College Football Betting Season Kicks Off Thursday Night

Sports Betting News - August 31st, 2009 - Written by Scott

Carolina vs. North Carolina State, Utah vs. Utah State, and Oregon vs. Boise State will headline the kickoff to the 2009 season. With three nationally ranked teams playing, two against each other, Thursday night should provide a great start for the upcoming season.

ACC meets SEC as the South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Raleigh, NC to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack at 7:00 pm at Carter-Finley stadium. The Wolfpack are looking to avenge their last season opening 34-0 loss to the Gamecocks. They will be led by ACC Rookie of the year quarterback Russell Wilson. Depth and defense are the concern for the Wolfpack this year. For the Gamecocks, suspensions will keep three defensive starters from playing which is not good news for them. They will be going with sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia who did see some action last year. Odds makers at Beted.com have North Carolina State as the favorite in this matchup. The Wolfpack are picked to win by 4 1/2 with a payout of -110. The Gamecocks are 4 1/2 point underdogs with a payout of -110. Odds makers have the over/under set at 46.

The 2008 Mountain West Conference champions Utah Utes will play against their state rival Utah State on Thursday night. The Utes, ranked 19th in the AP poll, have won eleven straight over the Aggies and look to make it twelve at home on Thursday. Utah should not have too much of a problem on Thursday as they are getting the BCS attention now that they feel they deserve. They should take advantage of this lesser prominent program, who returns 19 starters, as they look to break in a few new starters and build on their 13-0 season in 2008. Utah comes into the game being the obvious favorites. Odds makers at Beted.com have them as 20 1/2 point favorites with a payout listed at -110. Utah State is being listed as 20 1/2 point underdogs and the payout is -110. The over/under for this game is set at 52.

Thursday night's matchup between 16th ranked Oregon and 14th ranked Boise State will truly be an offensive explosion. This game could have future BCS implications. The Ducks head to Boise State to avenge their last season loss to the Broncos, a game in which Oregon went through three quarterbacks due to injury. It could be another long night for the Ducks if defensive standouts Walter Thurmond and T.J. Ward do not lead the way. The two starting quarterbacks, who were both first year starters a year ago, should be the focal points in this game. Both of these teams finished ranked in the top 11 last year. Oregon comes into the game as a 4 point underdog with a payout of -110 according to Beted.com. Boise State, the 4 point favorite, has a payout of -110. The over/under for this game is 64.

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