
It’s less than 3 weeks to the start of FOOTBALL!!. There’s a smattering of games on August 25 and then the full slate starts the Thursday before Labor Day. I’m planning my watching schedule already.
In order to prepare - here is the full 2018 Bettors Guide. In it are all the 2018 NCAA Div 1A and NFL games, including records against the spread since 2005, scores from last year (revenge games are fun bets) and much much more.
This week, I'm going to make my 2018 Preseason Games of the Year picks. The Westgate came out with spreads for 121 of the best games of the year.
In order to prepare - here is the full 2018 Bettors Guide. In it are all the 2018 NCAA Div 1A and NFL games, including records against the spread since 2005, scores from last year (revenge games are fun bets) and much much more.
This week, I'm going to make my 2018 Preseason Games of the Year picks. The Westgate came out with spreads for 121 of the best games of the year.
Here's the file if you are so inclined.

westgate_preseason_goy_2018.xlsx |
If I were in Vegas before the season started (and let me know if you are headed there) I would look to make the following bets. Nothing like dropping a little coin before the first ball is ever teed up.
First, I'm not making any bets on State. I thought MSU getting 25.5 versus Ohio State before the season was a slam dunk. I even liked it when the spread dropped to 18 on game day. Not even going to talk about what happened. Just glad I didn't Mega Bet it. I've learned my lesson. No bets on State, Nope, not going to do it. Don't care if they are getting points when the play Maryland on the GO JUMBO weekend (well maybe of they are getting points)
That said, I went back and checked. I liked State getting 17.0 preseason versus scUM and 13.0 versus Penn State. That worked out pretty well.... But nope, no bets on the Spartans. Just want to root for the only colors, green and white and not worry about the spread.
I'm not making any picks on Ohio State either until they figure out what to do with Suburban. He said he reported the incidents which meant he knew. Seems pretty easy to check out if he did. And if he did report it then they will need to figure out what to do with the AD.
First, I'm not making any bets on State. I thought MSU getting 25.5 versus Ohio State before the season was a slam dunk. I even liked it when the spread dropped to 18 on game day. Not even going to talk about what happened. Just glad I didn't Mega Bet it. I've learned my lesson. No bets on State, Nope, not going to do it. Don't care if they are getting points when the play Maryland on the GO JUMBO weekend (well maybe of they are getting points)
That said, I went back and checked. I liked State getting 17.0 preseason versus scUM and 13.0 versus Penn State. That worked out pretty well.... But nope, no bets on the Spartans. Just want to root for the only colors, green and white and not worry about the spread.
I'm not making any picks on Ohio State either until they figure out what to do with Suburban. He said he reported the incidents which meant he knew. Seems pretty easy to check out if he did. And if he did report it then they will need to figure out what to do with the AD.

Teams I do like this year are:
South Carolina went 9-4 last year and you didn’t hear a thing about them. This year QB Jake Bentley is going into his third season. He was steady, accurate enough, and now looks ready to take off because his receivers should be stellar. Leading receiver Bryan Edwards is back and best of all, star WR Deebo Samuel is returning. Unstoppable before suffering a leg injury, he a superstar playmaker. And, oh yeah, it’s a Will Muschamp defense which led the SEC in picks last year. The defense will be fine. Expect a lot of close grind it out games.
I’ll take the Cocks when they are getting points in week 2 versus Georgia (14.5), Week 7 vs. Texas A&M (2.5) - Cocks win outright, and week 13 @ Clemson (23.0) .
South Carolina went 9-4 last year and you didn’t hear a thing about them. This year QB Jake Bentley is going into his third season. He was steady, accurate enough, and now looks ready to take off because his receivers should be stellar. Leading receiver Bryan Edwards is back and best of all, star WR Deebo Samuel is returning. Unstoppable before suffering a leg injury, he a superstar playmaker. And, oh yeah, it’s a Will Muschamp defense which led the SEC in picks last year. The defense will be fine. Expect a lot of close grind it out games.
I’ll take the Cocks when they are getting points in week 2 versus Georgia (14.5), Week 7 vs. Texas A&M (2.5) - Cocks win outright, and week 13 @ Clemson (23.0) .

Another team i like is Syracuse, Dino Barber has the team on the right track. They may have been 4-8 last year but they were competitive. They beat Clemson in a huge upset, covered against LSU (35-26) and NC State (33-28) as double digit dogs and lost to FSU 27-24 when All ACC kicker Cole Murphy missed a FG at the buzzer that would have forced OT.
It will all come down to whether star QB Eric Dungey can stay healthy. He was out for the first half against FSU and they got behind. He returned and nearly pulled off the upset. Dungey is one of only 3 active QBs with 5,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing and the only one with 6,000 yards passing. He's a bomber which means the Cuse will always have a chance.
The Orange will go bowling this year so I'll take them getting points in week 3 vs FSU (9.5), week 11 vs a regressing Louisville (2.5) and week 13 @ Boston College (8.5)
It will all come down to whether star QB Eric Dungey can stay healthy. He was out for the first half against FSU and they got behind. He returned and nearly pulled off the upset. Dungey is one of only 3 active QBs with 5,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing and the only one with 6,000 yards passing. He's a bomber which means the Cuse will always have a chance.
The Orange will go bowling this year so I'll take them getting points in week 3 vs FSU (9.5), week 11 vs a regressing Louisville (2.5) and week 13 @ Boston College (8.5)

Stanford returns the games best RB (Bryce Love) best TE (Kaden Smith) a solid QB (KJ Costello), the 4th best OL and a couple outstanding WRs. The Cardinal will put up the points this year.
The defense is a concern though. Last year's 22.7 PPG game was the worst under HC David Shaw and they lost their top seven tacklers. But Shaw is a great coach and will get the defense back to form.
I'll take the Cardinal in a pick 'em game week 4 @ Oregon, giving 3 to an overrated ND on week 5, giving 11.0 to a pathetic Arizona State week 8 and getting 9.5 to PAC 12 North rival Washington week 10 (GO JUMBO!)
The defense is a concern though. Last year's 22.7 PPG game was the worst under HC David Shaw and they lost their top seven tacklers. But Shaw is a great coach and will get the defense back to form.
I'll take the Cardinal in a pick 'em game week 4 @ Oregon, giving 3 to an overrated ND on week 5, giving 11.0 to a pathetic Arizona State week 8 and getting 9.5 to PAC 12 North rival Washington week 10 (GO JUMBO!)

Michigan is overrated as usual. Here's some stats for you Wolvie fans. Forget they are 1-13 against Ohio State and 3-8 versus Dantonio. scUM hasn't beaten a ranked team on the road since 2006 and has never competed in the Big Ten Championship game, in fact has not won the Big Ten since 2004. Chew on that scUM!. I'll fade the skunk bears in week 4 vs Nebraska giving 17.0, and in week 7 giving 3.5 vs Wisconsin.
I'll also take teams catching big points in rivalry games like week 6 Nebraska getting 16.5 @ Wisconsin, week 9 Florida getting 13.5 vs Georgia, week 13 Oregon State getting 20.0 vs Oregon and Georgia Tech getting 19.0 @ Georgia.
Next up is a full review of week 10 - the GO JUMBO weekend
That's Nov 3rd at the Westgate. Better get going on your reservations!
I'll also take teams catching big points in rivalry games like week 6 Nebraska getting 16.5 @ Wisconsin, week 9 Florida getting 13.5 vs Georgia, week 13 Oregon State getting 20.0 vs Oregon and Georgia Tech getting 19.0 @ Georgia.
Next up is a full review of week 10 - the GO JUMBO weekend
That's Nov 3rd at the Westgate. Better get going on your reservations!