2010 Week 1 College Football Underdog Picks: September 2nd thru September 6th

College football is here, as the 2010 NCAA Football season kicks off this weekend. Underdogs are usually wise investment early in the year, and here are four underdogs we like to bark in Week 1. Visit Touthouse.com each weekend for more winning college football picks and NCAA football betting advice from our team of professional sports handicappers

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Colorado State +12 over Colorado: It is tough to give this many points in a rivalry game with a Colorado team that has uncertainty at the quarterback position. Coach Dan Hawkins has named Tyler Hansen as the starting QB for now over Cody Hawkins, who just happens to be the coach’s son. It may not matter who is under center if the running game is as pathetic as last season, when the Buffaloes averaged only 87.9 rushing yards per game on an abysmal 2.8 yards per carry. As for Colorado State, they have a solid and deep defensive front seven that can pressure Hansen if the Buffs can’t establish a running game to keep the Rams’ defense honest.

Akron +8½ over Syracuse: Both of these programs are coming off of disappointing seasons, but both are also heading in the right direction and should show some improvement this season. Syracuse may be a bit further along, but are they so much better than last year that they merit being favored by more than a touchdown on the road here? After all, this is still a team that was 4-8 last season is now starting an inexperienced sophomore quarterback and returns only two starters on the offensive line. Conversely, the offensive line is one of Akron’s strengths, and the Zips switching their defense to a 4-3 formation suits their personnel better.

Bowling Green +14 over Troy: This line is understandable when you consider this is a rebuilding year for Bowling Green, especially after losing record-breaking wide receiver Freddie Barnes, who set an NCAA mark last season with an amazing 155 receptions. That said, the Troy defense looks vulnerable, especially in the front seven, and their shaky run defense makes them a risky proposition laying two touchdowns. This is especially true since running back Willie Geter is the most experienced returnee to the BGSU offense, so the Falcons may actually establish a running game here after passing non-stop last season.

Cincinnati +2½ over Fresno State: Some people consider the fact that Coach Brian Kelly jumped ship for the greener pastures at Notre Dame after guiding Cincinnati to a perfect 12-0 regular season as a catastrophe, but remember that his replacement Butch Jones led Central Michigan to two MAC titles and three bowl games in three years there, and the Bearcats still have the best offense in the Big East. As much respect as we have for Pat Hill and the Fresno State program, they will have a tough time replacing running back Ryan Mathews, who is an immediate starter in the NFL with the Chargers, and the Bulldogs’ shaky secondary should get exposed often by the potent Cats.