Taking Bets | Week One | Let the (Real) Games Begin!

The weekly betting column returns to begin the season for real, and joining the boys this year is Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast which drops each Friday! Find both The Staredown podcast on Fridays and Takin' On Sports on Mondays -- both streaming here or in any podcast app of your preference. Now, on to the bets that could easily ruin your weekend!

2022 ATS Record Recap
Blaine Duncan: 28-26-1 (2002 Percentage: 51%)
TD Wood: 30-25 (2022 Percentage: 55%)
Mallory McCormack: n/a

Blaine Duncan 
Here we go! Welcome to Mallory, by the way! But c'mon. Last year I went 51%. A blind monkey can get 51% of his bets right, so I'm aiming for at least 52% this year. At least.

Utah State (+24) at Iowa -- It's Utah State, but has Iowa ever won a game by twenty-four points? Of all the bets this week, this one feels as cozy as a Week One bet can. I tend to think that home teams playing at noon kickoff are sluggish, too, so I'm putting big dollars on Iowa failing to cover.

Colorado at TCU (UNDER: 63.5) -- Teams make mistakes early in the season. Coach Prime has a brand new team in more ways than one: how long will it take for that many transfers to gel? I don't have as much faith in Sanders as a head coach for a big school as the media seems to have, at least not yet. What I think is that TCU wins this one big and the Buffs don't get much on the scoreboard.

Sam Houston at BYU (-20) -- If I told you that Sam Houston is the "Bearkats" and not the "Bearcats," would you have known? What about if BYU is returning 18 starters this season? The Cougars were statistically in the middle of the road last season, but the Bearkats weren't on the map. It's Provo at night. BYU should win by three touchdowns.

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TD Wood
Last year was all about getting back on track, and 55% accomplished that, but this year is about getting better. The goal is no losing weeks. That said, I don't love any lines this week, and historically don't come out of the gates hot. Nonetheless, it's football season and I am elated.

Stanford at Hawai'i (+3) (Friday) -- Let's start the season with a good ol' upset special. The Rainbow Warriors are a long way from their glory days under June Jones, but Timmy Chang feels like the right guy to get them back to a winning program. They looked pretty good in defeat at Vanderbilt last weekend, and were close to completing a big 4th quarter comeback. Stanford starts a new era without David Shaw, only returns six starters, and will probably be the worst team in the Pac-12 by a longshot.

Tennessee (-28) vs Virginia (Game in Nashville) -- It pains me so damn much to feel so confident in the Vols, but Josh Heupel has the program on the right track, and I think Joe Milton will be just fine running that offense. They lose a couple of big weapons at receiver, but Virginia is just so, so inept on offense, I don't see how they keep up.

Army (-9.5) at UL Monroe -- I still get a good chuckle out of the fact Terry Bowden is coaching D1 football in 2023. Army won this game by 24 last year, and I don't see it being much different this season. The Black Knights of the Hudson should run all over the Warhawks.

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Mallory McCormack
Hey y'all! I'm Mallory and as Blaine said above, I host a fun little podcast called The Staredown. I'm really excited that the boys have invited me to play this year. But don't get too excited. I have never made picks against the spread, only outright winners, so this could get interesting. Also, I'll have to warn you, my dad always told me don't bet on your team (or against for that matter) so the chances of me picking my Ole Miss Rebels and Lane Kiffin for anything is slim to none (but never zero). So with that, let's dive right into this week's picks.

UMass at Auburn (-35.0) -- I'm taking Auburn here. Don't think for a second Rev. Freezus himself will show mercy. Oh no, he's gonna push that pedal all the way to floor and show that he's back and his offense is more potent than ever. Or at least in his mind.

North Carolina vs. South Carolina (+2.5) -- Don't count out the SEC's USC. I think they're a dark horse this year and with Phil Longo taking his offensive prowess to Wisconsin (Hey Phil, throw the ball to the TE!), I don't think UNC is as potent. If UNC wins...never mind, USC wins outright.

South Alabama at Tulane (-6.5) -- I don't think Tulane overlooks South Alabama. I think the Green Wave show what their offense can do and try to put a little fear into my Rebels' new Pete Golding led defense for next week's match up. I hope South Alabama and Kane Wommack (shout out to his daddy Dave, the former DC for Ole Miss), can show us how to stop the Green Wave from rolling, but I'm not betting on it.

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