The bigger-name games in college football’s protracted Week 1 – which actually goes through next weekend – aren’t on the field today, but make no mistake, the season is officially underway. Covers checks in on the action and odds movement for tonight’s two FBS tilts, with insights from Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US in Las Vegas. **video
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Colorado State Rams – Open: -13.5; Move: -14; Move: -14.5; Move: -15; Move: -16; Move: -16.5; Move: -17
Along with a lengthy road trip, Hawaii players and coaches have had to think about Hurricane Lane bearing down on the islands these past few days. The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a dismal 3-9 SU campaign in which they cashed only one time, in a season-opening win at Massachusetts. Hawaii got a push in Week 2, then had 10 straight pointspread losses to finish 1-10-1 ATS.
Colorado State went 7-5 SU (4-8 ATS) in the regular season last year, then lost to Marshall 31-28 as a 3-point chalk in the New Mexico Bowl. The Rams have failed to cover in their last seven games, heading into this 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
“That’s one-way action,” Bogdanovich said of betting at William Hill US shops around Vegas and throughout Nevada. “We’re drowned on the favorite, and that’s a pretty good-sized decision.”
Wyoming Cowboys at New Mexico State Aggies – Open: +6; Move: +5.5; Move: +4; Move: +6; Move: +3.5; Move: +4
Wyoming no longer has the services of quarterback Josh Allen, taken by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Cowboys went 8-5 SU and ATS last year, capped by a 37-14 rout of Central Michigan as a 2.5-point favorite in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
New Mexico State also found its way to a bowl game in a 7-6 season (7-5-1 ATS). The Aggies wrapped up with a 26-20 overtime victory against Utah State catching 5.5 points in the Arizona Bowl.
“We’ve been as low as 3.5 and as high as 6 on this game,” Bogdanovich said of wild line fluctuation for a 10 p.m. ET start. “Very good action, it’s drawing some money. We’re a little high on the home ‘dog, but not too much.”
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
