2014 College Football Week 1 Florida Atlantic vs. Nebraska Free Pick
By Anthony Rome
LINCOLN, NE (The Spread) – Nebraska will look to continue a successful streak in season openers when it hosts Florida Atlantic at 3:30PM ET today.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, Nebraska is currently a 21.5-point home favorite over Florida Atlantic, while the over/under total is currently sitting at 51 points. The Cornhuskers opened as 24-point favorites but the spread has been bet down, while the total opened at the same number of 51.
The Cornhuskers haven’t lost a season opener since 1985 and will look to run that streak to 29 when they take on the Owls today. Ameer Abdullah returns as the linchpin of Nebraska’s offense after leading the Big Ten with 1,690 rushing yards a season ago. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. also returns to the Huskers’ backfield after leading the team to a 7-1 record following the season-ending injury to Taylor Martinez.
The Owns, meanwhile, will look hope to pick up where they left off a year ago. Conference USA Newcomer of the Year Jaquez Johnson led Florida Atlantic to an impressive run to close out the 2013 season, posting an average of 37.8 points per game in the team’s final four contests. All told, the Owls return five starters on offense and six on defense, including linebacker Andrae Kirk, safety Damian Parms and cornerback D’Joun Smith.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL FREE PICK: Take Florida Atlantic. According to latest college football trends, the Owls are 12-1 against the spread in their last 13 road games, 11-3 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games and 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games overall. The Cornhuskers, meanwhile, are 1-4 against the number in their last five games on fieldturf.
2014 COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 FREE PICK: FLORDIA ATLANTIC +21.5