We made it. Football is back! Well, college football anyway. I am an NFL fan and that is my favorite sport. I think professional football is a superior product, but the game day atmosphere and pageantry of the college game is exceptional. I am a Pitt graduate and had the opportunity to watch Larry Fitzgerald in college. How he did not win the Heisman is insane to me, but I digress. We have an almost full slate of games that start tonight and run all the way through Monday. Soon enough the NFL will be back and all will seem right in the world to me.
I love the schedule and feeling once fall and football is back. Give me a hoody and jeans. Give me a beer at noon on the weekend. Give me a routine I know a love. There is something comforting about being able to turn on a TV and finding football on. Maybe that is how I was raised in Pittsburgh. You watch football and then of course, gamble on it.
Last year I did very little gambling on college football. I hit up a few games here and there, but never really dived into the product. That will change this year. Now that gambling and sports betting is legal and we have several avenues to use to make wagers, there is no way I am sitting this one out. As the games begin tonight, (I know we had week zero last week and two game), it is time to dive in. These are my wagers for the weekend.
For entertainment purposes only, I am going to pick each Pitt game. If I ever suggest betting on them, please tweet me and stop me. It is just better this way.
Weekly Pitt Selection
Pitt +2.5
The Panthers always win games they shouldn’t and then conversely, lose games they shouldn’t. This is a winnable game and if the program is going to make the leap and take the next step, a must win. Whom am I kidding; they are stuck in 7-5 purgatory forever.
Almost Bet It
Idaho +40
I could not pull the trigger here. Penn State is replacing a lot of offensive firepower and 40 points is a lot of wood to chop. Realistically, if Idaho scores ten points they should be way good. This game could be 35-0 at the half, or it could be 10-0. If Idaho had a better finish to last season I would have been more inclined to take them, but they have been blown out horribly before.
Illinois -18
Akron is in a full rebuild and was bad to end last year. Illinois is perpetually meh, but have a new quarterback that transferred from Michigan. Someone in Vegas is betting a lot on Illinois, which is raising some eyebrows. I will monitor.
Wagers For the Week
UCLA +3
Wait, I get a power five team coached by Chip Kelly returning almost all of their starters against a non-power five team and I am getting points. Yes, I know it is a road game, but I am taking the points and believe UCLA wins it tonight. I hope we can start the year off 1-0!
Oregon State +14
Oregon State was terrible last year, but Oklahoma State struggles on the road. The wise guys are all over Oregon State and I am not above piggy backing on them. This game will play much closer than 14 points.
Georgia – 22
I love this bet. It is my favorite of the weekend. I wish it were only 21, but that time has passed. Georgia went 10-2 last year and won every game by at least 17 points. The rumor is that over 50% of the building in Vandy will be full of Georgia supporters. The winner of this game is not in doubt; it is just a matter of how much Georgia wins by. Georgia by 40+ in this one.
Alabama -33.5
This is Alabama coming off a loss. How often can you make that statement? Duke won’t be able to stop or slow down Alabama and it may come down to the Bama second string against the Duke Starters in the fourth quarter. I like that matchup too.
Michigan -34.5
Michigan is getting buzz, as a playoff team and making a statement at home in their first game would be a great start. Middle Tennessee is a middling team from their conference and doesn’t have the lines on either side to keep up with Michigan.
So there you have it. Five wagers for the weekend, two games to monitor and my special Pitt pick of the week. I hope that we start the season the right way and we build that bankroll.
College Football Record 0-0
Baseball Record 89-58 +2459
Baseball Parlays 28-73 -895
Golf 4-20 +650
Win The Weekends 