Week 0 of the 2022-23 NCAAF regular season has concluded, and this Saturday marks the first full-blown weekend of college football action. Schedule makers have given fans and gamblers something to salivate over at this early juncture in the season, with two top-eleven matchups going down this Saturday.
The first clash of NCAAF juggernauts occurs this Saturday at 3:30 PM when the Pac-12’s Oregon Ducks travel to play the SEC’s Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
Oregon Ducks (#11) @ Georgia Bulldogs (#3)
- Point Spread: Oregon +17.0, Georgia -17.0
- Moneyline: Oregon +550, Georgia -850
- Over/Under: 53.0
The above odds for betting on college football suggest that the Bulldogs will blow out the Ducks by at least 17 points. Georgia is expected to be one of the final four teams competing for a CFP National Championship next January, so it is no surprise to see them favored against anyone at home.
What’s peculiar is that they are favored by so much to a team ranked 11th overall. That’s simply a sign of the dominance of the Southeastern Conference and the college football programs contained therein.
The odds for betting on the CFP are always littered with SEC schools at the top, and for good reason. They perform well when traveling outside the conference and seem to send two teams to the College Football Playoffs most seasons.
At 7:30 PM, the 5th ranked Fighting Irish head into Ohio Stadium in hopes of stealing an early win against the Buckeyes in their house.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (#5) @ Ohio State Buckeyes (#2)
- Point Spread: Notre Dame +17.0, Ohio State -17.0
- Moneyline: Notre Dame +525, Ohio State -800
- Over/Under: 59.5
Once again, the higher-ranked team (Ohio State) is projected to win by 17 points or more. The Buckeyes are routine qualifiers for the CFP, and this game will have huge implications for betting on the NCAAF National Championship.
While OSU did drop last season’s Big Ten Championship to their rival, the Michigan Wolverines, they’re expected to regain their dominant position nationally and win the conference this year.
Notre Dame football is once again operating independently outside of any major college football grouping. With that in mind, they must perform very well against the Buckeyes or win outright in order to retain their top ten status.
Here is the 2022 Notre Dame football schedule:
- September 3 @ Ohio State
- September 10 vs. Marshall
- September 17 vs. California
- September 24 @ North Carolina
- October 8 vs. BYU
- October 15 vs. Stanford
- October 22 vs. UNLV
- October 29 @ Syracuse
- November 5 vs. Clemson
- November 12 vs. Navy
- November 19 vs. Boston College
- November 26 @ USC
The only remaining team that will likely be among the top ten when Notre Dame plays them is the Clemson Tigers, who are currently #4. If Notre Dame loses to Ohio State this Saturday, their strength of schedule does not allow for them to make up ground by season’s end.
If the Fighting Irish can scrap out a win against the Buckeyes, they’ll have a shot at earning a CFP berth even if they lose to Clemson in November. In fact, if they can earn a W in Ohio this weekend, they can entertain thoughts of running the table.
Sources – Bovada, ESPN