SEC Best Bets: Week 1 of the 2024 College Football Season

The college football season gets underway with Week 1 action in the SEC. The SEC has plenty of contenders looking to make their mark for a national championship in 2024, highlighted by Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. The journey for these powerhouse programs begins in Week 1.

We’ll highlight our weekly SEC best bets below and keep track of our betting record throughout the season. Good luck!

Season Record: 0-0-0 

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SEC Play (1 Unit)

No. 14 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs

Spread: Tigers +13.5 (-106) | Bulldogs -13.5 (-114)
Moneyline: Tigers +430 | Bulldogs -600
Total: OVER 48.5 (-114) | Under 48.5 (-106)

One of the top matchups in Week 1 will feature No. 1 Georgia taking on No. 14 Clemson. The Bulldogs will return strong Heisman candidate quarterback Carson Beck, who leads the offense into Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Bulldogs enter this matchup as a nearly two-touchdown favorite, and that line has held relatively stable since it opened. The Tigers and Bulldogs combine for four of the last eight national championships. It will likely take some time for both offenses to get into a rhythm, which makes us more content looking toward the side with better defense from a talent and execution standpoint. That’s the Bulldogs here, no questions asked. The 2021 matchup between these teams was a tight, low-scoring affair. We won’t be surprised if it ends up low-scoring, but the Bulldogs have enough weapons on both sides of the football team to cover this number behind a strong coaching performance from Kirby Smart. 

Recommended Play: Bulldogs -13.5 (-114) 

Bigger SEC Play (2 Units)

No. 19 Miami (FL) vs. Florida 

Spread: Hurricanes -2.5 (-115) | Gators +2.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Hurricanes -140 | Gators +114
Total: OVER 54.5 (-105) | Under 54.5 (-115)

Week 1 action will see Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes visit Billy Napier and the Gators. The Gators looked to improve their defense this offseason, and although we’re bullish on that transpiring, they’ll have a tough Week 1 task against Heisman candidate Cam Ward. On the Gators’ end, they’ll return Graham Mertz for one final go at quarterback in the SEC. I think Ward and Mertz will be able to succeed in this matchup, which has led the total to rise from 53.5 to 54.5. It will be hard for these defenses to limit the scoring in this matchup, which should create a high-paced, high-scoring atmosphere. We’ll look toward plenty of points being scored and also for the home side to cover the number and keep this tight. 

Recommended Plays: OVER 54.5, Gators +2.5 (-105)

Biggest SEC Play (3 Units)

Colorado State vs. No.4 Texas 

Spread: Rams +31.5 (-109) | Longhorns -31.5 (-112)
Moneyline: Rams +2500 | Longhorns -10000
Total: OVER 59.5 (-115) | Under 59.5 (-105)

If the Colorado State Rams want to pull a Week 1 stunner in Texas, they’ll need returning quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to utilize his strong playmaking skills and limit the turnovers. We’re not counting on the latter. There’s some potential that, with some roster turnover on both sides of the football, the Longhorns struggle out the gate. With Quinn Ewers looking to cement his legacy as a Longhorn this year, we’re banking on a smooth transition for the offense. The Longhorns’ solid offensive line will give Ewers plenty of time in the pocket to make plays. That doesn’t even factor in what should be a solid run game for Texas. The Rams’ defensive line won’t be able to keep up with the task, and the Longhorns’ offense will ultimately make them look like Swiss cheese. It will be a long day for their program if the Rams can’t find ways into the endzone. 

Recommended Play: Longhorns -31.5, play to -32

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