawon Pass, who threw for 1,960 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2018.

Despite owning the 13th-ranked scoring defense in the country, Notre Dame struggled to win their first three games last season. The offense was slow to get started, as the Irish failed to score 25 points against #14 Michigan, Ball State, and Vanderbilt.

On the back of 2,628 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, Ian Book will start for Notre Dame. If Louisville can turn Book over, 18.5 will be a lot of points to overcome.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Houston +23½ -110

The Houston Cougars have a tough task to start out the 2019 season as they travel into Norman to take on the #4 Sooners of Oklahoma.

Houston defeated its only ranked opponent last season with a 57-36 win over #21 South Florida, and finished the year with a record of 8-5. The Cougars won games by outscoring their competition as they put up 43 per game while allowing an average of 37.

Coming off a 12-2 season, Oklahoma is the favorite to win the Big 12. A high-scoring loss to Alabama knocked the Sooners out of the College Football Playoff at the semi-final stage. On average, Oklahoma scored 48 points and allowed 33 per game in 2018.

23.5 points is a lot to give a team that finished seventh in FBS in total offense with 512.5 yards per game, especially considering they’ll have returning quarterback D’Eriq King. In addition to 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air, King added 674 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.

The Sooners have had the pleasure of having Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at QB in recent years, and they might be spoiled again with Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts arriving. While going 26-2 as a starter for the Crimson Tide, Hurts threw for 5,256 yards and 48 touchdowns as well as racking up nearly 2,000 yards as a rusher.

Defense is the bigger worry for Oklahoma after holding only two teams under the 20-point mark a season ago. The Sooners allowed at least 40 points on six occasions.

Against the spread, this solid Houston team is 15-4 in its last 19 competitions on grass.

50* Powerhouse Play on Auburn -3 -115

The best opening-game matchup of the college football season pits the #11 Oregon Ducks against the #16 Auburn Tigers in a neutral-site contest at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This game is a rematch of the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.

After defeating Michigan State in the Redbox Bowl, Oregon finished with a record of 9-4 in 2018. The Ducks put up 34 points per game while allowing 25 on average last season.

Auburn completed 2018 with a record of 8-5 after losing to #5 Georgia and #1 Alabama late in the season. The Tigers scored 30 points per game and gave up 19.

Oregon returns 17 starters from a season ago, including quarterback Justin Herbert (3,151 yards, 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions in 2018), but they weren’t great against ranked competition. The Ducks defeated #24 Cal and #7 Washington, but lost to #7 Stanford and #25 Washington State.

Head coach Gus Malzahn returned to play-calling duties for the bowl game against Purdue, which Auburn won by a score of 63-14. Now, Malzahn gets a new toy in the form of freshman quarterback Bo Nix, who was Alabama’s Mr. Football in 2018 and comes in as the top-ranked dual threat QB in the 2019 recruiting class.

50* Powerhouse Play on South Carolina -10½ -110

An SEC versus ACC rivalry game will help us kick off the first full weekend of college football when the Gamecocks of South Carolina head into Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. to take on the Tar Heels of North Carolina.

North Carolina’s last victory against South Carolina came in 1991, and it doesn’t look likely to happen again this year for a Tar Heels squad that won just two games last season. North Carolina didn’t have much of a recipe for success last year, allowing 34 points per game while scoring an average of 27.

South Carolina finished out the 2018 season with a record of 7-5 after losing to Virginia in the Belk Bowl. The Gamecocks will be eager to start the season off right with #1 Clemson, #2 Alabama, and #3 Georgia all on the schedule.

South Carolina senior quarterback Jake Bentley (3,171 yards, 27 TDs in 2018) returns alongside three of his top four pass catchers. That doesn’t bode well for a North Carolina team losing its three top tacklers from a year ago.

Against the spread, the Gamecocks are 12-5 in their last 17 versus ACC competition.

50* Powerhouse Play on Georgia State +27 -110

Neither the Georgia State Panthers nor the Tennessee Volunteers had the season they wanted last year. Georgia State went 2-10 on the year while Tennessee finished 5-7 with a 2-6 record in conference play.

It’s easy to see why both programs struggled in 2018. The Panthers allowed 37 points per game while scoring just 23 of their own. The Volunteers weren’t a great deal better, scoring just 22 points per game and giving up 27.

Georgia State is aiming to improve this year based on their experience. At quarterback, Dan Ellington returns. On top of 2,119 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air, Ellington led the team with 625 rushing yards and five additional TDs. The Panthers are also returning nine starters on the defensive side of the ball.

After missing out on a bowl game last year, Tennessee is in danger of overlooking the earlier games on the schedule with three top-ten ranked opponents awaiting them in SEC play - #8 Florida, #3 Georgia, and #2 Alabama.

While nobody is expecting Georgia State to escape with an upset win, the 27 points they’re getting is a lot when you look at the shaky offensive line in front of Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who threw for 1,907 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

50* Powerhouse Play on UL-Lafayette +20½ -110

The Superdome in New Orleans will be the venue for a noon clash between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

Last season, this matchup was one of eight wins for Mississippi State, who finished 8-5 with a bowl loss to Iowa. A Cure Bowl loss against Tulane gave UL-Lafayette a 7-7 record on the year.

A big reason for any success the Bulldogs enjoyed last season came from a strong defense that allowed just 13 points per game in head coach Joe Moorhead’s first year. That production will be hard to replicate with just four starters from the defense returning in 2019.

While you have to consider the difference in the Sun Belt and SEC conferences, the Cajuns were actually better on offense last season, scoring 31 points per game to Mississippi State’s 28 points per game.

Although Louisiana Lafayette will be without Andre Nunez at QB, they’re bringing back 15 starters from a team that scored at least 42 points on five occasions last year. Before postseason play, the Cajuns won six of their final eight regular season games.

The Cajuns’ ground game has two solid options with Trey Ragas (1,181 yards and nine TDs) and Elijah Mitchell (985 yards and 13 TDs).

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Indiana -17 -108

The Indiana Hoosiers will get the 2019 season rolling in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis against the Ball State Cardinals in a matchup of unranked teams.

Indiana missed out on a bowl game last year after finishing the regular season at 5-7 and 2-7 in the Big Ten. However, the Hoosiers routed Ball State by a score of 38-10.

In addition to that loss to the Hoosiers, Ball State ended with a single win in their final five games to end up 4-8.

Indiana comes in as the significant favorite, and their advantage offensively against a poor Ball State defense is a big reason why. The Hoosiers have one of the more productive running backs in the Big Ten in sophomore Steven Scott III, who ran for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns on 228 carries in his freshman campaign.

Meanwhile, Ball State is coming off a 2018 season in which they allowed over five yards per carry and gave up 36 rushing touchdowns, which was the eighth most in the nation. The Cardinals finished 106thin total defense a year ago.

Ball State is 1-5 against the spread in their last six games at a neutral site.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Wake Forest -3½ -110

The Utah State Aggies will face their first test of a new season at Wake Forest against the Demon Deacons.

Utah State’s victory over North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl earned them an 11-2 record in 2018. One of their two losses came in the season opener in which they fell to #11 Michigan State by a touchdown.

Wake Forest enjoyed less success, but reached the Birmingham Bowl and defeated Memphis to finish 7-6 a year ago.

In 2018, the Aggies were able to score 47 points per game while giving up just 22, albeit in the Mountain West. Facing stiffer competition in the ACC, Wake Forest allowed an average of 33 whilst scoring 32 themselves.

While Utah State returns quarterback Jordan Love, who threw for 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season, they’ll kick off the season with an inexperienced offensive line and without last year’s head coach, Matt Wells.

After coming in for an injured Sam Hartman, junior quarterback Jamie Newman will start for the Demon Deacons. Including his impressive 328-yard performance against Memphis, Newman led Wake Forest to a 3-1 record in his four games under center.

If history is any predictor, Wake Forest will be happy about its 46-10 throttling of Utah State two years ago.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Utah -6.5 -110

Brigham Young University will host #14 Utah to open the 2019 season in a long-running series between these in-state rivals. The Utes have won the last eight contests between these two programs, including a 35-27 win at home in the most recent meeting.

The Cougars of BYU capped off the season with a win over Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to go 7-6 on the year. A defeat at the hands of Northwestern gave Utah a final record of 9-5 in 2018, but the Utes registered an impressive win against Stanford on its way to a Pac-12 South victory.

With the return of seven starters on each side of the ball, Utah will aim to improve on their 28 points per game while holding opponents to 19 points a game (ranked 17th) from a year ago. The Utes will return senior running back Zack Moss, who led the team with 1,092 yards and 11 TDs, and both Jason Shelley (1,162 yards; five TDs; six picks) and Tyler Huntley (1,788 yards; 12 TDs; six picks), who both saw significant action at quarterback.

BYU made a huge jump in 2018 after a 4-9 season the year prior. That progress figures to continue with 17 starters returning this season.

The Cougars ranked 24thin scoring defense but were average on offense. Zach Wilson will lead the squad from the QB position. Last season, Wilson threw for 1,578 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Against the spread, Utah is 4-0 in their last four August games.

50* Powerhouse Play on San Jose State -11½ -120

The Northern Colorado Bears will kick off the 2019 college football season with the first ever game against the San Jose State Spartans in San Jose. While the Spartans finished last in the West division of the Mountain West conference a season ago, both coaches and media members picked the Bears to finish last overall in the Big Sky conference this year.

A 50-37 victory over UNLV was San Jose State’s lone win of the 2018 season. They finished 1-11 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

With back to back wins coming against Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, Northern Colorado completed the 2018 season with a record of 2-9. 

Although San Jose State quarterback Josh Love hasn’t been lighting up the college football scene over the past two years after completing 50% and 55% of his passes over the last two years, the Spartans have a favorable matchup in the passing game. Love showed his potential with 451-yard game against Hawaii and a 335-yard game against UNLV, and he’s unlikely to face a lot of pressure against a Northern Colorado team that managed just eight sacks last season.

Expect a weak San Jose State team from a better conference to overpower a weak Northern Colorado squad.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Miami-FL +7½ -110

College football is finally back, and it all kicks off Saturday in Orlando when the #8 Florida Gators (0-0) take on the interstate rival Hurricanes of Miami (0-0), who are unranked.

Before defeating Michigan by a score of 41-15 in the Peach Bowl, Florida went 9-3 in the regular season last year. Miami comes into 2019 after a disappointing 7-5 regular season that ended with a 35-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Hurricane faithful are excited about new head coach Manny Diaz after Mark Richt’s departure. Diaz is already making his mark, choosing redshirt freshman Jarren Williams to start over Ohio State transfer Tate Martell at quarterback.

Dan Mullen will lead the Gators and quarterback Feleipe Franks, who threw for 2,457 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season. Florida went through rough stretches as an offense in 2018. In losses to Georgia and Missouri, the Gators scored just 17 points in each.

With a Florida offense that’s looked sluggish at times, the 7.5-point spread looks enticing for a Miami defensive that had 40 sacks and allowed just 136 yards per game passing last season. The Hurricanes defense, which returns six starters, will also be excited to see what senior defensive end Trevon Hill can add after recording 11.5 sacks in 16 games at Virginia Tech.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Clemson +6 -115

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Washington +3 -110

100* Big 12 Total of the Year on Texas/Oklahoma State over 59½ -117