We survived Week 0. After a solid 2-1 start to our best bets, we turn with wide eyes toward a beautiful full slate of games this weekend. Week One presents a similar challenge. Trying to figure out who’s good, who isn’t, and what lines stand out without having seen the majority of these teams play. For this season, I will be dropping five bets per week. Three of these I’ll write out a nice explanation for and the other two I’ll drop at the bottom and you the reader can use your imagination to decide why I’m picking that. Let’s have us a year, ladies and gents.

West Virginia (+7.5) at. Pitt

7.5 is too big of a spread for the Backyard Brawl. Especially one where Pitt lost its two best players in Kenny Pickett (NFL) and Jordan Addison (USC). Speaking of USC, we’ve got a battle between two former Trojans when Pitt’s new signal caller Kedon Slovis goes up against West Virginia’s JT Daniels. Although we’ve seen Slovis as a starter more recently, he has not impressed much since his big freshman year. Pitt returns a solid chunk of its starters from last year, but the loss of Pickett and Addison will be felt heavily. West Virginia has an inexperienced defense, especially up front, but it will take a stellar outing from Slovis to win this one going away. These teams are too unknown for such a big line in a rivalry game. The Panthers are prone to some stinkers here and there. Country roads, take me home… to the bank, where I belongggg.

South Florida (+12) vs. BYU

I want to preface this by saying I love BYU. At home, at night, where they belong. However, outside of Provo it has been a bit of a struggle for the Cougs lately. BYU failed to cover in each of their last four road games last season. On the other hand, USF hasn’t exactly won a ton lately. However, they have managed to cover a decent bit, including a 5-0 record ATS at home to close out last year. These are two teams that are very similar to last season production wise. In last years meeting, BYU narrowly escaped a bad loss, winning 35-27 at home. With two similar rosters, and USF getting this years meeting at home, I like the Bulls to cover the large number. Furthermore, the Bulls got a big upgrade at QB in Baylor transfer Gerry Bohanon. Horns up, baby!

NC State (-11.5) at. East Carolina

Experience, experience, experience. That’s what NC State boasts on both sides of the ball entering a 2022 season filled with promise. Most importantly, the Wolfpack return stud QB Devin Leary and his 35-5 TD-INT ratio. ECU is an intriguing team, one that can probably make some noise in the AAC this season, but NC State is on a mission to prove they deserve that No. 13 ranking. The last two times these two in-state rivals got together, the Wolfpack came away with a 34-6 win and a 58-3 win. This team is far better than the previous two that played ECU. Take NC State and the points.

Other best bets: ULM-Texas OVER 64.5, Ohio State -17