Over the Hill: The Best Bets of College Football Week 1

Welcome to Over the Hill, a new weekly column of (in my opinion) the best bets and picks of each College Football Week!

With this new column, each week, I will be giving you four different types of picks for the week: a favorite to cover the spread, an underdog to cover the spread, an Over/Under, and my “Bet the House” pick!

Whether you live in a state where sports betting is legal, or go place your bets at the local sports book, or you just like friendly competition with your peers, Over the Hill is here for your reading and entertainment pleasure!

Comment what you think about these picks and let me know your favorites for each week! College Football is officially BACK!

On an important side note: I am not a professional! Nor do I gamble, unless it is at one of the legal sports books. These are just my opinions on what I think will occur in each game based on the lines that Vegas has set!

Favorite to Cover the Spread: Texas Tech -14 vs. Wyoming

Texas Tech’s Nehemiah Martinez signs autographs during the Meet the Red Raiders event, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at the Sports Performance Center.

This pick is strictly based on feel, but also on how Texas Tech has been trending in the past few seasons. Finishing 8-5 last season and still carrying a 4 game winning streak into 2023, I believe the Red Raiders can put up big points and quickly against Wyoming in week 1.

Remember when Texas Tech beat Mississippi State and Ole Miss in consecutive bowl games?

Yeah, me too.

Underdog to Cover the Spread: UMass + 35.5 vs. Auburn

UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh during an Aggie football game on Saturday, August 25, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.

So yeah, there is just no way on God’s green earth that the Auburn Tigers beat this UMass team by seven touchdowns plus.

Hugh Freeze is back in the SEC for the first time in years, the quarterback room has been a question since 2021 on The Plains, and to be honest with ya? UMass did not look terrible in their Week 0 game vs. New Mexico State.

In fact, they looked like one of the few competent football teams in Week 0’s slate of games. I have the Minutemen from the house that Tom Brady built to keep this game within at least 4-5 scores.

Over/Under: UNDER 44 Florida vs. Utah

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures towards the sidelines during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

Listen, I know rooting for an under is a bummer, especially in Week 1. We want big plays and excitement and fireworks and mascots doing flips, I could go on forever. But hear me out.

Utah without Cam Rising against Billy Napier’s Gators AT Utah. I am gagging just typing that sentence. I believe that unlike last years matchup between these two, this game will be somewhat of a snooze-fest.

Brooks’ “Bet the House” Pick of the Week:

This is my take on what other sports bettors might call a lock. I call it betting the house. Don’t actually go out of your means to bet an amount of money you can’t afford on this, and please don’t actually dip into your mortgage. This is just my pick that I have the most confidence in each week!

And here it is…

UNC -2.5 vs. USC!!

I am very high on the Tar Heels this year in the ACC, and especially Drake Maye. In a few years, I think he has the potential to be a regular starter on Sunday afternoons. And even though Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks have a lot of hype coming into the 2023 season, I don’t see Mack Brown losing to Shane Beamer on opening night. Carolina Blue also wins the color matchup here as well.