The college football season is here. It technically started this past Saturday, but on September 1 and the Labor Day holiday weekend, it busts open with a full slate of action across all the conferences, involving most of the top teams in the country. With so many games to choose from, we narrowed the field and are providing you with a college football parlay to get your betting action started off on the right foot this year.
Washington Huskies vs. Auburn Tigers – In Atlanta
Odds: Auburn -1.5
This game is such an attractive game not only because both teams are expected to do well this season, but because they have veteran quarterbacks. This is pretty much a playoff game already. The loser will have a tough time making the CFP unless they win-out.
It is often the case that a roster is very strong but the quarterback is brand-new, which invites more uncertainty than normal for an early-season game. However, this is a case of two veteran and tested field generals going against each other, which should mean fuller playbooks, more aggressive coaching and an expectation that this game will be decided more by big plays and less by freshman-style mistakes. Jake Browning is Washington’s quarterback and Jarrett Stidham is Auburn’s quarterback. Stidham is probably better, but what might decide this game is the pass rush. Auburn figures to get more from its defensive front four. Washington’s unit struggled late last season against Stanford and Penn State. Auburn is the better choice in this game. And can Washington really win if they can’t rely on the run? Probably not. Look for Auburn to announce themselves with a win in this spot.
Parlay Pick #1: Auburn -1.5
Tennessee Volunteers at West Virginia Mountaineers
Odds: West Virginia -10
The Tennessee Volunteers have uncertainty at the quarterback position under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. The West Virginia Mountaineers have a strong, veteran quarterback, Will Grier, leading their offense, under the direction of veteran coach Dana Holgorsen. If you were to create a scenario in which an underdog such as Tennessee could spring an upset, this is not it. West Virginia should win this game comfortably. Tennessee is in the midst of trying to figure out how to move forward after a disastrous 2017 season. West Virginia is a quality team that could contend for a Big 12 title. It’s a big spread but the Mountaineers seem to have the weapons and offense to cover.
Parlay Pick #2: West Virginia -10
Related: College Football Betting Guide
Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Odds: Michigan +1
The defenses in this game should dominate. Michigan, under Don Brown, has consistently had one of the better defenses in the country. Notre Dame’s defense was much improved last year under coordinator Mike Elko, but Elko then left for Texas A&M to help coach with Jimbo Fisher. Nevertheless, the Fighting Irish have a good foundation in place. Moreover, Michigan’s offense has struggled throughout coach Jim Harbaugh’s tenure, and Notre Dame’s offense shriveled late last season in big games against Miami, Stanford and LSU. This figures to be a very close game, but one thing which can help Michigan is the running ability of new quarterback Shea Patterson. As long as Patterson doesn’t make big mistakes, the Wolverines can score a narrow – and much needed (for Jim Harbaugh) – victory.
Parlay Pick #3: Michigan +1
Miami vs. LSU – In Arlington, Texas
Odds: Miami -3.5
The Miami Hurricanes passed around the “turnover chain” last year, a fun way of showing how consistent they were at forcing turnovers. LSU’s offense struggled for most of last season, trying to find a reliable quarterback and a downfield passing game which could strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses. That’s been a theme for them for many years. Has anything changed? That’s hard to say. We need evidence before we can bank on the Tigers having a competent quarterback and passing game
Miami’s defense can probably shut down LSU’s offense even without taking the ball away. That makes this Miami’s game to lose.
Parlay Pick #4: Miami -3.5
Four Game College Football Parlay
Auburn -1.5 -110
West Virginia -10 -110
Michigan +1 -110
Miami -3.5 -110
$100 bet pays $1328,33.
