Already the football season is in its third day after exciting action on Thursday and Friday. Before the action starts on the first full Saturday, let's run down the college football lines Week 1 and see if anything of interest jumps out. Prior to today, the best of the Thursday/Friday lines had to be Baylor giving +3 1/2 to TCU as a home underdog. With all the returning starters Baylor had and the lack of experience TCU had I thought that line was bogus. Sure enough; Baylor wins it straight up. I guarantee there are a few like that in today's lineup; we just have to find them.
No. 5 Boise State is 2011 college football lines Week 1 favorite playing 19 Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff at the Georgia Dome. Here is another game where the home team is giving points. Not only that but a traditional SEC power giving to Boise State. This is a tough one because BSU has proven on the field they come to play. But getting Georgia at +3 is very tempting. The Dogs have been down but for how long? Will UGA make a statement today? A little note of interest – Boise State is 0-4 vs. SEC competition and 0-1 with Georgia.
No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 LSU get together in the Cowboy Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8 pm ET. There have been big story lines on this game involving bar fights and suspensions of a couple key LSU players including the quarterback Jordan Jefferson. LSU is going with a quality backup Jarett Lee but that's enough to convince oddsmakers Oregon needs to be favored. The Ducks are currently lined -3 1/2 favorites. I know some experts who think LSU is the best bet even with Lee at quarterback.
The top-ranked team in the country, Oklahoma, is also in action on Saturday night, but it's not a marquee matchup by any stretch of the imagination – they'll host Conference USA's Tulsa as a 25-point favorite. Tulsa is no slouch and one of C-USA's better teams, however; they are under a new coaching staff and going to Norman is dangerous. Giving 25 to a team like Tulsa could be risky.
Saturday
Utah State @ Auburn -23
Akron @ Ohio State -34
Miami-Ohio @ Mizzou -20 1/2
Kent State @ Alabama -38
UCLA @ Houston -3
West Mich @ Michigan -13 1/2
Minnesota @ USC -24
BYU @ Ole Miss +3
San Jose @ Stanford -30
Colorado State @ New Mex +6
Buffalo @ Pitt -30 1/2
South Carolina -20 vs. East Carolina (@ Charlotte)
Fresno St. @ Cal -20
Army @ North Ill – 10 1/2
Rice @ Texas -24 1/2
Indiana @ Ball St + 6 1/2
Tulsa @ Oklahoma -24 1/2
Ohio @ NM State +7
Boise vs. Georgia (@ Atlanta) +3 1/2
La Tech @ Southern Miss -12 1/2
Colorado @ Hawaii -7
Ark State @ Illinois -21
Troy @ Clemson -16 1/2
UL Laffy @ Okla State -37
Sunday
Marshall @ West Virginia -23
SMU @ Texas A&M -15 1/2
