College Football Predictions: What I Am Banking On In Week 1

Like many football fans out there I like to have a betting interest in a few games each week. Sometimes I am happy to have made the bet, other times I am looking for the bottle of scotch to help me forget how dumb I was on that particular Saturday.

Throughout the Summer I have had many preview/prediction articles for this upcoming season, which is now here. It it time for me to put my money where my mouth is and walk the walk until championship Saturday.

Each week I will give you some of the games I am going to bet on, which will include at least one parlay, and several individual games. Many of these picks will include the spread, since you really can't win much $$ betting straight up unless you are taking the upset.

So this week, even though the games are mainly one-sided, I have picked a few games to try and get some capital going as we head towards conference play.

Parlay Bet

So the first bet is a parlay bet, which in case you don't know, it is a line bet where all teams in the bet must cover the spread. Unlike Meatloaf, two out of three is bad in a parlay.

What I have done is taken 5 games that I am sure of the outcome and think the teams may cover the spread.

Here they are:

I like Mizzou -11.5 over Illinois. The Illini are going to end up in the Big Ten toilet, while Mizzou has enough weapons on offense to win even without Derrick Washington who may be watching the game on TV with his favorite tutor or tutors.

Florida -35 over Miami. No it isn't the Canes, so yes, it is doable. The Redhawks were one of the worst teams in the FBS last year and still look to be so on paper. Gator speed, the swamp, and a hungry new QB is enough to pound the tar out of Miami.

Texas -30.5 over Rice. Mack Brown and Texas appear to be far superior to Rice in this one. Look for the Texas O to put up a few points, but the Texas D to put up just as many as the Horns romp.

Oklahoma -34 over Utah State. Memorial Stadium will be buzzing for a half. Then the game will be over as Boomer Sooner will have covered the spread by then. The Aggies get destroyed.

Oklahoma State -15.5 over Washington State. Wazzu is maybe the worst BCS team in all the land. Even though the Cowboys have to make a transition at several key positions, they still have Kendall Hunter who will run all over the Cougars in Stillwater.

This bet was made at $5 to win $125 and is enough to give daddy a new pair of shoes.

Northwestern -4.5 Over Vandy

Normally the rule is to stay away from gambling on your favorite team.... unless it is a lock.

Northwestern should beat Vandy, despite struggling on the road in past openers and breaking in a new QB.

The key in this game is the NWestern D-line against the Vandy run game. If they can shut that down, and I think they will, Vandy will not be able to muster enough offense to keep it close.

Look for the Wildcats to cover the small 4.5 point spread, and a $5 bet gets you $4.55.

Colorado State +12 Vs Colorado

The Buffs are looking to avenge a 6 point loss to their in-state rivals, and are the early favorites.

Not so fast my friend!

This one is a 12 point spread in an opening game rivalry. There is no way this one is won by any more than 10, and the Rams have seemingly had Colorado's number as of recent years.

I am taking the Rams to cover the spread of 12.

Again a $5 bet yields you a $4.55 profit.

New Mexico +34 Vs Oregon

We can all agree that Oregon is going to beat New Mexico, and it is just a question of by how many?

34 is too many as the Ducks will be able to breathe easy by half-time and will start to rest for their trip to Knoxville.

The Lobos score a couple of late garbage TD's and make the score closer than 34 points.

As always a %4 bet gets you $4.55.

Oregon State +13.5 Vs TCU

OSU is yet another team that is breaking in a new QB, and maybe that is why the spread is where it is.

TCU should win the game, but on a neutral site and against one of the best and trickiest backs to contend against, they will have their struggles.

The Beavers keep it within 10 and cover against the Horned Frogs.

Again $5 gets you $4.55 in profit.

Wisconsin -20.5 Vs UNLV

The Bobby Hauck era begins in Sin City with a visit from perinial Big Ten power Wisconsin.

That alone should be enough to convince you UNLV has no shot, but can they cover?

I say no, but it will be interesting for the hardcore gambler.

UNLV will be good enough to put up some points against a lackluster Badger D, but bad enough on D to give John Clay and the ground game anything they want.

It will be close, but the Badgers cover the spread.

Again $5 gets you $4.55.

USC -21.5 Vs Hawaii

USC may be on probation, and nobody really seems to care as much about them this season due to that.

So I guess the Trojans have every right to take out their frustration on a team that is far inferior to them in nearly every facet of the game.

USC will score early and often, while Hawaii will be lucky to score garbage TD's.

USC blows up and easily covers the spread.

$5 gets you $4.55 as always.

The Wrap

So this week there are only a few I am putting my hard earned money on, just enough to get a bank roll going heading into a very interesting week 2.

In other games that I am not throwing down dough on, I like Virginia Tech over Boise, LSU over North Carolina, Mid Tenn St over Minnesota, and I like San Jose State to cover against 'Bama.

Check back next week for the results and a look at the games I am betting on in week 2.