Game 1: Wisconsin Badgers @ Oregon State Beavers – Saturday, September 8
No matter which one of several betting websites you choose to do business with, you’re going to have a hard time giving a convincing case for an Oregon State victory over Wisconsin. The Badgers smoked the Beavers last season, but that’s not even one of the top three reasons to pick the defending Big Ten Conference champions this weekend.
The main reason to make the Badgers your choice in a legal online sports betting play is that Oregon State will be rusty. There are no official preseason games in college football, but week one is generally the time to play a patsy from a lower division, give the starters and backups some work, and eliminate the rust that’s been building for the past eight months. Oregon State was supposed to have played its opening-week game against lower-division opponent Nicholls State, but that game was postponed because of torrential rains from Hurricane Isaac that prevented Nicholls State, a school based in the state of Louisiana, from being able to travel to the game. Oregon State is therefore making its season debut against Wisconsin. The Badgers did not look good against Northern Iowa, squeaking out an uncomfortably close 26-21 win, but they did play a game and give coach Bret Bielema ample ways of fine-tuning his team for week two. This difference is going to loom large on Saturday. Wisconsin should be more precise in its execution, while Oregon State is likely to be a step behind and out of rhythm. Take the Badgers on the road.
College Football Betting Pick: Wisconsin
Game 2: Maryland Terrapins @ Temple Owls – Saturday, September 8
When you pore over the numbers in an online sportsbook, it’s going to be very hard to pick against Temple in this contest. For one thing, Temple blew out Maryland last year at Maryland. This is a return engagement in a home-and-home series, so the Owls have to like their chances in Philadelphia. Moreover, Maryland played horribly this past week against lower-division opponent William and Mary. The Terrapins slogged through their season opener by scoring only one time. They held a 7-6 lead in the final minutes and watched a William and Mary receiver drop a sure touchdown pass. Maryland won by a point, but the Terps showed the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference that they’re in really big trouble. Temple should roll in this contest.
College Football Betting Pick: Temple
Game 3: Nebraska Cornhuskers @ UCLA Bruins – Saturday, September 8
When going to 5dimes to make a college football betting play, it’s hard to value the UCLA Bruins more than the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It’s true that Nebraska is not the team it once was, but UCLA has some profound issues to deal with on defense. UCLA stormed to a 19-0 lead against Rice in its season opener on Aug. 30, only to see the Owls score 24 points in the next 20 minutes. UCLA won, but the Bruins did not indicate that they have the defensive strength to fend off Nebraska’s collection of athletes. This game should be close for two and a half quarters, but it’s hard to see how UCLA will be able to stand in the ring for 60 full minutes. Pick Nebraska.
There’s more to be found on the latest betting odds for college football in 2012.
College Football Betting Pick: Nebraska