College football odds: Bet on Nebraska, other Week 0 best bets

By Geoff Schwartz
FOX Sports activities NFL Analyst

Right here we go. The day we followers and bettors have been ready for has lastly come. The beginning of faculty soccer is right here!

This primary weekend of faculty ball is Week 0, however do not let the zero trick you into considering these video games will likely be losers. These matchups is not going to solely be entertaining, however I am even choosing one in every of them to go over the 50-point-total mark.

Will this be the yr Nebraska lastly lives as much as the hype from previous years? Can Vanderbilt begin the season off with a giant win over Hawaii’s Rainbow Warriors and show they’re worthy of being part of the SEC?

Let’s dive into my finest bets for Week 0 of the 2022 faculty soccer season, with all odds via FOX Bet.

Northwestern vs Nebraska (12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX)

The primary recreation of the school soccer season is a Massive Ten matchup in Dublin, Eire! This one is between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. And on this matchup, I’m rolling with the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska ought to have a breakout season in Scott Frost’s fourth yr as head coach. The Cornhuskers went 3-9 final season, and all these losses have been by single digits. In one in every of their losses, they’d a 94% win expectancy. However within the different three losses, their win expectancy was between 47-49%. Basically, they have been a a lot better soccer crew than their document indicated. 

Nebraska introduced in new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple who led the College of Pittsburgh to new offensive heights in three seasons with the Panthers. Nebraska’s offense is led by Texas switch Casey Thompson at quarterback, however they’ve a shaky offensive line that lacks expertise. That inexperience may very well be a detriment to an offense that really does have expertise at talent positions.

On this Week 0 matchup, nevertheless, Nebraska’s offense is dealing with a Northwestern protection that’s dreadful. Northwestern allowed over 30 factors a recreation final season. I’m undecided why this season can be any totally different. 

When Northwestern has the ball, don’t count on any fireworks. With three totally different quarterbacks getting the majority of the throws, the Wildcats’ offense ranked a hundred and twentieth in yards per drive and 102 in explosive play price final season. The presumed 2022 starter, Ryan Hillinski, threw for slightly below 1,000 yards, accomplished 54% of his passes and had an adjusted air-yards per try at simply above 4. Yikes. 

The Nebraska protection was glorious at stopping explosive performs and retaining groups from scoring. I believe Northwestern could have a tricky time scoring on this recreation.

I’ll take Nebraska and lay the factors.

PICK: Nebraska (-13.5 at FOX Bet) to win by more than 13.5 points

Vanderbilt @ Hawaii (10:30 p.m. ET Saturday, CBSSN)

I used to be tempted to take the Rainbow Warriors with the factors as Vanderbilt laying eight on the street is preposterous. As a substitute, I’ll take the over and count on fireworks on offense. 

Hawaii went by an offseason upheaval. The Rainbow Warriors had a coach get fired, they usually had a number of gamers with expertise bolt. However now it looks like they’re hitting the reset button. Hawaii legend Tommy Chang returns to the island as the pinnacle coach, and I count on the uptempo, run-and-shoot offense to maneuver the ball properly towards Vandy’s protection.

Final season, Hawaii’s protection allowed a ton of yards and factors. They misplaced 10 gamers off that unit which, contemplating how dangerous they have been, would possibly truly be an excellent factor. Nonetheless, Hawaii continues to be a younger crew dealing with an SEC opponent that has enormous our bodies upfront. 

The Commodores of Vanderbilt ought to be capable to run the ball till their coronary heart’s content material. I predict a back-and-forth recreation with tons of factors!

PICK: Over 53.5 points scored by both teams combined at FOX Bet

Wyoming @ Illinois (4 p.m. ET Saturday, Massive Ten Community)

Wyoming was crushed within the switch portal, dropping their finest gamers on each side of the ball. This isn’t nice for a crew that gained 4 video games in 2021 and had bother executing the fundamentals. 

On the opposite aspect is Illinois. The Preventing Illini didn’t have an efficient offense final yr. They have been close to the underside of the game in scoring and passing yards. Nonetheless, they can run the ball, and I might count on extra of that with new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. who was with Bret Bielema in Arkansas. 

The Cowboys of Wyoming do not have the horses they should compete for 60 minutes on this recreation as Illinois will cease them from scoring (twenty fifth in defensive factors per drive final season) and can simply put on down the Wyoming protection within the second half. 

PICK: Illinois (-11 at FOX Bet) to win by more than 11 points

Geoff Schwartz performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 totally different groups. He began at proper deal with for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior yr. He’s an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz

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