2024 college football Week 1 picks against the spread, odds, lines, key trends: Vegas expert makes picks
By CBS Sports Staff,
2024-08-28
USATSI
College football fans were treated to an appetizer in Week 0, but the Week 1 college football schedule is a full-on feast. Several top-10 teams are opening the season with new head coaches, including No. 5 Alabama and No. 9 Michigan. Neither team is expected to be tested, as Alabama is a 32-point favorite against Western Kentucky , and Michigan is a 21-point favorite against Fresno State in the Week 1 college football odds via SportsLine consensus. There are plenty of close games expected throughout the weekend though, including a top-25 showdown between No. 20 Texas A&M (-3) and No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday night.
The schedule also features No. 13 LSU (-4) vs. No. 23 USC on Sunday night and No. 10 Florida State (-16.5) vs. Boston College on Monday night. Which games should you target with your Week 1 college football bets? Before locking in any college football picks for Week 1 of the 2024 season, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall .
For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.
One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 1: He's taking Colorado State (+34.5) to stay within the large spread at No. 4 Texas at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The Longhorns are heading into their first season in the SEC fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance a year ago, and they have a huge showdown looming against defending national champion Michigan next week. All of those factors, along with the offseason buzz surrounding the program, make this a tricky letdown spot. Texas also lost star running back CJ Baxter to a season-ending injury during fall camp, leaving the program with just one experienced player at that position.
Colorado State has a high-powered offense led by returning quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi , who threw for 3,460 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Wide receiver Tory Horton has posted consecutive 1,100-yard, eight-touchdown receiving campaigns, creating a dangerous duo with Fowler-Nicolosi. The Rams were better against the spread on the road (3-3) than at home (1-5) last year, and they are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as underdogs. See which other picks to make here .
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