College Football Picks Against The Spread Early September 9, 2017

TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 7: The National Championship Trophy during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

College Football Picks Against The Spread Early September 9

I was a bit under average in the opening weekend of the college football season. Starting in the hole is nothing new. I have done that for four straight years now. Week 1 is the hardest to pick. By week two, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from most teams.

More from College Football Odds

For those of you that are new here, I put myself out there every week. For the last six years, I have picked every single college football game. Sounds easy, right? I thought so too. So I have picked them all against the spread. That significantly increases the degree of difficulty.

I take the average of the odds from the six major Vegas casinos and round that to the nearest half point. There will be no ties here. Ties are for the other football.

Some site will sell you top ten picks for a fee. Some will even give you a couple of free picks to lure you in. This is every game picked, all for free.

This contains the picks for FBS vs. FBS games only. It is too hard to get an accurate spread on games that involve 1-AA teams.

I will assign a point value “bet” on each game, between one and five points. That way you can see just how confident I am in each pick. Look for those at the end of each line. I am down 43 points over the last two seasons, but I fully plan to be back to even before the end of of September.

This is for entertainment purposes only! I cannot be responsible for you losing any of your worldly possessions, significant others, or limbs to a loan shark. I am a simple person. I cannot have that on my conscience.

We have 76 games this weekend, but only 51 of them are FBS vs. FBS matchups. I will split the Saturday slate up into early and late games. Unfortunately, we have four games canceled or postponed because of Hurricane Irma. Florida Atlantic is the only team venturing to their road game from Florida. Miami and South Florida elected to stay home. Florida State and Florida weren’t going to make their opponents come down there with the entire state in danger. That leaves 43 games on Saturday. Here are the first 23!

BOCA RATON, FL – SEPTEMBER 1: Zach Abey #9 hands the ball off to Chris High #33 of the Navy Midshipmen during second quarter action against the Florida Atlantic Owls on September 1, 2017 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

(21)South Florida(-16.5) at Connecticut(1): This line is still on at the casinos, so even though ESPN says it’s canceled, I will pick anyway just in case. It will not be included in my end wagers unless it is played. As for the game, USF is super talented, but they have started slow in both games. I’m not sure they come out fast enough to win this on the road. Give me UConn.

(16)Miami(FL)(-14.5) at Arkansas State(2): The Red Wolves looked good at Nebraska in opener, and if for some reason this game is every played, it will be the biggest thing to ever hit Jonesboro. That still wont save the Red Wolves. Give me Miami.

Louisiana-Monroe at (10)Florida State(-35.5)(4): Too many. The Noles wont cover this without Francois.

Okay, now for the game that we know are being played!

Cincinnati at (8)Michigan(-34.5)(2): That’s a lot of points for an offense that really doesn’t move the ball all that well. The defense is impressive, which will give Michigan more offensive chances, but I still don’t see them covering. And, well, it’s ten years since the biggest upset in college football history in Michigan’s opener in 2007. Give me Cincy.

Florida Atlantic at (9)Wisconsin(-33.5)(1): I see Lane is getting no love this week, nor does he deserve it. I guess Wisconsin could run the ball 70 times and cover this. As long as they keep the ball out of Hornibrook’s hands, they’re good! Give me the Badgers.

(17)Louisville(-9.5) at North Carolina(4): I knew I should have taken this line when it opened at -3.5. I’m telling you now like I told you earlier this week that Purdue is not a bad team. Their defense is miles ahead of Carolina’s right now. Louisville by a couple dozen or so.

Charlotte at (19)Kansas State(-34.5)(3): The only bad part about this is that I don’t get to rag on K-State for playing (another) 1-AA team. Wildcats run off with this one.

Northwestern(-2.5) at Duke(2): I do like Northwestern, but man, they looked stagnant in the opener. I don’t quite have it in me to pick against this offense, so I will hedge my bet by lowering the wager.

East Carolina at West Virginia(-24.5)(2): This line is all over the place, which usually means sucker bet. Can Will Grier light it up through the air again? Considering it happened against the Hokies in the opener, I have to say yes. Give me WVU.

Buffalo at Army(-15.5)(2): The Bulls performed well in the opener against Minnesota, so I have to think this is too high. The only thing Army really accomplished last year was beating Navy. Isn’t that all there is?

Iowa(-3.5) at Iowa State(5): The lack of a running game for the Cyclones is going to be a problem. I do think Allen Lazard gets his 100, but not much more. Iowa’s defense dominated a solid Wyoming team, and I just don’t see the Cyclones stopping Akrum Wadley. Give me Iowa.

Wake Forest at Boston College(EVEN)(3): Boston College beat a solid Northern Illinois team on the road in the opener. We learned nothing from Wake blowing out Presbyterian. Give me the tested Eagles at home.

Texas State at Colorado(-35.5)(3): That’s a ton of points, but the Ralphies are more than capable of covering on offense, and the defense was impressive against Colorado State. Give me Colorado.

UAB at Ball State(-13.5)(1): Illinois wasn’t as good as I though, but does that make Ball State good enough to cover this? I honestly don’t know. Tails, my trust 1977 quarter says. Ball State it is!

Fresno State at (1)Alabama(-43.5)(1): Wow, that’s a lot. I know Bama is capable, but just how much run will the first team offense get with that brutal schedule in front of them? Give me Fresno, I guess.

Pittsburgh at (4)Penn State(-21.5)(2): I really hate that half. I know Penn State is capable of covering this. Their offense is the best it has been in quite some time. However, rivalry games are weird. Especially here where Pitt had to practically beg big brother to play them again. Give me Penn State, only because Pitt needed overtime to dispose of Youngstown State.

(23)TCU(-2.5) at Arkansas(3): Arkansas didn’t look all that great in the opener. TCU played an awful team. We don’t really know much about this, but I know that TCU has won more road games than any other power five team in the last decade. Give me TCU.

Tulane at Navy(-11.5)(4): This looks low. Navy proved in the opener that they can still move the ball almost at will. Tulane can’t stop them. Middies roll.

Indiana(-3.5) at Virginia(4): This looks low. Like really low. However, what effect will that Ohio State loss have on the Hoosiers? They completely self destructed in the second half. That is hard to come back from, but Virginia isn’t all that good. I’ll take the Hoosiers.

Middle Tennessee State at Syracuse(-10.5)(2): The Orange are tough at the Carrier Dome. That said, the Blue Raiders aren’t as bad as Vanderbilt made them look. This is a shade too high. Give me MTSU.

Old Dominion(-3.5) at Massachusetts(2): Well, the Minutemen just lost to Hawaii at home and Coastal Carolina in their first FBS game. Give me the Monarchs, even though I don’t like that half.

Western Michigan at Michigan State(-7.5)(3): USC is not a bad team, but Western Michigan made them look a little sloppy. That is more a product of WMU’s solid team on both sides of the ball than anything USC did or didn’t do. The Broncos certainly seem more put together than Sparty. WMU straight up!

Eastern Michigan at Rutgers(-5.5)(3): I think Washington’s struggles were more a product of them not being ready that anything Rutgers did. Give me the Eagles.

San Jose State at Texas(-25.5)(2): Really? I’m not sure that Texas has it in them right now. They need a blowout win, and they get it, but more like 21 points that 41. Give me SJSU.

Central Michigan at Kansas(-5.5)(2): I know Kansas is better, but them being favored by this many is likely getting ahead of ourselves. Give me CMU.

Louisiana at Tulsa(-14.5)(3): Tulsa just ran into a buzzsaw last week in Oklahoma State. The Golden Hurricane still have a really good offense. I don’t like that half, but I’m still taking Tulsa. I would feel a lot more comfortable if I could buy a point.

Nebraska at Oregon(-13.5)(4): Nebraska couldn’t stop Royce Freeman last year before he got hurt, and the early returns on Bob Diaco’s defense are not sitting well in Lincoln. I think Oregon runs off with this.

Next: ESPN College Pick em Picks Week 2

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for the last couple of picks of the week against the spread, and our daily picks for MLB. We also have NFL DFS picks for week 1 and picks for the EPL!