Taking Bets | Back At It Plus One | Week One

Taking Bets | Back at It Plus One | Week One

2023 Final ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 22-38-2 (Championship Week: 2-9)
TD Wood: 34-27-1 (Championship Week: 6-5)
Mallory McCormack: 34-25-3 (Championship Week: 6-5)
Greg Bosworth: new to the column!

Every Friday evening, Taking Bets gets you hyped for the college football weekend with some ideas on the bets worth making. It’s host of The Staredown Mallory McCormack, host of Takin’ On Sports TD Wood, editor-in-chief Blaine Duncan, and – new to the column this year – co-host of Takin’ On Sports Greg Bosworth! Find them and their bets here each week!

Blaine Duncan 

Shakespeare himself said that “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so,” which is one way of looking at my record from last year. But it’s a new season! What I’m saying is that the last time we wrote this column, I didn’t own a bearded dragon, Oasis were still retired, and Nick Saban wasn’t sitting next to an idiot every Saturday morning, unless you count Scott Cochran. Let’s begin!

Clemson at Georgia (-11.5) – Though tempted to take the under at 48.5, these days you don’t know how high some scores will rise, even in Athens. Georgia has been as silent as a national contender can be this offseason. Come to think of it, Dabo has been quiet, too, though he’s no national contender any more. And that’s why I put my money on Kirby and the Dawgs. I’m not so sure this doesn’t end Dabo’s reign as Clemon’s head coach, much like Alabama did for Tommy Bowden in 2008. I could see Georgia getting a three-touchdown win. 

Miami (-2.5) at Florida – Nothing about the Gators tells me that they can beat this Miami team, a group primed to get in the playoffs with no losses if they handle the whole season as expected. I don’t see the Canes being that successful, but I do see Cristobol as the better coach than Billy Napier.

Notre Dame (+3) at Texas A&M – I try, lord knows I try, not to make picks based off emotions. But these road dogs Fightin’ Irish will make me as ecstatic as Johnny Football when he hit his first line of coke if these Irish get to College Station and put a beat down on both the team and the entirety of the stands. The Irish better withstand the smoke (and questionable cheers), turn it all around, stuff it all in dickhead Johnny Football’s face, and get a huge opening win at College Station.. Hang in there, Irish. You’re supposed to be in the national spotlight! (Did I look up if Jimbo Fisher was still the coach at Texas A&M? Doesn’t matter.) 

TD Wood

Here we go again. Tied for the most wins last season, but finished second. This year that crown is mine, Mallory! Week 0 was a blast, I can’t wait for Week 1. The expanded playoff is an interesting wrinkle this year, and the dawn of the super conference means bigger matchups and tougher picks. 

Akron at Ohio State (-48.5) – I know, that’s an ungodly huge line. I don’t care. This feels like a big blowout as Ryan Day and Ohio State set out to prove this is their year. If you listened to our Takin’ On Sports preview, you know I have the Buckeyes as my National Champs this season. Akron is in for a long day.

Western Kentucky at Alabama (-31.5) – Much like Ohio State, I think Alabama is out to make a statement to open the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa. Jalen Milroe is my Heisman pick, and I expect the new look Crimson Tide offense to explode into the season.

UNLV at Houston (-2.5) – Houston hiring Willie Fritz away from Tulane is such a great move, in my opinion. Houston is in a recruiting hotbed, and has all the bones of a program who can benefit massively from the expanded playoff. It’ll take time to get there, but meanwhile I think the Cougars win in Fritz’s debut.

Mallory McCormack 

Year 1 was fun. Now it’s year 2. And technically I had less loses than others but I want the outright win this year. Fingers crossed there’s no sophomore slump. Week 0 was crazy, and this week has the ability to be just as fun. So before I start crying tears of joy that the most wonderful time of the year is back, let’s hop to it! 

Georgia State at Georgia Tech (-21) - I expect there to not be a case of jet lag for the Ramblin’ Wreck. They truly shocked the world last week and I expect them to keep on rumbling in Atlanta. 

Virginia Tech (-13.5) at Vanderbilt - Hear me out. Vandy is starting year 4 with Clark Lea at the helm. They regressed last year and sadly, I think they continue to do so. Sorry Vandy, I’ll miss our yearly match-ups. 

Weestern Kentucky at Alabama (-31.5) - DeBoer makes a statement that not only is he the guy after the guy but he’s the right guy. Bama fans won’t be happy unless they win by 100 and he’ll do everything he can to make them happy. 

Greg Bosworth 

Week 0 was everything we could have hoped for and Week 1 has started off with a bang. We are in for a treat with a lot of games over this long Labor Day weekend.

Miami at Florida (ML +120) – This is definitely a huge game for both programs in as close to a must win game in Week 1 as you can get. The Gators are going to be a much improved team, especially on the defensive side of the ball in 2024 and the Swamp is always a huge home field advantage when it’s rocking. It will definitely be a live environment and this will be just enough to give the Gators the necessary push to win a close one and give Billy Napier a little breathing room to start the season.

USC vs LSU (-4.5) – This game should be a dandy with a lot of points scored Sunday night in Vegas. Both LSU and USC played little to no defense in 2023 and it will be interesting to watch which team can get off the field in key situations. I have more faith in LSU’s defense with new DC Blake Baker and the always dangerous Harold Perkins. If you are a fan of offense this might be the game of the weekend for you, but I expect the Tigers to pull away from the Trojans late in the game. 

Penn State at West Virginia (+8.5) – This may quietly turn into one of the most interesting games of Week 1 as Morgantown is one of the trickiest places to go in and win. The best thing going for the Nittany Lions is that this isn’t a night game or may have been tempted to pick the Mountaineers on the money line. I expect a  tough physical game, and unlike a year ago in Happy Valley this one will come down to the last couple of minutes. I do think Penn State gets the win but I’d be shocked if Neal Brown’s team gives them quite a scare on Saturday afternoon.

Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.