Week 1 College Football Tech Trends

Bruce Marshall Sports Betting Expert

11 minute read

American football betting expert and handicapper Bruce Marshall breaks down the top trends for each college football game of Week 1. Check them out below and be sure sure to visit our college football picks page for expert selections on games this week!

Thursday, Sept. 1

West Virginia at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7:00 p.m.)

• First meeting since 2011.
• West Virginia 2-7 vs. spread away in 2021
• West Virginia 20-14 Under over last three seasons
• Pitt 17-9 Over run
• Pitt 7-1 last eight vs. line when facing non-ACC school in regular season

Tech Play: Over

Ball State at Tennessee (SECN, 7:00 p.m.)

• Cardinals 4-9 vs. line last year.
• Cardinals failed to cover last four vs. non-MAC schools.
• Josh Heupel is 10-22 last 32 vs. line since 2019 at UCF.
• Vols Over 10-3 last season

Tech Play: Over

Central Michigan at Oklahoma State (FS1, 7:00 p.m.)

• McElwain is 22-11 vs. line since arriving at Chips in 2019, 11-6 as the underdog.
• Cowboys 12-3 vs. spread last 15 on board but no covers last three as non-Big 12 host.
• Cowboys Under 22-14 since 2019

Tech Play: CMU, Under

Penn State at Purdue (FOX, 8:00 p.m.)

• PSU Under 16-8 last 24 games.
• James Franklin is 9-5 vs. spread last 14 on Big Ten trail.
• Purdue 16-9 vs. spread last two full season (Skip COVID 2020).
• Brohm 12-5 vs. spread last 17 as underdog

Tech Play: Purdue

Louisiana Tech at Missouri (ESPNU, 8:00 p.m.)

• Sonny Cumbie's debut at LA Tech.
• Road dog had been a good role (20-8-1 vs. line, 3-0 LY) for Bulldogs in Holtz era.
• LA Tech Over 15-7 past two seasons.
• Mizzou 4-12 vs. spread last 16 on board.
• 2-7 last nine at home vs. line, no covers last seven chalk

Tech Play: LA Tech, Over

New Mexico State at Minnesota (BTN, 9:00 p.m.)

• Jerry Kill return game to Minnesota.
• Aggies were 5-2 vs. spread as road team last year, all as underdogs.
• No covers last four as non-Big Ten host for PJ Fleck since 2019.

Tech Play: New Mexico State

Friday, Sept. 2

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion (ESPNU, 7:00 p.m.)

• Hokies 9-17 spread skid, 6-11 last 17 as favorite.
• Hokies 2-10 last 12 vs. spread on road.
• ODU late season surge last year, won and covered last five to go 8-4 spread mark.

Tech Play: Old Dominion

Western Michigan at Michigan State (ESPN, 7:00 p.m.)

• Broncos 4-1 vs. line non-MAC last season, but lost at Michigan and no covers last two vs. Big Ten.
• Mel Tucker 9-4 vs. line last year but just 2-2 when laying double-digit points.

Tech Play: Western Michigan

Temple at Duke (ACCN, 7:30 p.m.)

• Owls closed last season losing and failing to cover seven straight.
• Duke lost eight SU and failed to cover last six.
• Duke has covered four straight and 10 of last 11 at home vs. non-ACC schools.

Tech Play: Duke

Illinois at Indiana (FS1, 8:00 p.m.)

• Bielema 4-0 vs. line on Big Ten trail, and 6-2 as underdog.
• Illinois Under 9-3 and went under in Week Zero
• Indiana 2-10 vs. spread in 2021 and didn't cover any of last five vs. FBS-level school in Bloomington.

Tech Play: Illinois, Under

TCU at Colorado (ESPN, 10:00 p.m.)

• Dorrell covered last three games in Colorado.
• Colorado 3-1 vs. spread as home underdog.
• Colorado Under 9-5 last 14 games.
• Frogs dropped last four vs. line when on road.
• TCU 1-4 last five vs. spread as favorite vs. FBS-school.
• Dykes SMU teams were 15-0 SU and 12-3 vs. line in first five games across last three years.

Tech Play: TCU

Saturday, Sept. 3

NC State at ECU (ESPN, 12:00 p.m.)

• Wolfpack 2-5 vs. spread last seven as visitor.
• NCST only 2-2 vs. spread as road favorite last year.
• ECU 9-4 spread uptick since 2020
• ECU 4-1-1 vs. spread last six vs. FBS-schools in Greenville.
• ECU 5-1 last six as underdog

Tech Play: ECU

UNC at Appalachian State (ESPN, 12:00 p.m.)

• UNC 6-12 vs. line last 18 games.
• UNC 1-6 vs. spread last seven on road.
• UNC 1-4 vs. spread last five vs. non-ACC schools.
• App State 8-6 vs. line last year.

Tech Play: App State

Buffalo at Maryland (BTN, 12:00 p.m.)

• Bulls 3-8 vs. spread last 11 games.
• Terps won and covered four of last five openers (only loss was 2020)
• Locksley is 5-0 vs. spread at home vs. non-Big ten schools.

Tech Play: Maryland

Colorado State at Michigan (ABC, 12:00 p.m.)

• Rams no wins or covers last six games, but new coach Norvell in town.
• Norvell 5-0 as dog with Nevada last year, 8-0 as underdog past two seasons with Nevada.
• Michigan 11-3 vs. spread last year.
• Michigan covered four straight vs. non-Big Ten at home

Tech Play: Colorado State

Rutgers at Boston College (ACCN, 12:00 p.m.)

• Rutgers 8-2 vs. spread as visitor last two seasons.
• BC only covered two of last 11 games.
• BC Under 9-3 last year

Tech Play: Rutgers

Bowling Green at UCLA (Pac-12, 2:30 p.m.)

• BG covered all four outside of MAC last year
• BG 8-3 last year as underdog, 4-13 vs. spread previous two seasons though.
• UCLA 8-4 vs. line last year and 3-1 laying double-digit points.
• UCLA Over 12-7 last two season

Tech Play: Over

Oregon vs. Georgia (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)

• Ducks 6-13 spread skid and 2-4 last six as underdogs.
• UGA 10-5 vs. line last year.
• UGA Under 10-6 last 16 games

Tech Play: Georgia

UTEP vs. Oklahoma (FOX, 3:30 p.m.)

• UTEP 4-2-1 vs. spread away from Sun Bowl.
• OU 2-3-1 vs. line last six regular season vs. FBS non-Big 12 schools.
• OU is on 14-9 Over run.

Tech Play: Over

Arizona at San Diego State (CBS, 3:30 p.m.)

• Jedd Fisch 6-6 spread mark and 3-3 vs. line on road.
• Aztecs 1-5 ATS as home favorite (in Carson).

Tech Play: Arizona

Houston at UTSA (CBSSN, 3:30 p.m.)

• Holgorsen only 3-5 vs. line vs. non-AAC BCS-level schools.
• UTSA 14-4 as underdog since 2019

Tech Play: UTSA

Cincinnati at Arkansas (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.)

• Fickell 3-4 vs. line away from Nippert last season.
• Fickell 9-2 vs. spread last 11 vs. non-ACC schools
• Fickell 5-2 vs. spread last seven as underdog.
• Arkansas 8-0 vs. spread first four games last two season under Pittman.
• Arkansas 8-4 vs. spread as host since 2020.
• Arkansas 4-0 SU and vs. line vs. non-SEC schools.

Tech Play: Arkansas

Tulsa at Wyoming (FS1, 3:30 p.m.)

• Tulsa won last four and covered last five.
• Montgomery 4-2 vs. spread last five vs. FBS-level non-AAC schools.
• Bohl 2-4 vs. spread at home last season.

Tech Play: Tulsa

Troy at Ole Miss (SECN, 4:00 p.m.)

• Troy dropped seven of last nine vs. spread last year.
• Kiffin 4-0 SU and vs. spread at home vs. non-SEC school in regular season
• Kiffin 8-4 vs. number last 12 at home.
• Rebels Under 11-3 last 14 games since 2020.

Tech Play: Ole Miss, Under

BYU at USF (ESPNU, 4:00 p.m.)

• Cougars 1-5 vs. line away from home last season.
• BYU 3-7 ATS as chalk last year.
• USF 3-17 SU but covered five of last season in Tampa.

Tech Play: USF

Texas State at Nevada (5:30 p.m.)

• Nevada 18-7 vs. spread last 25 in regular season.
• Nevada Over 10-4 run last 14.
• Spavital now 16-10 vs. spread with TXST since 2020.

Tech Play: Nevada

Rice at USC (Pac-12, 6:00 p.m.)

• Riley 6-6 as favorite against the spread, only 2-5 laying double-digits vs. FBS schools.
• Riley 18-18 vs. spread since 2019.
• USC 2-8 vs. spread last 10 at home.
• Owls 3-9 vs. spread last year.
• Owls 1-3 getting double-digit points.
• Rice over 9-3 last season

Tech Play: Over

FAU at Ohio (ESPN+, 6:00 p.m.)

• Taggart 16-6 Under run at FAU.
• Ohio 3-9 SU and 5-7 vs. line and 2-4 vs. spread in Athens.
• Ohio 11-17 vs. spread since 2019.
• Ohio Under 8-4 run since 2021.

Tech Play: Under, FAU

Army at Coastal Carolina (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m.)

• Army SU win in five of six season openers.
• Monken 6-1 last seven as underdog.
• Coastal 6-8 last 14 vs. spread - dropped last three vs. spread at home.

Tech Play: Army

Utah at Florida (ESPN, 7:00 p.m.)

• Utes dropped last five vs. spread in regular season vs. non-Pac-12 school.
• Utes 2-4 vs. spread as visitor
• Florida 4-14-1 last 19 vs. spread.
• Napier 34-5 SU last three years at Louisiana.
• Napier 7-2 last nine as underdog.

Tech Play: Florida

Liberty at Southern Miss (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m.)

• Freeze only 2-4 vs. spread on road last year.
• Flames 2-5 vs. line last seven as regular season favorite.
• USM covered last three after going 1-8 first nine games last season.
• USM 20-8 Under run.

Tech Play: Under

UMass at Tulane (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m.)

• Green Wave is 2-2 vs. line as favorite.
• Frits 7-3 vs. spread last 10 at home.
• UMass 3-12-1 vs. points as road team

Tech Play: Tulane

Miami-Ohio at Kentucky (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m.)

• Miami is 2-13 vs. spread last 15 regular season games vs. non-MAC schools.
• Miami 10-5 vs. points last 15 as underdog.
• Stoops 8-3 vs. points last 11 at home.
• UK 6-1 vs. spread last seven vs. non-SEC schools at home.

Tech Play: Kentucky

Georgia State at South Carolina (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m.)

• Ga State covered seven of last eight games, including five straight away from Atlanta.
• Ga State 5-2 vs. spread last seven against non-Sun Belt schools.
• Ga State 7-4 last 11 as underdog.
• Beamer 4-3 vs. spread as home team.

Tech Play: Georgia State

Notre Dame at Ohio State (ABC, 7:30 p.m.)

• Notre Dame covered nine of last 10 in regular season.
• Irish 7-4 as underdogs and 2-1 as double-digit dog.
• Ryan Day only 11-13 vs. spread last 24 on board, 5-6 last 11 vs. spread at home.

Tech Play: Notre Dame

Memphis at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.)

• Tigers 0-8-1 under Silverfield vs. spread as road team.
• Memphis 8-15-1 vs. spread overall under Silverfield.
• Tigers Under 13-7 since 2020.
• Miss State Under 14-10 with Leach.

Tech Play: Mississippi State, Under

Utah State at Alabama (SECN, 7:30 p.m.)

• Utah State 10-4 vs. spread last year, missed cover vs. UConn in Week Zero.
• Utah State 6-2 as underdog vs. spread last season.
• Anderson teams now 9-2 as dogs since 2020.
• Saban 10-17-1 vs. line hosting non-SEC schools at home.
• Saban 10-3 vs. spread last 13 at home overall.

Tech Play: Utah State

SMU at North Texas (CBSSN, 7:30 p.m.)

• Mustangs won and covered last three and six of last seven vs. No. Texas.
• SMU 10-2 vs. line across first four games in 2019-2021 and 9-2 vs. spread in regular season vs. non-AAC schools
• SMU 0-5 vs. spread away from home last season.
• No. Texas six game win and cover streak in regular season.
• Littrell covered five of last six as underdog.

Tech Play: North Texas

Louisville at Syracuse (ACCN, 8:00 p.m.)

• Louisville outscored Cuse 127-37 last three seasons.
• Cardinals 3-1 vs. line as straight visitor last season.
• Satterfield is 10-5 as favorite since 2019.
• Babers is 6-3 last nine as underdog.

Tech Play: Louisville

UL-Monroe vs. Texas (LHN, 8:00 p.m.)

• Bowden only 2-4 vs. spread away from Monroe.
• ULM 5-3 vs. line when getting double-digit points.
• ULM Under last four games.
• Sark lost six of seven SU and vs. spread overall.
• Horns 4-2 vs. spread at home last season.

Tech Play: UL-Monroe

Boise State at Oregon State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)

• Broncs 5-1 vs. line on road last year.
• Broncs 3-0 last year vs. spread as underdog.
• Broncs 3-1 vs. line against non-Mountain West schools.
• Broncs 11-2 Under run since 2020.
• Oreg. State 6-0 vs. spread at home last year.

Tech Play: Under

Kent State at Washington (FS1, 10:30 p.m.)

• Kent State no covers last four games vs. non-MAC and FBS school last season.
• Kent State 1-8 vs. spread last nine on road.
• DeBoer 8-5 vs. line last season.
• Huskies 3-9 vs. spread at home last season.
• Huskies 3-9 Under run last season.

Tech Play: Under, Washington

Western Kentucky at Hawaii (11:59 p.m.)

• Hawaii 0-4 vs. spread against non-Mountain West schools.
• WKY 7-4 vs. spread on road last year.

Tech Play: Western Kentucky

Sunday, Sept. 4

FSU vs. LSU (ABC, 7:30 p.m.)

• Kelly is 9-3 vs. line in regular season.
• Norvell 3-4 vs. spread last seven on road.
• FSU Under 8-4 last season

Tech Play: Under, LSU

Monday, Sept. 5

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN, 8:00 p.m.)

• Collins 11-22-1 vs. line.
• GA Tech 6-11 last 17 as underdog.
• Dabo won last six SU and covered last five.
• Dabo won and covered last three away from Clemson.
• Clemson outscored GA Tech 125-21 in last two meetings.

Tech Play: Clemson

Bruce Marshall

Bruce's unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis, as well as informed commentary on the national and international sports scene, has made him an in-demand guest for many years on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country. Bruce's vast array of editorial work has also been featured in VegasInsider, along with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and New York Post. Bruce, who is also in the midst of several book projects, combines all of his work while splitting time between Celebration, Florida and Henderson, Nevada. More from Bruce Marshall