College Football Betting Odds & Pick Ohio State Buckeyes at Virginia Tech

CFB Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes vs Virginia Teck Hokies

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, September, 7, 2015
Where: Lane Stadium in Blacksburgh, West Virginia
Televised: ESPN

Odds: The line for the game opened with Ohio State as 14 point favorites and that has held so far, while the OU Line has been bet down slightly to 52.5, from the opening of 54.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning National Champs and have been made the favorites to repeat this year. The team is loaded for sure, especially at QB, where they have 3 guys that would start on most teams in America. Braxton Miller did take himself out of the running for the QB job, by moving to WR. That move just makes this team so much more dangerous on offense as there are so many things they can do with him at WR. As of this writing it is still unclear who will pilot the team, (Barrett or Jones). Heck both may play. Ezekiel Elliot is back at RB after rushing for 1878 yards last year and 18 TDs last year, while the Buckeyes also have 6 of the top 7 pass catchers back as well. They will all line up behind one of the best OLs in the Nation. The defense for this team looks very strong as they have 7 starters back from last year, but their is also great depth on this side of the ball. The DL rates as 3rd best in the land, while the LB Corps rates as 2nd best and the secondary rates as 3rd best in the nation. Offense and defense, plus solid special teams. This team has it all.

The Virginia Tech Hokies may just be a sleeper team in the ACC as far as making it to the playoffs after going just 7-6 overall and 3-5 in ACC play last year. For this team it all starts with a defense that will be one of the better ones that Beamer has had at Va Tech. They have 8 starters and 27 lettermen back on this side of the ball, from a group that allowed just 20.2 ppg last year. 9 of their top 12 tacklers are back and they have added the 11th best defensive lineman in the nation in Tim Settle as well, along with the 50th best DB and two more linemen that ranked 63rd and 71st. This will be a deep and scary defense this year. The offense does need to compliment the defense a bit more after averaging just 24.1 ppg last year. Michael Brewer should be ready for a big year, while the running game has its top 8 ball carriers back from last year and the WR corps has it top 3 back as well. The weakness on the offense is the line, which has just 2 starters back and rates as 10th best in the league.

With their defense many are expecting the Hokies to give the Buckeyes a run for their money in this one, especially since they have the game at home in a nationally televised game. That stadium will be rocking, but I have a feeling that Ohio State wants some payback from last year’s loss, which nearly kept them out of the playoffs. The Buckeyes have a huge edge on offense and a slight edge on defense and I just don’t expect the Hokies to score enough points to keep this one close. I look for the Buckeyes to win this one by at least 17 points.

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Ohio State Buckeyes vs VA Tech Hokies College Football Preview and Pick

College Football Preview: Ohio State vs VA Tech

Written by Chris Jacobson Follow on Twitter @CjacobsonSports

           When: 8:00 pm, Monday, September 7th, 2015

Where: Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA

Odds: Ohio State -14

The Virginia Tech Hokies open their season at home in Lane Stadium to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes. VA Tech's head coach Frank Beamer is in his 29th season with the Hokies. VA Tech beat Ohio State 35-21 on the road as 10 point underdogs but what will the outcome be this season? Let's take a look. 

 The Hokies finished last season 7-6 SU and 6-7 ATS. The Hokies have a great track record as home underdogs. VA Tech is 10-2 ATS as home underdogs under Frank Beamer and they are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games listed as dogs including five outright wins in that span. The defense for the Hokies is expected to be strong as they have eight returning defensive starters. This defensive unit gave up just over 20 ppg last season and could be one of the top defensive squads in the country this season. 

The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off a banner season winning the national title. The Buckeyes have a lot of talent returning from last year's team. Ohio State is loaded at the quarterback position with J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones. Two time Big Ten offensive player of the year Braxton Miller has moved to wide receiver. The talent doesn't stop at the QB position as the Buckeyes also boast running back Ezekiel Elliot who is expected to be a Heisman Trophy candidate. The Buckeyes are an impressive 36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last four non conference games.

I expect the Hokies to keep it within the number in this game. The Buckeyes could suffer from a national title hangover and the Hokies defense should keep it respectable. Lane Stadium is a tough environment for the visiting team. I suggest taking the Hokies plus the points. 

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BYU Cougars vs Nebraska Cornhuskers College Football Preview & Pick

College Football Preview: BYU Cougars vs Nebraska Cornhuskers

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 5, 2015
Where: Lincloln Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska
Televised: ABC

Odds:  Nebraska opened as 7 points favorites and it has been bet down slightly to 6.5. The Total took a pretty big hit as it was bet down from 65.5 to 60.

The BYU cougars has a solid 8-5 season a year ago, but their season did end on a down not with a 55-48 2OT loss to Memphis is the Miami Beach Bowl. This year's team is loaded and are one of the teams that are not from a power 5 conference that have aspirations of making it to the playoffs. Even if the run the table they will still need help. The Cougars have 8 starters back on offense, including QB Taysom hill, who missed a lot of time last season. Christian Stewart did a fine job but he s not the dual threat QB that Hill is. Taysom really makes defenses defend so much more when he is in there. Hill will have his top RB back from last year and 3 of the 4 top pass catchers, while the OL is very good. This team will put up a lot of points this year. The defense allowed 27.5 ppg last year and they return just 5 starters from that group, but they also have 23 lettermen back on defense and one of the better DLs around, so I do expect some improvement on this side of the ball.    

Nebraska went 9-4 last year, but their season didn't end on an up note as they lost to USC in Holiday Bowl in a thrilling 45-42 game. The Huskers do jave their sights set higher this year, but it will not be easy as they have a new HC and just 12 starters back. They did lose just 16 lettermen and have 60 back this year, so this is a pretty experienced team. he Offense will be led by QB Tommy Armstrong, but the big loss for this offense s the departure of RB Ameer Abdullah, who ran for 1611 yards and 19 TDs last year. Terrell Newby takes over at RB and he does have some experience, but is no Ameer. The Huskers also lose top WR Kenny Bell, but 7 have experience as 9 of their top 11 pass catchers from last year all return.  A weak spot may be on the line where they rate as the 8th best in the league. Defense is really where this team must improve, especially aflter allowing 59, 28, 34 and 45 poin ts in their last 4 games last year. This defense got tired and they lost 4 of their top 5 tacklers from a year ago, but they did recuit well on tyhe defensive side of the ball and should not have the same late season collapse as last year. 

Both of these teams are run-first teams and that tends to chew up the clock. I look for that here. BYU has Taysom Hill back and he will run the ball a lot, but he will be going up against a very solid corps of LBs and a DL that rates as one of the better in the Big 10. When the Huskers have the ball they will have a new starter at RB and their OL is one of the Weaker in the Big 10, while BYU comes in with what looks like a very good DL. The strengths of these offenses will be the run, but the strength of these two defenses looks to be on the line. That will make it hard for these teams to just march up an down the field with easy. I just can't see these teams getting to 60 points in this one. 

Take (178) BYU/ Nebraska Under 60

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Washington Huskies vs Boise State Broncos Preview & Free Pick

College Football Preview: Washington Huskies vs Boise State Broncos

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 10:15 PM ET, Friday, September 4, 2015
Where: Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho
Televised: ESPN

Odds:  The line opened up at Boise State -11 and has been bet up slightly to minus 12. The OU line opened at 63.5 and has been bet down drastically to 57.

Washington was a very mediocre 8-6 last year, with their season ending on a 30-22 loss to Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl. Duplicating those 8 wins from last year will be very difficult for this team as they lost a ton of talent from that team. This year Washington has just 9 starters back and rates as 107th most experienced team in the nation. That is not good when trying to compete in this very tough conference. The offense has just 5 starters back and must replace QB Cyler Miles, who took a leave of absence. The new DB looks to be Jeff Lindquist and he does have the top two backs and top 4 pass catches back from last year, but still the RB corps rates as 8th in the league, while the WR corps is 11th. This team is really lacking at the skill position, but they are lacking even on the OL, which is rated as the worst in the league with just 1 starter back and little depth. Defensively they were solid last year, allowing just 24.8 ppg, but repeating that will not be easy with just 4 starters back and with losing 5 of their top 6 tacklers from a year ago.  The recruiting class was decent and Petersen is starting to get his players in her, but still this team will struggle to make it back to a bowl game this year.

The Boise State Broncos bounced back from a mediocre 2013, in which they went just 8-5, to go 12-2 last year, which included a thrilling 38-30 win over Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. This year’s team is loaded again and they have their sights se a bit higher and that is to run the table and make it to the NCAA Playoffs. I feel that even if they go 12-0, the committee would take a 1 loss SEC team over them. Not fair, but that’s how it goes. The Broncos lose QB Grant Hendrick, but the system they run here allows just about any QB to be successful. That new QB is Ryan Finley and he has plenty of weapons to throw to as their top 2 WWRs and 7 of their top 9 pass catchers from last year are all back. The bigger loss on this offense may by RB Ajayi, who ran for 1823 yards and 28 TDs last year. The do have good talent at that position and the running game will set up behind the best OL in the league and 22nd best in the nation. Defense is usually an afterthought when thinking about this team, but with 23 lettermen, including 8 that are starters back on this side of the ball, this has the makings of a very good defense. This is the top rated defense in the MWC. Boise will have a big year, but still they will need a little luck to get a playoff invite.

I will be going with a very determined Boise State squad in this game. This is one loaded team and they have the best chance of the non-Power 5 conferences t make it in the playoffs, but they must win games like this vs the Pac-12 and they must win convincingly. I feel they can do it, especially vs a Washington team that has lost so much from last year and bring back just 9 starters. This is a homecoming for Washington HC Petersen, but it will not be a happy one as his old team will look to put a hurtin’ on the Huskies, who are just outmatched in this game. Boise is the 49th most experienced team in the nation, while Washington is 107th. Boise is 0-3 ATS the last 3 in this series, but they are the more experienced team here, they have much more to play for and they are at home where they are very tough to beat. Boise by at least 17 in this one.  

Play (160) Boise State -13 over Washington  

  

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TCU Horned Frogs at Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview & Free Pick

College Football Preview: TCU Horned Frogs at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Where: TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Televised: ESPN

Odds:  TCU opened up at 16 points favorites and that has been bet down to -14. The OU line currently sits at 57.5 or 58.

The TCU Horned Frogs will be a scary team this year as they not only have a Heisman front runner at QB and are loaded on both sides of the ball, but they also have a huge chip on their shoulders after the playoff committee left them out last year. Trevone Boykin is back at QB and has 9 other starters returning with him, from a group that put up 46.5 ppg last year. Boykin can also run the ball as he ran for 707 yards and 8 TDs last year. His top RB returns, along with his top 3 receivers from last year, who combined for 2353 yards and 13 TDs last year. Oh and all these guys will set up behind the 7th best OL in the nation.  The Defense allowed just 19 ppg last year and while they have just 5 starters back I’d expect this defense to be very tough again. They have the 6th rated DL and 6th rated secondary in the nation, plus they also have very solid depth at every position. This is a loaded team on both sides of the ball and they have the talent to run the table, plus having a chip on their shoulder should help propel this team to very high heights this year. At the very least they will be in the NCAA Playoffs. 

The Minnesota Golden Gophers had a solid 8-5 season last year, but they have to do some rebuilding on offense if they hope to duplicate that feat. Yes QB Mitch Leidner is back, but he is only mediocre at best, as he threw for just 1798 yards with 11 TDs and 8 INTs last year. The Passing numbers can be expected to be down as this is more of a running team, but the Gopher’s lost top RB David Cobb, after he ran for 1626 yards and 13 TDs last year. Rodrick Williams played in 8 games and had 1 start last year, running for 114 yards on 25 carries in the process. He will get the nod this year and does have the luxury or running behind one of the better OLs in the league. The WR corp is very weak and has no depth at all after losing 4 of the top 5 pass catchers from last year. The defense was solid last year as they allowed just 24.2 ppg and it could be better this year with 7 starters back. They do lose their top 2 tacklers from last year, but return 7 of their next 9, plus they grabbed a few solid recruits as well. Two of those recruits are for a secondary that rates as 3rd best in the Big 10. The front 7 is not spectacular, but is very solid. The Gophers lost too much on offense to feel that they can duplicate their 8 wins from last year. Still there are enough wins on their schedule to get them back to a bowl game.  

Minnesota is a solid team, but they are not spectacular and that is the kind of team you will need to beat the Horned Frogs this year. TCU has a huge chip on their shoulders and I can see them running up scores this year, as to leave no doubt in the committee’s minds that they belong in the NCAA Playoffs. Minnesota is a solid defensive team, but TCU just very well may have the best offense in the Nation. An offense that can put up 50+ points whenever they want to. Minnesota’s offense is nowhere near that caliber and just won’t find enough points in this game to keep it close.

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Michigan Wolverines at Utah Utes College Football Preview & Pick

College Football Preview: Michigan Wolverines at Utah Utes

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah
Televised: Fox Sports 1

Odds:  The line opened as Utah favored at -3. It has now been bet up to Utah -5.5. The OU line currently sits at 46.

Jim Harbaugh takes over at team that has 15 starters and 50 lettermen back from last year. This is an experienced team and Harbaugh is a very good coach, which is a good combination. The big question is at QB, where it looks as if Jake Ruddock will be given a shot, after transferring from Iowa. Last year at Iowa he threw for 2436 yards, with 16 TDs and just 5 INts. The Wolverines do have their top 3 RBs and 4 of their top 5 pass catchers back from last year, plus a very solid offensive line, so Jake may do just fine. The defense was solid and with 7 starters back they should be even better this year. The defense is a loaded one that has 9 starters back that were rated 37th or better coming out of HS at their respective positions, including Jabrill Peppers, who was the top rated DB coming out of HS 2 years ago. This should again be a very good defense.

The Utah Utes went a solid 9-4 last year, which ended with a 45-10 trouncing of Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl. This is a team that should have another solid season as they have back 14 starters and 61 lettermen from last year’s very good team. The Offense is led by QB Travis Wilson, who threw for 2170 yards with 18 TDs and 5 INTs last year. The running game should be exception as Devontae Booker returns after rumbling for 1512 yards and 1o TDs last year, but the Utes have some rebuilding to do in the WR corps as they lost 3 of their top 4 from last year. The OL is not spectacular, but is very good. Over on the defensive side the Utes have 15 of their top 20 tacklers back from last year and come into this year with the top DL in the Pac-12 and the 12th best I the nation. The rest of the defense is very strong as well as the LB corps and secondary both rate as 4th best in the league. This team is no pushover, especially on the defensive side and their running game should be one of the vest in the league. Utah will flirt with 10 wins again this year.

Michigan will be a team that should struggle offensively this year, especially in the early going. They won’t have much of a passing game while their running game will be very average. They will look to run more than throw which will help keep that clock a churning. Utah will also be mostly a ground based offense, especially since they lost so much talent at the WR position. Defense will be the strength of both of these teams this year, especially from the Utah side, while Michigan’s defense will be one of the better in the league. A lot of running and defense should keep this game from going over the total.

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Wisconsin Badgers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Preview & Free Pick

College Football Preview: Wisconsin Badgers vs Alabama Crimson Tide

Written By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)

When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 5, 2015
Where: AT&T Stadium In Arlington, Texas
Televised: ABC

Odds:  The Crimson Tide opened up at favorites of 10 and it has been bet up slightly to 10.5. The OU line opened at 55.5 and has been bet down to 50.5.

The Wisconsin Badgers made it to the Big 10 Title game last year, but were then throttled 59-0 by Ohio State, which went on to be national champs. The Badgers have just 11 starters back this year, must replace a first round RB and have a new coach coming in, but still they are the favorites to win the West. Defensively the Badgers were very tough last year as they allowed just 20.8 ppg overall and just 17.9 ppg in Big 10 play, despite the fact that they returned just 3 starters. This year they have 6 starters back and look to be very solid up front and in the LB corps, while the secondary should be outstanding with 3 of 4 starters back and 3 of the 4 in the secondary are seniors. That secondary rates as 2nd best in the Big 10 and 14th in the nation. This will again be a very solid defense and will have to carry the team till the offense comes around. Joel Stave will be the QB and has really been inconsistent in his career so far. The Badgers do lose RB Melvin Gordon, who ran for 2587 yards and 29 TDs last year, but Wisconsin seems to have a plug and play system when it comes to RBs and Corey Clement did run for 949 yards (6.5 ypc) and 9 TDs last year. Even without Gordon this team still has the 2nd rated RB corps in the league and 11th in the nation. Clement will be running behind the 3rd rated OL in the league as the Badgers seem to always put a solid line on the field. Leading receiver Alex Erickson is back, but not a lot of depth at that position. This will be a very formidable team once again.

The Alabama Crimson Tide made it to the playoffs last year and were pretty big favorites in their game vs Ohio State, but their defense didn’t play well at all in that game and they ended up losing a 42-35 thriller. The defense was one of the best in the nation during the regular season last year and will again be one of the best in the nation as Nick Saban has 27 lettermen, including 7 starters back on that side of the ball. He also had good success in recruiting as he brought in the #4 & #% rated DB’s and the #9 rated DL that came out of HS last year. This is a loaded team on defense and they will have to step up until their offense catches up. That offense put up 36.9 ppg last year by returns just 3 starts this year. At QB it looks as if Jake Coker will take over for the departed Blake Sims. He is a senior and has had some experience in this offense, so the tide are expecting big things from him. They do return their top RB in Derrick Henry, but this RB corps isn’t as deep as in years past and the WR corps took some hits as they lose their top 3 from last year, including Amari Cooper, who grabbed 124 balls for1727 yards last year. They have some talent coming in in Calvin Ridley, who is the #2 WR recruit, plus they also have the 15th best recruit coming in as well. The WR corps is down as well, but the OL is a strength and rates as one of the best in the Nation. This team will again be a player in the hunt for the National Title, but their offense needs to gel pretty quickly.

Let’s see. Both of these teams lost a lot on offense from last year, while both teams will be fielding very strong defenses. Hmmm, which way will I suggest you go? Yes the Under. Both these teams will have to rely on their defenses this year, especially early in the year until their offenses catch up. Also I really look for both teams to run the ball a lot in this game. That is the way the Badgers operate anyway and I look for Alabama to do the same. That will chew clock. This should be a tight low scoring ballgame, so I will say to take the Under here.   

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