Week 1 Best Bets: Houston and Alabama Football Picks
Houston -20.5 & Alabama -27.5 lead Saturday's picks. Also, bet on Clemson vs LSU under 51.5 & North Texas +40.5. Breaking down the best bets for Week 1.
Video Transcript
Give us the card, the best bet, what you like here on this Saturday.
Mentioned it a few minutes ago, I love Houston today.
I love them at minus 20 and a half.
I just think Connor Wegman and Houston are gonna come out.
I like them overall on the season.
We just talked about it, I just, I love Houston in this spot.
I'm also playing Alabama minus 27 and a half.
I know we talked earlier about not laying big numbers.
This is a spot where Kalen DeBoer and this Alabama team have pounded non-Power Five schools.
Sure, they lost to Florida State, that's allegedly a Power Five school.
But the non-Power Five schools, Louisiana Monroe 73-0, Eastern Illinois 56-0, Western Kentucky 63-0, South Florida 42-16, Mercer 52 to 7.
This is where Alabama shines.
I have no problem laying the 27 and a half.
I did it all the time when Nick Saban was there, and you might not like DeBoer in, in Tuscaloosa, but he is somebody who consistently beats up on the non-Power Five teams.
We mentioned Texas Tech plus 46, 47, 48 and a half should be 50, 60, 100.
It's a spot where Kirby Smart just does not cover big spreads.
Also like Clemson versus LSU under 51.
Two top 10 defenses.
Offenses that are under construction with new quarterbacks, a lot of new players on LSU.
I'm not ready to back them yet.
I know you're on Clemson, but I'm gonna take the under 51 and a half in Clemson versus LSU.
All right, guys.
Sets us up here really nicely.
There are a couple of picks here, that we feel very, very strongly about.
And usually I like to save that for the last, but this is a noon kick, so I want everybody to get in while the getting is good.
That is North Texas plus 40 and a half.
It's my favorite bet here, on this card today.
I think that getting Neal Brown at this number, could be a once, in a coaching tenure opportunity.
I think this is a, a team that will hang around here, relatively speaking, against Indiana.
Under Signatti in week one, they've won by 24 and 13.
I think there's a lot of thought that, "Oh, well, that means they'll just decide to win by 50 this year."
As somebody who fully believes in Fernando Mendoza, it really kind of aligns with w- with my thought that Hoover could be a bit of a step back here for this team.
They're a run first, defense first group.
I think this is a plus 40 and a half spot for the mean green.
We're gonna take a shot on UConn minus 19 and a half.
Jason Candle comes over for Toledo, here against Lafayette.
He kind of had a history at Toledo of running it up against these FCS schools.
New school, time to impress.
I think they cover the 19 and a half.
We're taking a shot on Baylor plus seven and a half here with DJ Lagway and the boys at a neutral site against Auburn.
Texas Tech, Abilene Christian over the 59 and a half.
Guys, these teams played two years ago.
Your f- Y- you, you almost won't believe it, but your final score was 52-51, Texas Tech in overtime.
This is a revenge spot for McGuire.
Last year he hung 60 in each of these games.
Abilene Christian, a little bit better maybe than they showed in their opener.
I think this game flies through the 59 and a half.
I like Oregon to score 21 in the opening half against Boise.
They've always been good at home in Eugene scoring to start games.
I do like Texas and Arch Manning, to shoot through that 44, and a half on their team total.
They can hang a 50 burger on Texas State.
Late night under Cal, UCLA.
I like both these coaching hires, but I think that's on the defensive side of the ball.
Everyone's excited about the quarterbacks.
I like defense, defense, defense.
And then I will ask you, Dave, just kind of one more time to drive it home for people on what is the big game of the day.
Clemson, LSU.
I'm on Clemson plus 10 and a half.
Dabo Sweeney at this kind of number, I cannot pass up.
I think they hang here and maybe even put Kiffin on upset alert.
