NCAA College Football Week 1 Betting Odds

College Football Week 1

The 2007 College Football season kicks off Aug. 30, but for those football bettors who just can’t wait, Bodog.com has posted odds for the full slate of games scheduled for Week 1.

Bet NCAA Football at Bodog.com, which has the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as 3-point favorites over the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets on Sept. 1, one of many marquee games in the first week of NCAA Football action.

Notre Dame (10-3 last season) is hoping to take the next step toward becoming a national title-level team under head coach Charlie Weis, who in his two years as bench boss has restored respectability to a traditionally powerful football program that was mired in mediocrity when he took over.

But the Fighting Irish will have their work cut out for them this year, as they have lost a slew of key starters to graduation.

The team goes into the 2007 season without star QB Brady Quinn, as well as Jeff Samardzija, Rhema McKnight, Darius Walker, and most of the defensive front seven. To compensate for the losses, Notre Dame recruited aggressively during the off-season. The result is a rapidly improving talent pool, but one that is not quite deep enough to take the team to the BCS Championship Game.

On offense, Brady’s replacement is still not firm, as Jimmy Clausen, Demetrius Jones, Evan Sharpley are all in contention. The O-line will need to improve after allowing 31 sacks last season. The Fighting Irish will also have new starting receivers and a new starting tailback.

On defense, with big losses at end, the unit will switch to a 3-4 under new coordinator Corwin Brown, meaning more pressure from the outside linebackers. The secondary, however, continues to be a concern and is probably the team’s weakest point.

Notre Dame’s schedule is tough early, but very winnable later in the season. They will want to come out strong against the Yellowjackets ,as they follow that game with trips to Penn State and Michigan.

The Yellowjackets (9-5 overall last season, 7-2 ACC) lost four-year starting QB Reggie Ball and WR Calvin Johnson and will have Taylor Bennett as their starting pivot. Last year’s ACC rushing champ Tashard Choice returns in the backfield. The departure of Johnson has left the WR unit a bit weak, with James Johnson the only returnee with solid game experience.

Georgia Tech’s defense is loaded, with eight starters are back, anchored by a powerhouse defensive line. The D has lost just two impact players from last year’s unit. Look for the unit to challenge Virginia Tech for best defense in the ACC.

To view all of Bodog.com’s Week 1 College Football Odds click here!