CFB Week 2 - Top 5 Game Bets

Welcome to my weekly College Football Game Bets series!

Each week I'll be bringing you my Top 5 (in order) game bets for the upcoming weekend.  I will be sticking to game lines and Over/Unders during this series.  

I like to watch and stay away from Week 0 and 1 of College Football in order to grasp the country as best I can.  It's worked for me in the past and now it'll hopefully help all our readers!

 

The odds expressed in this article come from DraftKings Sportsbook.  Please be aware that lines may vary.  If you are unaware of where to bet please utilize our easy to use site to find other sportsbooks in your state.

Become a member of Bet Karma Premium today!  Our Premium services are incredible and a true must have for any daily gambler.  From Props to Futures to Daily Fantasy, we'll guide you through everything you need start to finish.  Get started for under $1 a day right now!

 

We start in Gainesville, FL.

5. #20 Kentucky (+6 -110) AT #12 Florida - 7 PM - ESPN

Last Week: Kentucky def. Miami (OH) 37-13 / Florida def. Utah 29-26

Kentucky looked sluggish most of last week while Florida upset a potential Playoff team in Utah at home.  So why do I like the Wildcats?  It can be broken down a number of ways, but the overlaying thought process is its simply too many points to give up for Florida.  

They have split the last four matchups in this rivalry and Florida is coming off an extremely taxing and emotional upset last week.  I'm a big believer in average teams coming down to Earth after huge wins.  There is no doubt Florida had a great win last week but a jump from unranked to #12 is a bit outrageous and I don't see them as a top 20 team by season's end.

Utah players were seen throughout the game last week struggling mightily with the Florida humidity as a thin air team.  Kentucky won't have that issue. 

The Wildcats will likely be missing their starting running back Chris Rodriguez due to suspension (even though that decision has not been made at the time of this article) and will be relying heavily on Senior QB Will Levis to keep the offense on the field. 

Florida may squeak out the victory Saturday but I'm betting they won't cover the 6 points. 

 

4. #25 Houston (+3 -115) AT Texas Tech - 4 PM - Fox Sports 1

Last Week: Houston def. UTSA 37-35 / Texas Tech def. Murray St 63-10

People slept on UTSA last week and it cost them.  They're going to win a ton of football games this year.  Possibly looking ahead to Tech and down 21-7 on the road, Houston showed impressive resiliency to come back and secure the 2-point victory in a three overtime thriller.  Texas Tech buried Murray St at home like they should.

I think the oddsmakers are expecting people to jump all over the Red Raiders at the -3 number and I see right through that.  Tech’s starting QB Tyler Shough is out for at least the next couple weeks and although backup Donovan Smith lit it up in his stead, Houston isn't Murray State.  

The Cougars haven't won in Lubbock since 1990 and there is no greater moment than now.  I may sprinkle a little on the money line but absolutely love getting the 3 points.

 

3. #9 Baylor AT #21 BYU (-3.5 +100) - 10:15 PM - ESPN

Last Week: Baylor def. Albany 69-10 / Texas Tech def. S. Florida 50-21

Here's another one I feel Vegas is begging us to take the more nationally covered Baylor Bears in a road spot getting 3.5 points.  The almighty half point, or "hook" as they call it, is certainly enticing but I'm going the other way.  BYU smacked South Florida around in their building after waiting out an almost 3-hour weather delay.  The Cougars scored the first 38 points of the contest and didn't look back.  Baylor buried an overmatched Albany team at home.

The reigning Big 12 champions defeated BYU 38-24 in Waco, TX last season.  This game will complete their home-in-home series before the Cougars make the jump to the conference in July 2023.  BYU has certainly circled this game all off-season and will be fired up at home late Saturday night.  This is also an enormous opportunity for them to impress national voters.

BYU likes to pound the running game with as many as five ball carriers, but QB Jaren Hall is very efficient and loves to spread the ball around to various weapons.  I think BYU will come out on fire and hold off a late charge by an athletic Baylor team covering the 3.5-point spread.

UPDATE: Before I published this article, I looked at the odds one last time and the line had moved on Draftkings to BYU -3 (-110).  Love it even more.

 

2. Appalachian St AT #6 Texas A&M (-18.5 -110) - 3:30 PM - ESPN2

Last Week: Appalachian St lost to N. Carolina 63-61/ Texas A&M def. Sam Houston 31-0

My goodness did you people watch that App St/UNC game last week?  The over hit just minutes into the 3rd quarter!  It was like the teams were playing a video game on rookie mode offensively.  UNC games do tend to get like that.  Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, the big bad Texas A&M Aggies are on the schedule this week.

18.5 points is admittedly, a lot of points, and the line has jumped from -17 at open.  However, this could be 22+ and I'd still hop on A&M.  I think the Aggies are real Playoff contenders this year and after the heartbreak App St endured last week, this game could get ugly in College Station.

 

1. #1 Alabama AT Texas (OVER 65.5 -110) - NOON - FOX

Last Week: Alabama def. Utah St 55-0/ Texas def. UL Monroe 52-10

I love everything about this game.

The school's prestige both real (Bama) and perceived (Texas).  The colors.  The uniforms.  The 100,000 that will be in attendance in Austin.  

I really tussled with if I like Bama -20 or the over more but I went with the points.  I expect the scoreboard to get lit up like fireworks on the 4th of July Saturday afternoon.  Texas Freshman QB Quinn Ewers (and his phenomenal mullet) will look to improve on what was an uneven performance against ULM and ride the home fans to a few scores.  Alabama QB and Heisman frontrunner Bryce Young will undoubtedly put many highlights onto SportsCenter as well.

Texas may make some plays early as coach Steve Sarkisian knows his former employer very well and should have some breakout plays up his sleeve.  Bama is not going to stop coming all season.  I wouldn't be shocked if this game is in that 55-21 neighborhood and may even play an alternate over line over 70.

Order some wings, take the over, and watch the points bonanza ensue.

 

Written by David Costabile

Twitter: @davecostabile