Tucker Gleason is not intimidated by playing the SEC After a great appetizer week 0 we get to the main course! Plenty of great games on tap including Texas @ Ohio State – a rematch from last years semifinal), Clemson hosts LSU (Tigers vs Tigers and both play in stadiums nicknamed Death Valley, I’m so confused) and Miami hosts Notre Dame. And while I’ll be watching all those games here’s the ones I’ll be investing in:
Toledo +10.0 @ Kentucky – One of my favorite betting angles is taking good G5 teams against mediocre P4 teams. Toledo is not just a good G5 team they are among the best and large favorites to win the MAC. In fact, they garnered more votes in the preseason Top 25 poll then Kentucky.
The 2024 Wildcats offense was an unmitigated disaster, finishing 119th in scoring (20.6 PPG) and 114th in total offense. So they hit the portal hard bringing in 6 starters including Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada.
The Rockets are the polar opposite, returning 75% of their offensive production and an established starter in QB Tucker Gleason. He is not intimidated by playing the SEC as he had a 325yard, three TD, 41-17 win over Mississippi State on the road.
On defense, the secondary will be their strength on defense, as they return five staters including all MAC Avery Smith at cornerback.
Toledo is very familiar with Kentucky as they nabbed nabbed former Wildcat players RB Chip Trayanum and DT Cavon Butler.
I’ll take the team with more chemistry and experience beating P$ teams (Toledo beat Pitt last year too) over a team trying to gel with transfers.
Toledo +10.0 @ Kentucky – One of my favorite betting angles is taking good G5 teams against mediocre P4 teams. Toledo is not just a good G5 team they are among the best and large favorites to win the MAC. In fact, they garnered more votes in the preseason Top 25 poll then Kentucky.
The 2024 Wildcats offense was an unmitigated disaster, finishing 119th in scoring (20.6 PPG) and 114th in total offense. So they hit the portal hard bringing in 6 starters including Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada.
The Rockets are the polar opposite, returning 75% of their offensive production and an established starter in QB Tucker Gleason. He is not intimidated by playing the SEC as he had a 325yard, three TD, 41-17 win over Mississippi State on the road.
On defense, the secondary will be their strength on defense, as they return five staters including all MAC Avery Smith at cornerback.
Toledo is very familiar with Kentucky as they nabbed nabbed former Wildcat players RB Chip Trayanum and DT Cavon Butler.
I’ll take the team with more chemistry and experience beating P$ teams (Toledo beat Pitt last year too) over a team trying to gel with transfers.
Moore and Gray will shut down an overrated Beck Notre Dame -2.5 @ Miami (FL) – Notre Dame defense return nearly 2/3 of last year’s production form a unit that ranked 2nd overall. They can get to the QB without over committing while DB’s Leonard Moore and Christian Gray form one of the best secondaries in the land.
Miami grabbed QB Carson Beck out of Georgia but I’ve always thought he was over rated. He’s also coming off ACL surgery and will be hounded all night by the Domers DL.
I know that it’s ND QB CJ Carr’s baptism by fire in what will be an electric raucous crowd at the Hard Rock. It may get a little ugly at first for ND but the Domer defense will take over, (they were 1st over all in forcing turnovers), Carr will settle down and Notre Dame will cruise to a win.
And jst to have rooting interest is a couple big games I’ll do a money line parlay with.
Bama over Florida State + Clemson over LSU (-128) – Bama was I n contention for a playoff spot last year until a Thanksgiving weekend gaffe against Oklahoma. Going 9-3 is considered a disappointment in Tuscaloosa. But the biggest disappointment for the 2024 season was FSU going from a preseason favorite to make the CFP to finishing 2-10
Miami grabbed QB Carson Beck out of Georgia but I’ve always thought he was over rated. He’s also coming off ACL surgery and will be hounded all night by the Domers DL.
I know that it’s ND QB CJ Carr’s baptism by fire in what will be an electric raucous crowd at the Hard Rock. It may get a little ugly at first for ND but the Domer defense will take over, (they were 1st over all in forcing turnovers), Carr will settle down and Notre Dame will cruise to a win.
And jst to have rooting interest is a couple big games I’ll do a money line parlay with.
Bama over Florida State + Clemson over LSU (-128) – Bama was I n contention for a playoff spot last year until a Thanksgiving weekend gaffe against Oklahoma. Going 9-3 is considered a disappointment in Tuscaloosa. But the biggest disappointment for the 2024 season was FSU going from a preseason favorite to make the CFP to finishing 2-10
You may want to shut that piue hole Tommy So the Noles hit the portal hard and brought in QB Tommy Castellanos. Bad move as Castellanos proceeded to open up his pie hole an diss Bama saying “They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me” later saying saying that the Seminoles' defense is the hardest defense he'll face all season.
Trust me, Bama has the defense to stop that knuckle head. Their response “all disrespect will be addressed accordingly. Just what FSU offense needs – a pissed off Bama defense.
The LSU defense continues to give up explosive plays. They hot the portal hard in order to improve the secondary but can they communicate in what will be an deafening Death Valley. Maybe, but poor tackling by LSU will remain a problem.
Clemson returns 135 starts returning to the offensive line and should be one of the best offenses in the nation. LSU will be rotating eight players may rotate on the offensive line with minimal starting experience.
I’ll take Swinney over Kelley in one of the biggest games of the weekend
And for all the games, spreads, picks and much much more here is the 2025 Week 1 Bettors Guide
Trust me, Bama has the defense to stop that knuckle head. Their response “all disrespect will be addressed accordingly. Just what FSU offense needs – a pissed off Bama defense.
The LSU defense continues to give up explosive plays. They hot the portal hard in order to improve the secondary but can they communicate in what will be an deafening Death Valley. Maybe, but poor tackling by LSU will remain a problem.
Clemson returns 135 starts returning to the offensive line and should be one of the best offenses in the nation. LSU will be rotating eight players may rotate on the offensive line with minimal starting experience.
I’ll take Swinney over Kelley in one of the biggest games of the weekend
And for all the games, spreads, picks and much much more here is the 2025 Week 1 Bettors Guide
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