College Football Week 1 Odds, Picks & Prediction: Utah State vs. Alabama (9/3)

Sep 3, 2022 - 9:28 AM

Let’s take a look at the College Football Week 1 odds, picks, and predictions for this week’s game: Utah State vs. Alabama.

Check out our other Week 1 game previews:

• New Mexico State vs. Minnesota
• Georgia State vs. South Carolina
• Nevada vs. Texas State
• Western Kentucky vs. Hawaii
• North Carolina State vs. East Carolina
• Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
• Boise State vs. Oregon State
• Arizona vs. San Diego State
• Middle Tennessee vs. James Madison
• Cincinnati vs. Arkansas
• Florida State vs. LSU
• Utah vs. Florida
• Colorado State vs. Michigan
• Rice vs. USC
• Oregon vs. Georgia
• Louisiana-Monroe vs. Texas
• Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

College Football Week 1 Early Odds, Picks & Prediction: Utah State vs. Alabama

Utah State +41.5 at Alabama (-110)

Alabama has its sights set on another national championship. They will host Utah State on Saturday, where they find themselves around six touchdown favorites. Coming off a less-than-stellar performance in Week 0 against Connecticut, the Aggies will have their work cut out for them, but I think they can cover this bloated spread. After a banner 2021 campaign, the Aggies return key pieces from one of the best offenses in the Mountain West, including star quarterback Logan Bonner. Last Saturday’s performance was not completely indicative of the talent of this Utah State team. The offense is capable of putting up points, and though Alabama’s defense is better than any they will see, the Aggies won’t lay down. They should be able to put enough points on the board.

The Crimson Tide are used to being massive favorites, but usually against teams with much lesser statistical profiles. This is an 11-3 team that returns both their leading passer and leading rusher, not some middle-of-the-road FCS pushover. Regardless, Nick Saban won’t let his team overlook any opponent, but Alabama has a looming contest with Texas in Week 2. I could see Saban calling the dogs off early if things get out of hand to ensure he keeps his starters healthy and rested for the matchup with the Longhorns. It will be a comfortable Alabama win, but Utah State should cover the 41.5-point spread.

Bet: Utah State +41.5

What is Betting Against the Spread?

Betting “against the spread” refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.

What is an Over/Under Bet?

Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts

Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced sports betting strategies — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.

The post College Football Week 1 Odds, Picks & Prediction: Utah State vs. Alabama (9/3) appeared first on BettingPros.