Best Bets For College Football Week 1

FILE – Southern California coach Lincoln Riley watches during the second half of the team’s NCAA college football game against UCLA, Nov. 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)

By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME

I am a degenerate. I can’t deny it. So I will give out my top five college football plays weekly. My first play is a Friday game.

TCU @ Stanford +8.5

I love Stanford in this Friday night game. I know the Cardinal weren’t very good a season ago, and they didn’t add much in the portal. But I am a Troy Taylor truther. He is a coach who is excellent and will get Stanford back to their winning ways. It may not be this season, but it will be soon. Stanford returns their quarterback from last season, Ashton Daniels. Stanford returns 85% of its returning production from last season—aa strong indicator that success is on the horizon despite being picked to finish last in the ACC preseason poll. TCU is a program that struggled after making the national championship game two seasons ago. They finished 5-7, which I think is where they should finish, and the national championship game appearance was a one-off. Sonny Dykes is the worst coach. Josh Hoover, the TCU quarterback, is the worse quarterback. The game is at Stanford. Stanford at least keeps it close and has a chance to win. If you are feeling spicy, +260 on the Stanford ML is a play, but the +8.5 is my official play.

Virginia Tech -13.5 @ Vanderbilt

Virginia Tech is a surprise team in the ACC. Kyron Drones is a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Coach Brent Pry is a hard-nosed coach who gets the best out of his players. Vanderbilt’s home-field advantage is nonexistent. I do like the addition of quarterback Diego Pavia from New Mexico State for Vanderbilt, an elite Conference USA quarterback. I don’t know if he is a good enough quarterback to win on the major college level. I like Virginia Tech to start the season off with a big win on the road.

UCLA -13.5 @ Hawaii

Another big road favorite. I hate to bet on, but UCLA is being overlooked. I understand that DeShaun Foster didn’t have the best first impression at Big 10 media day. That doesn’t matter on the field. Ethan Garbers returns at quarterback who is solid. The defense, which lost some players, will still be too talented for a Hawaii team that struggled with Delaware State in week 0. I believe playing in week 0 is a disadvantage in today’s college football because now your opponent has tape on all of the new players. With so many players changing schools, it’s hard to scout everyone. With a week 0 game under their belt. Foster and his coaching staff can dissect the Hawaii offense. I downgraded Hawaii a bit after their clunker against Delaware State. UCLA is still a Big 10 team playing Hawaii. We saw last year when Stanford took care of the Warriors on the road. I expect the same from the Bruins.

Miami (FL) @ Florida +2.5 and +110 ML

A loser leaves town match between the two coaches. Florida, by all accounts, has the toughest schedule this season, but I think Florida is better than a season ago. The record may not show it at the end of the season because of the strength of the schedule. If you play Florida, you want to play them later in the season when they have played a ranked opponent and are licking their wounds. Not the first game of the season when they will never be healthier. Add in playing at the Swamp, and you have a tough game to win if you’re Mario Cristobal and Miami. The Cam Ward and Damien Martinez additions will be great for the Hurricanes. Miami has a chance to make the expanded CFP with their talent this season, but they are losing in week one to the Florida Gators.

USC +4 and +165 ML vs. LSU

A Sunday night game in Vegas to wrap up the betting week. There is nothing better. I like USC to win this game on the field over LSU. If the USC defense can be average. Which isn’t asking a lot under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. I think this team could have a great season. Lincoln Riley hasn’t forgotten how to coach offense. We saw Miller Moss throw six touchdowns in the bowl win over Louisville last season. Riley can take any quarterback and make him special. I don’t expect much of a dropoff from the offense, even without Caleb Williams. So if the defense, going against new quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, can be average. I expect USC to win the game. Jayden Daniels did so much for LSU last season, and that’s why he won the Heisman trophy. Nussmeier is not that guy. I think USC wins the game.

@steven_von