2024 College Football Week 1 action report: ‘We need Clemson to show up’

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on a number of notable Week 1 video games, as we make our maiden voyage into 2024 faculty soccer betting nuggets.

Bettors Bullish on Bulldogs

No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia is arguably the marquee matchup on the faculty soccer Week 1 oddsboard. It’s one other midday ET contest and a quasi-neutral-site tilt, at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Again in April, Caesars Sports activities opened this matchup at Georgia -13.5, and the road has principally toggled between -13.5 and -14 ever since. Over the previous few days, the Bulldogs made a few transient dips to -13, earlier than rebounding to -13.5 (-120).

"That is clearly the largest sport of the week," Feazel stated. "We’re seeing plenty of Georgia motion, so on this one, we do have a call. We'd like Clemson to point out up and lose by 13 or much less.

"It’s in all probability gonna be our greatest resolution Saturday."

Talking of Clemson-Georgia, faculty soccer betting skilled Paul Stone has an opinion on the sport — nevertheless it’s on the whole, which is at a consensus 48.5. 

Stone likes the Beneath, offering a couple of supporting causes:

• Clemson lacks a downfield passing sport, and it has to switch the manufacturing of working again Will Shipley, a jack of all trades who generated greater than 4,200 all-purpose yards in three seasons.
• Georgia returns Heisman hopeful Carson Beck at QB, however loses generational tight finish Brock Bowers and vast receiver Ladd McConkey.

"Clemson threw the ball deep (past 20 yards) on simply 7.8% of final 12 months’s move makes an attempt, rating lifeless final in that class in the whole 133-team FBS," Stone stated. "The Tigers additionally solely had 46 performs of 20 yards or extra, in 13 video games. Clemson and Georgia are each trying to find field-stretching playmakers, plus it’s no secret that each these packages are identified for taking part in stout protection.

"Factors might be at a premium Saturday, in my view. I’m searching for a lower-scoring sport."

Stone additionally likes Colorado State +31.5 in opposition to fourth-ranked Texas.

"I believe Texas is a playoff staff this 12 months. However the Longhorns will miss the defensive deal with tandem of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat," Stone stated. "The Longhorns are slightly weak at the back of their protection, and I believe they’ll get a gradual dose of [Colorado State’s] Tory Horton, one of many high vast receivers in faculty soccer.

"Plus, Texas has a giant sport on deck subsequent weekend at Michigan. It’s solely pure that they could be trying forward."

Staying within the Lone Star State, the place Stone lives, he likes highway underdog No. 7 Notre Dame in opposition to No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday evening. Stone famous that Notre Dame will debut a new-look offensive line, whereas A&M will trot out new coach Mike Elko.

The Aggies have taken cash of late to maneuver out to -3.

"I actually assume Riley Leonard is a major improve at quarterback for Notre Dame," Stone stated of the switch from Duke.

Stone additionally famous that though it’s a small pattern dimension, Notre Dame is 4-1-1 in opposition to the unfold as an underdog in Marcus Freeman’s two seasons as coach.

Showdown in School Station

Retaining the give attention to Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M, as famous above, though the Combating Irish have the upper rating, they’re not favorites in School Station for a 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday kickoff.

Caesars Sports activities opened this sport a choose ‘em months in the past, and Notre Dame was briefly a 1-point favourite on Aug. 5. However the line has shifted 4 factors since then, with the Aggies now at -3.

"The market was initially larger on Notre Dame than we have been, however the market ended up coming our manner," Feazel stated. "Sharps have been throughout Texas A&M. We’re gonna see plenty of public motion on Notre Dame, however the line isn’t going that manner.

"This looks as if a Professionals vs. Joes sport, and we’re gonna want the Aggies by 3 or extra."

More likely than both of these, a buyer at Arduous Rock Sports activities in Florida threw five-figure help behind The U.

That’s a good quantity of religion to place within the Hurricanes. Which, as soccer season will get underway, serves as an excellent time for this reminder: By no means guess greater than you possibly can afford to lose. 

Preserve it affordable, and benefit from the opening weekend of faculty soccer.

Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He's a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting house. He’s based mostly in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Observe him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas.

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