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NCAA Football Bets: LSU-USC Tops Week 1 High-Scoring Picks
- Despite the loss of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, the season opener between LSU and USC has the potential to be among the highest scoring games in Week 1 of the college football season.
- Oklahoma and Ohio State could put up huge numbers when facing teams from Group of Five conferences. Check out the lines at the BetUS Sportsbook.
- Here’s a look at four games that could see the scoreboard operator struggling to keep up.
The start of the 2024 college football season is just over a month away. It wouldn’t be Week 1 of the college football season with championship contenders scheduling easy wins before more challenging games await. As always there is the potential for some high-scoring games in Week 1.
Let’s look at some games that could have some offensive fireworks as the college football odds with 17 games in Week 1 currently having totals of 55 or higher.
We’re going to focus on the games involving teams from the power conferences as the ones that could go over the total and vie for the honor of being the top-scoring games in the first week of the college football season.
4 Games Where Defense Might Be Optional
1. LSU at Southern California, Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m. ET
If only this was the 2023 season opener as it would have featured the reigning Heisman Trophy (USC quarterback Caleb Williams) and his successor (LSU’s Jayden Daniels).
Even after Williams and Daniels were the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the total is set at 62½ and despite seeing some key offensive players head off to the NFL, it would not be a surprise to see this high-profile game go over that number. Don’t be surprised to see those looking at high-scoring games early in the 2024 season to jump all over this matchup.
The quarterback matchup between Garrett Nussmeier of LSU and Will Howard of USC doesn’t have the buzz that a showdown between Daniels and Williams would have brought but for those who love seeing the ball being thrown down the field, might want to check out this matchup. Both QBs are showing up in the Heisman Trophy odds and this game could help their Heisman chances.
Among SEC teams, only Vanderbilt allowed more yards and more points per game last season than LSU. USC was 10th out of 12 teams in the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense.
LSU and USC were among the bottom 10 teams from the Power-5 conferences last season and both enter the 2024 season with more questions than answers on the defensive side of the ball.
When looking at the college football trends, no FBS team saw more games land over the total than LSU during the 2023 season.
2. Temple at Oklahoma, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. ET
It is a new set of challenges for Oklahoma as the Sooners move from the Big 12 to the SEC. The first game as an SEC member should be no problem with Oklahoma facing a Temple team that allowed 460 yards per game against FBS teams a season ago.
With the transfer of Dillon Gabriel, the keys of the Oklahoma offense are being turned over to Jackson Arnold. Arnold had three interceptions but also passed for 361 yards in a bowl loss to a nationally ranked Arizona team.
Fall camp is around the corner, so it’s time to start rolling out the 2024 Oklahoma position-by-position previews.
Up first: Quarterback
Jackson Arnold takes over as QB1 as the #Sooners enter the SEC, with the position in arguably its best shape in years https://t.co/YsUDTJLtXW pic.twitter.com/QCiOopUQ53
— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) July 22, 2024
Oklahoma added five offensive linemen through the transfer portal as the Sooners figure to have an explosive offense in 2024. It should start in the season opener against Temple. The total is 60.
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3. Akron at Ohio State, Aug. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
The good news is Akron is getting a hefty payday to face Ohio State. It won’t be a fun day at the office as the Buckeyes could have one of the best offenses in the country even if star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is now with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
The starting quarterback competition is still underway at Ohio State.
Akron allowed 63 points the last time it faced a ranked team. It will not be a surprise to see the Buckeyes approach that number in the season opener.
When the teams met in the 2011 season opener, Ohio State won 42-0. A similar margin of victory is a definite possibility. The total is offered at 58½.
4. North Carolina at Minnesota, Aug. 29, 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota was 10th in the Big Ten in scoring defense last season and no Big Ten team allowed more plays from scrimmage of at least 40 yards than the Gophers.
Minnesota brings back starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and top receiver Daniel Jackson while North Carolina is eager to prove that there is life even after quarterback Drake Maye headed off to the NFL.
Minnesota WR Daniel Jackson is an under-discussed #2025NFLDraft prospect. Going through his film there are good qualities that will translate to the NFL.
Full report coming soon. pic.twitter.com/xIE69erwHn
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) June 20, 2024
When considering the high-scoring games in Week 1, it is worth considering that six of Minnesota’s 2023 games went over 50 points. Nine of North Carolina’s games had at least 50 points so it won’t be a surprise to see the matchup between North Carolina and Minnesota will head over the 50½-point total set by the BetUS sportsbook.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
Questions Of The Day
Which teams had the most games land over the total during the 2023 college football season?
LSU had 12 of its 13 games go over the total followed by Memphis with 11 of 13 games going over.
Which Week 1 game has the highest total?
The North Texas-South Alabama game on Aug. 31 has a total of 65½.
