Taking Bets: Week 1

Last year's college football season found The Alabama Take's bettors, Blaine and TD, hitting the gutter early and climbing up to mediocrity later. Can this be a rebound year? Check in every Friday afternoon to see what they predict to happen in college games and where they're putting their money. It's a comedy of errors or a joy of winning. Either way, it's not to be missed. 

[caption id="attachment_7965" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Florida coach Billy Napier talks to players during the NCAA college football team's practice Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP)[/caption]

2021 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 29-29-1 - 49% for last season
TD Wood: 24-35 - 41% for last season

Blaine Duncan
College football is back, and that's as good as it gets!  

North Carolina (+1.5) at App State -- I've learned that anything that feels like a sure bet is going to be the first loss of the day. Then I'll go on tilt and scramble to make up in the afternoon and evening and just lose all damn day. Here we go. Surely Mack Brown, with one game of the season under his belt already, has the better athletes and can get -- at least -- a three-point win in Boone. Surely. 

Troy at Ole Miss (-21.5) -- It's Lane Kiffin; therefore, I believe he'll like to see what his offense can do. They'll put up some points against Troy for the first game, especially at home in an afternoon after some morning drinking in the Grove by the fans. 

Utah at Florida (+3) -- Oh, hello home dogs in the first week of football. It goes against some of my rules (don't rely heavily on a first-year coach; don't bet on a team if you don't think they can win outright), but the Swamp at night with the excitement of Billy Napier ushering a new era puts the Gators in a tight one. 

***

TD Wood
The less we say above last year's performance, the better. Praise be for the new season.

Illinois (+1) at Indiana (Friday night)-- Indiana was truly awful last season, and while they should improve, the Illini were impressive in their 38-6 win over Wyoming last week, and I like them to get the road win.

Louisville (-4.5) at Syracuse -- The Cardinals should have an explosive offensive this year, explosive enough to cover for their defensive shortcomings (although that unit has nowhere to go but up after last season).

Arizona at San Diego St. (-6.5) -- Arizona is just plain bad. They've lost 23 of their last 24, while the Aztecs have been one of the strongest mid-major programs in the country for awhile now. They also have a knack for knocking off PAC-12 teams -- they beat Arizona and PAC-12 champ Utah last season, and are 6-2 versus the conference over the last five seasons.

Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.