College football odds Week 1: How to bet Oregon-Georgia
The national champion Georgia Bulldogs have a date with the Oregon Ducks for an exciting Week 1 matchup that begins their 2022 college football season.
The Chick-Fil-A kickoff is a neutral-site contest between two Top 25 squads that will be played at the Mercedes Benz Dome in Atlanta. But Georgia is famously known for traveling well, and considering ATL is about 60 miles from the Dawgs' home of Athens, expect the Benz to be painted red and black. On the other hand, Oregon's quack attack should not be underestimated.
Here's everything you need from a betting perspective on the game between Georgia and Oregon from the point spread, moneyline, total over/under and expert pick (odds via FOX Bet).
No. 12 Oregon vs No. 3 Georgia (3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC)
Point spread: Georgia - 17 (Georgia favored to win by more than 17 points, otherwise Oregon covers)
Moneyline: Georgia -769 favorite to win (bet $10 to win $11.30 total); Oregon +600 underdog to win (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Total scoring over/under: 53.5 points scored by both teams combined
The No. 3-ranked University of Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a championship season where they defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. The win secured Georgia's first College Football Playoff title and its first national championship since 1980.
Georgia's elite defense in 2021 was touted as one of the best in college football ever, giving up an average of just 8.8 points per game. The unit did lose notable players like Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean to the NFL Draft earlier this year.
The Dawgs are coached by former UGA defensive back Kirby Smart, who's in his seventh season as head coach in the Classic City. Starting at quarterback is Stetson Bennett, the former walk-on who beat out JT Daniels for the position last season before helping lead the Dawgs to their CFP win.
But speaking of CFP wins, Oregon's new head coach Dan Lanning also has a couple of titles on his resume. Last year, Lanning was the Dawgs' defensive coordinator. And in 2015, Lanning was a graduate assistant on the Alabama team that won it all that year.
Will Dan's underdog Ducks get a win this weekend? According to FOX Sports Research, since 2002, the Ducks are 4-3 straight up (SU) when facing SEC opponents. From a betting perspective, Oregon went 5-9 against the spread (ATS) and 10-4 SU last season.
Pick via FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre:
"When the Ducks were getting +17.5, this was my favorite play of the weekend. Sure, Oregon has a new head coach, new offensive coordinator and a new QB in Bo Nix from Auburn, but the defending National Champions lost five defensive players to the first round of the draft!
"Even though Georgia simply reloads with four- and five-star recruits, the point spread here is the great equalizer. Nix won’t be daunted playing in SEC country. But most of all, new Oregon coach Dan Lanning was the Georgia defensive coordinator and is intimately familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the roster. He has seen Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in practice for the last three years.
"Oregon’s front seven — which will be among the best in the country — should fare well against the Bulldogs offense. This feels like a low-scoring game that could be played deep into the 4th quarter if Nix can avoid turnovers.
"Still love it 17."
PICK: Oregon (+17 at FOX Bet) to lose by fewer than 17 points (or win outright)
If you're ready to bet on the Dawgs' and Ducks' Week 1 thriller, head over to FOX Bet to get in on the action now!
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