Early CFB Week 1 Line Movement

In case you live under a rock, college football is back.

Georgia Tech took it to Florida State in Ireland, SMU snuck past Nevada, and there are more undefeated teams right now than there will be the rest of the season.

P.S. It’s everyone but FSU, New Mexico, Nevada, and Delaware State.

College Football Look Ahead

While most of these games are days away, if you’re betting on favorites, it’s best to do it early.

Here are some of the best games in Week 1 of college football.

All times in ET.

Thursday, August 29

• Howard @ Rutgers | 6pm

  • Line: Rutgers -36.5

  • O/U: 49.5

• Western Carolina @ NC State | 7pm

  • Line: NC State -34.5

  • O/U: 61

• North Dakota State @ Colorado | 8pm

  • Line: Colorado -9.5

  • O/U: 59

• North Carolina @ Minnesota | 8pm

  • Line: North Carolina -1

  • O/U: 50

• Coastal Carolina @ Jacksonville State | 8pm

  • Line: J. State -2.5

  • O/U: 55.5

• Murray State @ Missouri | 8pm

  • Line: Missouri -48

  • O/U: 57.5

• Southern Utah @ Utah | 8pm

  • Line: Utah -38

  • O/U: 53

Friday, August 30

• Temple @ Oklahoma¹⁶ | 7pm

  • Line: OU -43

  • O/U: 59

• Florida Atlantic @ Michigan State | 7pm

  • Line: MSU -13.5

  • O/U: 47.5

• Elon @ Duke | 7:30pm

  • Line: Duke -23.5

  • O/U: 49.5

• Western Michigan @ Wisconsin | 9pm

  • Line: Wisconsin -24

  • O/U: 56.5

• TCU @ Stanford | 10:30pm

  • Line: TCU -9

  • O/U: 61.5

Saturday, August 31

• Clemson¹⁴ @ Georgia¹ | 12pm

  • Line: Georgia -13.5

  • O/U: 49

• Penn State⁸ @ West Virginia | 12pm

  • Line: Penn State -8.5

  • O/U: 51.5

• Illinois State @ Iowa | 12pm

  • Line: Iowa -22.5

  • O/U: 41

• Virginia Tech @ Vanderbilt | 12pm

  • Line: VA Tech -13.5

  • O/U: 50.5

• Chattanooga @ Tennessee | 12:45pm

  • Line: Tennessee -38.5

  • O/U: 57

• San Diego State @ Oklahoma State | 2pm

  • Line: Oklahoma State -10

  • O/U: 54

• Colorado State @ Texas⁴ | 3:30pm

  • Line: Texas -32.5

  • O/U: 59.5

• Miami OH @ Northwestern | 3:30pm

  • Line: NW -2.5

  • O/U: 42.5

• Akron @ Ohio State² | 3:30pm

  • Line: OSU -50.5

  • O/U: 57.5

• Miami FL¹⁹ @ Florida | 3:30pm

  • Line: Miami -2.5

  • O/U: 54

• Eastern Michigan @ UMass | 3:30pm

  • Line: UMass -1.5

  • O/U: 49.5

• Boise State @ Georgia Southern | 4pm

  • Line: Boise State -13

  • O/U: 56.5

• North Texas @ South Alabama | 5pm

  • Line: South Alabama -5

  • O/U: 65

• Western Kentucky @ Alabama⁵ | 7pm

  • Line: Alabama -31.5

  • O/U: 59.5

• Furman @ Ole Miss | 7pm

  • Line: Ole Miss -41.5

  • O/U: 60.5

• UNLV @ Houston | 7pm

  • Line: Houston -1

  • O/U: 54.5

• Notre Dame⁷ @ Texas A&M²⁰ | 7:30pm

  • Line: A&M -2.5

  • O/U: 46.5

• Fresno State @ Michigan⁹ | 7:30pm

  • Line: Michigan -21.5

  • O/U: 45.5

• UCLA @ Hawaii | 7:30pm

  • Line: UCLA -13.5

  • O/U: 55.5

• Idaho @ Oregon | 7:30pm

  • Line: Oregon -43.5

  • O/U: 63

• James Madison @ Charlotte | 8pm

  • Line: JMU -6.5

  • O/U: 51

• Georgia State @ Georgia Tech | 8pm

  • Line: GT -22

  • O/U: 57

• New Mexico @ Arizona²¹ | 10:30pm

  • Line: Arizona -30.5

  • O/U: 57

Sunday, September 1

• USC²³ @ LSU¹³ | 7:30pm

  • Line: LSU -4.5

  • O/U: 63.5

Monday, September 2

• Boston College @ Florida State¹⁰ | 7:30pm

  • Line: FSU -17

  • O/U: 50.5

5 Biggest College Football Matchups This Week

We’ve got you covered.

Five of the top CFB matchups this weekend, and our 5 predictions.

Clemson¹⁴ @ Georgia¹ | 12pm

This season opener is already a sellout, and for good reason.

• Moneyline: Georgia -600 / Clemson +440

• Line: Georgia -13.5

• O/U: 49

Both teams are perennial powerhouses with rich histories and high expectations for the 2024 season.

Georgia, led by Heisman Trophy contender Carson Beck, is the betting favorite to win it all this year.

The Bulldogs are stacked with future NFL talent and are eager to start their title quest on a high note.

On the other side, Clemson, under the leadership of Dabo Swinney, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season.

While Georgia holds a two-touchdown favorite status, Clemson's stout defense and potential offensive improvements could make this a closer game than expected.

With both teams having won four of the past eight national championships, this matchup is a must-watch.

Georgia will come out with more than Clemson can handle.

• Georgia 1H -6.5 [-150, bet365]

Penn State⁸ @ West Virginia | 12pm

This matchup promises to be anything but straightforward.

• Moneyline: Penn State -305 / WVU +245

• Line: Penn State -8.5

• O/U: 51.5

Penn State, coming off a strong 2023 season, is led by quarterback Drew Allar, who threw for 2,631 yards and boasted a 25/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year.

The Nittany Lions are ranked in the top 10 in both the AP and Coaches polls and are eyeing a spot in the newly expanded 12-team playoff.

West Virginia, under coach Neal Brown, had a resurgent 9-4 season in 2023 and is looking to build on that momentum.

• Quarterback Garrett Greene is a dual-threat playmaker who could give Penn State's defense a run for its money.

While Penn State's defense is one of the best in the nation, allowing just 13.5 points per game last season, West Virginia's high-octane offense, featuring Greene and running backs Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson, will look to exploit any weaknesses.

Expect a competitive game with Morgantown's raucous crowd adding to the atmosphere.

However, Penn State's defensive prowess and Allar's leadership should help them pull away in the second half.

• Penn State to cover -8.5 [-110, bet365].

Miami FL¹⁹ @ Florida | 3:30pm

The storied rivalry between Miami and Florida reignites on Saturday, with both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing 2023 seasons.

• Moneyline: Miami -142 / Florida +120

• Line: Miami -2.5

• O/U: 54

Miami's defense, led by Lance Guidry, is formidable, ranking 11th in rushing yards allowed and 20th in tackles for loss last season.

However, Florida's seasoned QB Graham Mertz, who completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns, could exploit Miami's secondary.

The Gators' ground game, featuring top rushers, will be key.

• If they establish the run, it opens up play-action opportunities for Mertz.

Mertz excels in quick reads and short-to-intermediate passes, making it difficult for Miami's defense to force mistakes.

Florida's narrow losses last season have made them battle-hardened - with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove, the Gators are primed to surprise.

Keep an eye on Florida to cover the spread and maybe even snag a win.

• Florida ML [+125, BetMGM]

Notre Dame⁷ @ Texas A&M²⁰ | 7:30pm

 This game is packed with juicy narratives and high stakes, making it a must-watch (and bet) for sports bettors.

• Moneyline: Texas A&M -142 / ND +120

• Line: A&M -2.5

• O/U: 46.5

Notre Dame enters the season with a new starting quarterback, a revamped receiving corps, and a piecemeal offensive line.

Facing one of the best defensive lines in the SEC, led by former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko, now head coach at Texas A&M, adds layers of intrigue.

The Irish defense, under Al Golden, is expected to be top-tier, but the offensive line will likely feature a freshman at left tackle, adding to the uncertainty.

Texas A&M, under new offensive coordinator Collin Klein, has several positions still up for grabs, particularly along the offensive line and linebacker.

The Aggies' defense is also expected to be dominant this year, making this a battle of the trenches.

• Both teams have strong running games.

  • Klein's offense ranked 13th in rushing at Kansas State last year.

The game will be played in muggy Texas weather, which could be a factor.

Notre Dame's Riley Leonard has never beaten a top-25 team, and this will be a significant test for him.

With both teams boasting strong defensive fronts and questions on the offensive line, expect a low-scoring affair.

• Under 46.5 [-110 on ESPNBet].

USC²³ @ LSU¹³ | 7:30pm

• Moneyline: LSU - 192 / USC +160

• Line: LSU -4.5

• O/U: 63.5

USC head coach Lincoln Riley has handed over quarterback coaching duties to Luke Huard, allowing Riley to focus more on defense, special teams, and other offensive positions.

This shift could bring a new dynamic to the Trojans, who named Miller Moss as their starting quarterback.

Riley's increased involvement across the board aims to improve USC's complementary football, which faltered in the latter half of the 2022 season.

On the other side, LSU rolls out a new-look offense with Garrett Nussmeier under center, replacing Jayden Daniels.

The Tigers' defense, under new coordinator Blake Baker, has shown significant growth, particularly with linebacker Harold Perkins poised for a breakout season.

LSU's defense will be key in this matchup, especially given USC's offensive firepower.

• LSU hasn't won their season opener since 2019.

USC's improved defense under D'Anton Lynn and Riley's holistic approach make them a formidable opponent.

The Trojans are underdogs at +4.5, a spread they are well-positioned to cover.

Expect a close game with both teams showcasing their new strategies and key players.

With Riley's revamped approach and USC's home-field advantage, the Trojans covering +4.5 looks like a solid bet.

• USC +4.5 [-110 on bet365]

NFL Roster Cutdown and Week 1

Preseason Week 3 wrapped up yesterday, and the countdown (10 days) to the regular season begins!

Week 1 kicks off on September 5 when the Ravens face off against the Chiefs in Arrowhead.

This week, teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

While some teams have already started making cuts, expect a flurry of moves ahead of the deadline.

• Stay up to date on the latest preseason news and roster changes with this live roster tracker from Sporting News.

Current MLB Playoff Picture

Can you believe the first Wild Card game is in 36 days?

American League

National League

Key Matchups This Week

As the MLB regular season winds down, every game counts in the race for the playoffs.

Here are three key series to watch this week that could significantly impact the postseason picture:

Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals

The Astros (70-60) are set to clash with the Kansas City Royals (72-58) in a pivotal series that could shape the playoff landscape for both teams.

• Thursday, August 29th, 8:10pm: B. Singer vs. H. Brown

• Friday, August 30th, 8:10pm: S. Lugo vs. F. Valdez

• Saturday, August 31st, 7:10pm: C. Ragans vs. Y. Kikuchi

• Sunday, September 1st, 2:10pm: M. Lorenzen vs. R. Blanco

The Astros are fighting to solidify their playoff position in the American League, while the Royals are also in the hunt for a postseason spot.

Houston's pitching staff, featuring promising arms like Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, will need to contain Kansas City's balanced offense.

• Bobby Witt Jr: .347 AVG^(1st) / 26 HR^(19th) / 93 RBIs^(7th) / 1.007 OPS^(3rd)

Meanwhile, the Royals will rely on their strong rotation, including Brady Singer and Michael Lorenzen, to keep the Astros' hitters in check. This series is crucial for both teams as they look to secure their positions and potentially improve their seeding.

Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins

The Atlanta Braves (70-60) face off against the Minnesota Twins (72-58) in a series that could have significant playoff implications for both teams.

• Monday, August 26th, 7:40pm: M. Fried vs. B. Ober

• Tuesday, August 27th, 7:40pm: S. Schwellenbach vs. S. Richardson

• Wednesday, August 28th, 7:40pm: C. Sale vs. D. Festa

The Braves aim to rebound after a 5-1 loss to the Nationals.

Max Fried, who excels at generating ground balls, will start Monday.

Atlanta's offense needs to improve after scoring no more than four runs in their past seven games.

The Twins lost 3-2 to the Cardinals in their latest game.

Despite injuries, their offense thrives with contributions from Austin Martin and Ryan Jeffers.

Expect Manuel Margot and Max Kepler to start against lefties, replacing Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner.

Orioles vs. Dodgers

The Orioles (76-56) are set to face the Dodgers (78-53) in a high-stakes series that could influence the playoff standings in both leagues.

• Tuesday, August 27th, 10:10pm: C. Kimbrel vs. J. Flaherty

• Wednesday, August 28th, 10:10pm: C. Burnes vs. W. Buehler

• Thursday, August 29th, 10:10pm: C. Povich vs. B. Miller

The Orioles are currently the No. 4 seed in the American League, while the Dodgers hold the top spot in the National League.

This series is crucial for the Orioles as they look to improve their seeding and potentially secure home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Key players like Austin Hays and Anthony Santander need to maintain offensive momentum.

The Orioles' pitching staff must be sharp against a potent Dodgers lineup led by Shohei Ohtani.

The Dodgers will aim to maintain their position as the top seed and continue their strong performance heading into the postseason.

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