College Football Week 1 Rewind

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Week 0 and Week 1 of the college football season is in the books. We had a handful of big upsets, with some giant favorites also covering. Each week we'll recap the biggest favorites and underdogs to cash, as well as highlighting some of the biggest bad beats.

Updated on 05/10/2024

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 RESULTS

WAGER (Favorites-Underdogs)
Straight Up (SU): 81-13
Against the Spread (ATS): 52-42
WAGER (Home-Away)
Straight Up (SU): 77-13
Against the Spread (ATS): 52-38
WAGER (Totals O/U)
Over-Under: 42-52

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON RESULTS

WAGER (Favorites-Underdogs)
Straight Up (SU): 81-13
Against the Spread (ATS): 52-42
WAGER (Home-Away)
Straight Up (SU): 77-13
Against the Spread (ATS): 52-38
WAGER (Totals O/U)
Over-Under: 42-52

BIGGEST UNDERDOGS TO CASH

Delaware (+12, +265 ML) 14, @ Navy 7
Northwestern (+11.5, +375 ML) 31, Nebraska 28 (neutral site)
Rutgers (+8.5, +265 ML) 22, @ Boston College 21
Old Dominion (+6.5, ML +195) 20, Virginia Tech 17
Wyoming (+6.5, ML +195) 40, Tulsa 37 (2 OT)
Arizona (+6, ML +190) 38, @ San Diego State 20
Ohio (+5.5, ML +180) 41, FAU 38
William & Mary (+4.5, ML +170) 41, @ Charlotte 24

BIGGEST FAVORITES TO CASH

Miami-Florida (-48.5) 70, Bethune-Cookman 13
Baylor (-43.5) 69, Albany 10
Tennessee (-43.5) 59, Ball State 10
Alabama (-41.5) 55, Utah State 0
Georgia Southern (-39.5) 59, Morgan State 7
Texas Tech (-38.5) 63, Murray State 10
Marshall (-37.5) 55, Norfolk State 3
USC (-32.5) 66, Rice 14

BIGGEST ROAD FAVORITES TO CASH

BYU (-20.5) 50 @ South Florida 21
Western Kentucky (-15.5) 49 @ Hawaii 17

BIGGEST BAD BEAT OF THE WEEK

In a very entertaining game on Sunday night at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Florida State Seminoles and LSU Tigers squared off. It was head coach Brian Kelly's first game at the helm of the Bayou Bengals, while head coach Mike Norvell is trying to get the Seminoles back on a championship track. It was an intriguing game, but both teams still entered play unranked in The Associated Press' Top 25.

LSU took a 3-0 lead after the first 15 minutes, as each team was rather sluggish early on. Things didn't really heat up in the second quarter either, as we had just one score, a touchdown by a the Seminoles. With a combined 10 points in the first 30 minutes, OVER (50.5) bettors looked to be staring at a losing bet slip. Things heated up a little bit in the third quarter, and LSU's shoddy special teams play allowed the Seminoles to grab some great field position. At the end of three quarters, FSU led 17-10.

FSU led 24-17, and had the ball inside the LSU 5 late in regulation. The Seminoles fumbled the ball away on the 1, inside of two minutes, giving the Tigers the ball back. If the Seminoles could have punched it in, making it 31-17 at that point, UNDER bettors likely would have won. However, down just 24-17, LSU would be able to drive the length of the field, scoring with zeroes on the clock to make it 24-23. Instead of going for two, Kelly elected to go for the extra point and play for overtime, much to the excitement of OVER bettors.

However, the Seminoles had other ideas, and ended up getting in and blocking the extra point for the miraculous 24-23 win. OVER bettors couldn't believe their misfortune, while UNDER bettors, who really had been on the right side all evening long, rejoiced.

BAD BEAT HONORABLE MENTIONS

ALABAMA A&M at UAB (Total - 60.5)

After three quarters, the Blazers held a 59-0 lead. That's how the game would end after a scoreless fourth quarter. Perhaps not a textbook 'bad beat', but a head shaker just the same.

EASTERN KENTUCKY (+13.5) at EASTERN MICHIGAN

The Eagles of EMU took a 42-27 lead with 3:22 left in regulation, thanks for a Hassan Beydoun 22-yard touchdown grab. However, with just 71 ticks left in regulation, the Colonels struck for a 9-yard touchdown to close the scoring, falling 42-34 with the backdoor cover.

NC STATE at EAST CAROLINA (ML +350)

If you bet the Pirates of ECU to upset the No. 13 Wolfpack, you were kicking mad...because of a missed kick. The Pirates were covering most of the afternoon at the Rowdy Dowdy in Greenville. ECU erased a 21-7 deficit, pulling with 21-20. With :09 left in regulation, ECU attempted a game-winning field goal, but PK Owen Daffer pushed a 41-yard game winner right.

HOUSTON at UTSA (Total - 61.5, ML +150)

With just :23 remaining in regulation, Houston went ahead on a 35-yard field goal, leading 24-21. The Roadrunners were able to quickly get into field goal range, and PK Jared Sackett knocked through a 37-yard attempt to send the game to overtime, tied 24-24. You know how that goes. The teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, and there were still just 54 points on the board. In the second overtime, UTSA not only scored a touchdown, but bagged a two-point conversion, going up 35-27. That cashed the OVER.

Money line bettors for UTSA were also feeling the sting. Houston matched the touchdown and two-point conversion, forcing a third OT. The Cougars won with a 2PTC, 37-35, as UTSA was unable to convert to keep the game going.

OREGON vs. GEORGIA (neutral site) (Total - 54.5)

The defending national champs fired out to a 28-3 lead at halftime, and didn't take their foot off the gas in the third quarter. Georgia posted two more touchdowns, taking a 42-3 lead to the fourth. Just 10 seconds in, UGA struck for a TD, taking a 49-3 lead. Even a field goal in the final 14:50 would have scored a win for OVER bettors, but the Ducks couldn't manage any points, and the Bulldogs were held in check the rest of the way. It wasn't a definition 'bad beat', but it left a bad taste in the mouth of OVER bettors.

UTEP at OKLAHOMA (Total - 58.5)

The Sooners led 42-10 heading into the final quarter, and just one touchdown would seal the winning ticket for OVER bettors. UTEP cooperated with a field goal just 59 seconds into the final stanza, cutting the OU lead to 42-13. Oklahoma was marching down the field with under six to go, advancing well into the red zone. Unfortunately, the offense bogged down and the Sooners elected to take a 22-yard chip shot field goal with 5:17 left in the game, putting a bow on the scoring at 45-13. Those half-point losses sting.

BRYANT at FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (Total - 57.5, ML +350)

The Bulldogs of Bryant, an FCS school, carried a 16-6 lead into the fourth quarter. UNDER bettors appeared to be well on their way to a victory, and any ML bettors backing the Bulldogs had a chance to multiply their initial wager by three and a half times! FIU had other ideas. In a wild fourth quarter, the teams exchanged haymakers. FIU took a 27-23 lead with 4:08 left in regulation, but Bryant answered with a 1-yard scoring plunge with just 43 seconds left in regulation, restoring a 30-27 lead.

Bryant ML bettors and UNDER bettors looked to be in good shape, but the Golden Panthers worked it down the field with a game-tying 29-yard FG to force OT. UNDER bettors were dead, but Bryant still had a chance. In OT, Bryant took a 37-30 lead with the touchdown, but FIU responded with a TD and 2PTC to steal the game, 38-37.

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish