While there aren’t many marquee sports betting matchups on the schedule this weekend, there’s plenty of value on the college football betting board in Week 2. Here’s a look ahead to the NCAA odds and games grabbing the attention of handicappers across the nation as NCAA pigskin gets into high gear:
No. 5 Florida hosts rival Miami on Saturday night in Gainesville, in a game that will be high on drama if nothing else. The Gators haven’t defeated the Hurricanes since 1985, which isn’t lost on reigning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the rest of his teammates. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to be in the lineup following offseason heel surgery for the Gators, who are priced as 21-point favorites for the contest. The total is set at 51.5.
Notre Dame makes its season debut as 22-point home faves against San Diego State on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Irish were absolutely atrocious for backers last season, and are banking on sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen to restore some respectability to the program. Linesmakers have set the total at 42.5-points on the college football odds list, which appears low until you handicap Notre Dame’s 3-8 over/under record at South Bend in its last 11 games.
Cappers are keeping a close eye on No. 8 West Virginia’s trip down the coast to face East Carolina. QB Pat White and the Mountaineers rolled past Villanova 48-21 last week, and are set as 7.5-point road favorites against the Pirates. What has bettors talking is ECU’s 27-22 triumph over Virginia Tech last week as 9-point pups. Will the Pirates turn the trick once again this week and cover against one of the top teams in the nation?
Houston Nutt brings his Mississippi team to the state of North Carolina to face No. 19 Wake Forest on Saturday. Both teams scored over 40 points in respective double-digit victories last week, so bettors could be looking at an offensive explosion between the Rebels and the Demon Deacons. For Ole Miss to pull off the upset, it will have to keep the Wake Forest defense from forcing five turnovers like it did last week against Baylor. Oddsmakers have the Demon Deacons as 8.5-point favorites for the tilt, with the current total listed at 47.
No. 14 Arizona State entertains Stanford in Pac-10 action on Saturday as healthy 14-point faves. The Sun Devils walked to the bank for their bettors last September against the Cardinal with a 41-3 road payday, although Stanford is much improved this season. The Cardinal shot out of the gate with a 36-28 upset of Oregon State as 2.5-point home underdogs in their opener last week.