Week 1 of college football madness rolls into Sunday with a doubleheader lineup.
The action kicks off with Virginia Tech taking on No. 13 South Carolina at a neutral site in Atlanta, followed by a primetime clash between No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 10 Miami in the heart of the 305.
The slate may be lighter, but our college football picks are stacked — including a standout player prop for August 31.
College football best bets for Sunday
Virginia Tech +7.5 (
Virginia Tech +7.5
Rust, new coordinators on both sides, and a battle in the trenches point to a tight matchup. With that in mind, grabbing either team at more than a touchdown feels like value. I’m backing the Hokies to cover.
Virginia Tech’s offensive line is still a question mark against South Carolina’s disruptive front, but that very struggle could help keep the game close. The Hokies will try to control the ball, bleed the clock, and lean on QB Kyron Drones to extend plays on the edge. The line has been reworked, with a couple of returners but enough new pieces that consistency may come slowly.
South Carolina’s offense has upside, but not right away. The Gamecocks lost three starters from the offensive line, and while they may hold a physical edge, it will take time to gel. Pair that with a transition to new offensive coordinator Mike Shula’s system, and a slow start is likely.
Continuity leans Virginia Tech’s way. South Carolina’s long-term potential is clear, but in this opener the Hokies are better positioned to hang around and keep it close.
Jeremiyah Love Over 79.5 rushing yards
Notre Dame junior running back Jeremiyah Love's props are deflated a bit by the thought that the Irish may resort to a committee approach with carries. But preseason practices indicated it will not be as much of a timeshare as last season, and Notre Dame has an idle week next week, anyway.
Love can rest then. For now, Notre Dame will emphasize a win courtesy of his strength and speed behind an offensive line that has actually improved drastically since the run to the national championship game.
Notre Dame -2.5
Let’s approach this by wondering what the single best unit is in this game. That is a subjective wonder, of course, but it may still have a definitive answer.
Whether trying to answer it in the micro or the macro, the answer is the same: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has the single best unit in this game. In the micro, the Irish have the best offensive line in the country, combined with arguably the best running back group in the country.
That combination creates a rushing attack that should stand out in this matchup.
In the macro, each of Notre Dame’s three defensive position groups — linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs — is considered top five in the country when weighing across the three most popular season preview publications. The Irish defense should be feared by all opponents.
That combination should assure Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman the ability to grind this game into the dirt, as he prefers to do. Since the day he was hired, the former defensive coordinator has preached building “an offensive and defensive line-driven program.”
That is an easy thing to say, but a harder thing to build, and yet Freeman has. He leaned on those two lines, including a then-inexperienced offensive line, to win at Texas A&M as a short underdog to open last season.
That exact same template can apply as a short favorite in another season-opening road game, now with a far more experienced offensive line.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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