College Football First Weekend Odds Preview

College football is back this weekend with a small slate of four games to bet on.

First up is a Big Ten matchup between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Illinois Fighting Illini. At Bovada Sportsbook, the Cornhuskers are 7-point road favorites.

Last season Nebraska was 3-5 straight up and 4-4 against the spread. The Cornhuskers were also a strong UNDER play for totals bettors at 6-1-1 UNDER. As a road favorite, the Huskers are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight.

Illinois was a disappointing 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS last season. The Illini finished the season with three straight losses SU and ATS. At home, they are 1-7 SU and 4-4 ATS in their last eight.

Last season Illinois upset Nebraska 41-23 as a 16.5-point road underdog. Before that loss, Nebraska had won four straight against Illinois while going 2-2 ATS.

Huskies make return as huge road underdog to Bulldogs

Also on the schedule this weekend is the return of the Connecticut Huskies, who visit the Fresno State Bulldogs as a 27.5-point underdog.

Connecticut did not play last season due to the pandemic. Two seasons ago in 2019, the Huskies were 2-10 SU and 5-7 ATS. On the road, they are a lousy 1-12 SU and 6-7 ATS in their last 13 games.

Fresno State was 3-3 SU and ATS last season. At home, the Bulldogs have been a money-loser for bettors at 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine. When favored by 27-plus points, the Bulldogs are 18-0 SU and 11-7 ATS in their last 18.

Bruins have been money-losing bet as home favorite

Out west this weekend, the UCLA Bruins host the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors as an 18-point home favorite.

The Bruins were 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS last season. In their last 10 overall, they’re 3-6-1 ATS. UCLA has been a bit of a dud as a home favorite at 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS in their last seven.

Hawaii was 5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS last season. The Warriors were a solid UNDER play last season at 7-2 UNDER. In the last four road games, Hawaii is 1-3 SU and ATS.

In the last meeting between the Bruins and Warriors in 2017, UCLA won 56-23 as a 24-point home favorite.

Miners have covered spread in 6 of last 12 on road

The last game on the schedule this weekend is the UTEP Miners at the New Mexico State Aggies as a 10-point road favorite.

UTEP was 3-5 SU and 5-3 ATS last season. The Miners head into this week on a four-game losing streak during which they are 3-1 ATS. On the road, they are 1-11 SU and 6-5-1 ATS in their last 12.

The Aggies played only two games last season, going 1-1 SU and ATS. In their last 16 games, they’re 3-13 SU and 6-9-1 ATS, while as a home underdog they’re 1-10 SU and 4-7 ATS in their last 11.

The last time UTEP and New Mexico State met up in 2019, the Aggies won 44-35 as a 1-point favorite. The Aggies have won three straight against the Miners both SU and ATS.