Sports betting

NCAA college football opening weekend 2009

by Chad Rogers | September 4 2009

The Oregon Ducks and Boise State Broncos were amongst the teams to get the 2009 NCAA college football season off to a start but there is a lot more action on tap for the weekend.

NCAA Lines courtesy SPORTSBETTING.COM

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Always contenders for the national championship, the USC Trojans, who are +500 to take this year's BCS title, open the season against the San Jose State Spartans.

When the pre-eminent team from the Pac-10 goes up against a mid-bottom tier school from the WAC, the line is normally very steep and Saturday's Spartans-Trojans tilt is no exception—earlier in the week USC was listed as high as a 34.5-point home fave and currently is -33.

There will be some that are expecting the Trojans to cover 33-points and then some but there are some reasons why USC's first game of 2009 could end in an ATS loss.

The Trojans have graduated a number of notable QBs to the pros with Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and maybe even Mark Sanchez coming to mind.

True freshman Palmer was named starting QB nine games in to his tenure at USC; Leinart won the starting job in sophomore year and Sanchez split starting duties with John David Booty before being named primary starter last season.

There will be no clipboard carrying or learning period for USC's 2009 starting QB, true freshman Matt Barkley, who will lineup behind center starting in Game 1.

Is it fair for to expect a kid straight out of high school to lead the Trojans to a 33-point victory even if it is against San Jose State?

Junior WR Ronald Johnson, who caught 8 TDs last year and was expected to be one of Barkley's primary targets, broke his collarbone during a scrimmage, meaning Barkley will have one less target to throw to.

Head coach Pete Carroll referred to Johnson's injury as a "crusher."

It's entirely possible that the Trojans could win their opener against the Spartans but with an inexperienced starting QB and one of its top receivers out, is it realistic to expect USC to cover at -32?

USC has gone 11-0 SU in its last 11 home games or when designated as the home team.

In San Jose State's last 11 road games they have a record of 2 Overs and 9 Unders.

NCAA Picks: Small lean to the underdog in this one.

You can wager on this game at SPORTSBETTING.COM

In a recent ESPN Magazine survey, the Ohio State Buckeyes were voted the most overrated college football program.

If you look at last year's results, there is evidence to suggest it's true.

Ranked No. 2 in the 2008 AP preseason poll, Ohio State was able to defeat lesser teams in the first two weeks of last season but when it faced its first real test in Week 3, a game against the then No. 1 Trojans in USC, it lost 35-3.

When it faced conference rival and then No. 3 Penn State in late-October, the 1.5-point underdog Buckeyes again lost 13-6.

After getting an invite to the Fiesta Bowl, 9.5-point underdog OSU was able to cover against the No. 3 Texas but ultimately lost 24-21.

While the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes are listed as 21.5-point home favorites for their first game of the 2009 college football season, their home opener against Navy might not be a cake walk.

"Ohio State players probably have never faced a team like Navy," says cantonrep.com.

"The Midshipmen will bring in Mid-American Conference-type athletes, but they're also bringing in players with the kind of determination and will that no one else on the Buckeyes' schedule can match."

"Navy has 13 wins over BCS opponents since 2003, tied with Utah for the most by a non-BCS team."

More importantly, the Midshipmen have thrived when listed as an underdog of 9-points and above, going14-6 ATS in that situation.

The Buckeyes have failed to cover the spread in their last five consecutive games in the month of September.

NCAA Picks: Small lean to the underdog in this one.

The NCAA football season has officially kicked off. Enjoy all the action and good luck with your NCAA picks this week.