It's good to be back.
For the ninth straight season on our college football betting podcast, Big Bets on Campus, Collin Wilson and Stuckey pick their two favorite moneyline underdogs for each week's slate.
For Week 1 of the new season, they rolled with two Group of 6 underdogs, including one at nearly 4-1.
Both games kick off late into the night, so feel free to grab an extra cup of coffee while locking in this wager. If you're feeling lucky, a parlay of both pups pays out at over 9-1 at the time of writing.
Let's dive into our college football moneyline underdogs for Week 1.
College Football Moneyline Underdogs for Week 1
Collin Wilson: Central Michigan ML +375 vs. New Mexico
| Central Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -108u | +375 |
| New Mexico Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -108u | -500 |
I’m taking Central Michigan to beat New Mexico.
The Lobos really took a hit in the offseason, losing a lot from last year’s group and, most importantly, quarterback Jack Layne is out for the season with an elbow injury.
Luke Moga is stepping in, but he wasn’t expected to be the starter, so this is a big jump for him as the offense tries to find its footing.
On paper, CMU didn’t return much on defense either, but that’s where coaching matters.
Last year, the first-year staff got that unit into the top 25 in tackle grading and inside the top 35 in Defensive Havoc and Defensive Finishing Drives. That’s due to the scheme and discipline. They’ve shown they can squeeze production out of new pieces.
The real edge is Central Michigan’s offense.
Head coach Matt Drinkall has a clear track record of turning around option schemes from his time at a service academy in Army. The Chippewas run a zone-heavy ground game where a defender is effectively declared zero and everyone has an assigned block pre-snap. The execution in space and on the option looks systematic, not random.
I think that structure, plus an offensive line that can push around New Mexico’s defense, is going to be tough for a team that’s also trying to sort out its quarterback situation.
Give me Central Michigan on the road. Fire up Chips.
Stuckey: Nevada ML +120 vs. Western Kentucky
| Western Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 52.5 -105o / -112u | -145 |
| Nevada Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 52.5 -105o / -112u | +120 |
I'll take Nevada as a short 'dog against Western Kentucky.
The line’s been drifting toward the Wolf Pack for a reason. Western Kentucky has a late kickoff and a long trip out West, and it's almost starting from scratch.
The Hilltoppers are replacing a major chunk of their roster outside of Rodney Tisdale Jr. at quarterback and a couple of safeties, and the offensive line is almost entirely new.
On top of that, top wide receiver KD Hutchinson could be out. He wasn't listed on the initial depth chart for this game, and neither was linebacker Garrison Madden. That's a problem because I don't like anything on this defense except for the safeties.
Nevada should be able to impose its will on the ground at home.
Quarterback Carter Jones enters his second year, and the buzz around him has been good. I also really like Jeff Choate as the head coach because he gets his team ready, and they play physical.
The Wolf Pack can create problems for WKU’s shaky defense. Give me Nevada to get this done at home.
