College Football Week 1 Picks: Temple Owls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees has compiled a 14-4 record as a starter, which is important to consider when making your college football picks on Saturday as he faces off against the Temple Owls at Notre Dame Stadium.

Courtesy of SBR Forum, the Fighting Irish are 29.5-point home favorites in the NCAA football odds, with the betting total sitting at 53 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this non-conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way. 

Temple Owls

The Temple Owls return 14 starters from a team that compiled a 4-7 straight-up and against-the-spread record in 2012, but it still has the nation's second-most underclassmen on its depth chart.

College football handicappers will find that the Owls are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games versus non-conference foes. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are one of just six college football programs to allow less than 21 points per game over the last three seasons—surrendering just 13 rushing touchdowns over their last 30 games.

College football handicappers will find that the Fighting Irish are 2-1 against the spread as favorites of 21.5 to 31 points since 2011. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as the Temple Owls are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games versus non-conference opponents.

College Football Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -29.5

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports