Week 1 College Football Picks Against the Spread – September 4th

• Week 1 of 2021 College Football features a loaded slate of games on Saturday, September 4th
• No. 2 Oklahoma opens its season as heavy home favorites against Tulane
• Read below for the best ATS picks for Week 1 of the CFB season

The 2021 College Football season is officially underway, and Week 1 is loaded with marquee matchups. The packed slate on Saturday, September 4th features several games with strong betting value.

Spencer Rattler and Oklahoma kick off their season against Tulane, while Kansas State and Stanford clash at Jerry World in Arlington. Over in the Big Ten, Michael Penix Jr. and Indiana travel to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes.

Here are three ATS picks to consider for Week 1 of College Football.

Oklahoma vs Tulane Odds

All odds as of September 3rd at DraftKings

Sooners Start Big In Norman 

Oklahoma will look to start their season with a bang when they host Tulane in Week 1. The Sooners are a top-five favorite in the National Championship odds after an excellent 2020 campaign that saw them win eight straight games to close out the year. Spencer Rattler is the Heisman favorite after throwing for 3,031 yards and 28 TDS as a freshman.

This game was originally scheduled to be played in New Orleans, but it’s been moved to Norman in wake of Hurricane Ida. The location change has led to the spread moving a few points in OU’s favor, making the Sooners even heavier favorites. It shouldn’t matter much when you look at the talent discrepancy between the two programs.

Spencer Rattler to Joel Klatt. 🗣️

"A successful season for us would just be going out and dominating every game, winning every game, and see where that takes us.

"Hopefully it takes us to the national championship and win that one."

[📽️ via @CFBONFOX]pic.twitter.com/4CrqtSQeSg

— 𝕺𝖐𝖑𝖆𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖆 𝖛𝖘. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 (@soonergridiron) September 2, 2021

The only time Oklahoma and Tulane have played was in 2017 when the Sooners dominated in a 56-14 victory. OU is loaded offensively once again in 2021, returning it’s top three receivers alongside former 1000-yard rusher Kennedy Brooks. The Sooners averaged almost 500 yards of offense per game in 2020 and had the nation’s sixth-ranked scoring offense.

Tulane went 6-6 in the AAC in 2020 and have lost their top two lineman from a mediocre defensive unit. Rattler will have all kinds of time behind OU’s veteran offensive line to pick apart this secondary. The Green Wave rely heavily on their run game, which is going to be a problem against the Sooners’ elite rush defense. Look for Oklahoma to make a statement with a big blowout win in Week 1.

• Pick: Oklahoma -31 (-110)

Indiana vs Iowa Odds

Penix Jr. Lights Up Hawkeyes

If Indiana wants to prove that their truly a legit threat to Ohio State in the Big 10, they’ll need to start their 2021 season with a bang. The Hoosiers, who went 6-2 last season, travel to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in Week 1. Iowa also went 6-2 in 2020 , but have failed to establish themselves as elite contenders in the Big Ten.

There’s plenty of hype surrounding Indiana entering 2021, and it’s warranted when you look at their returning production. The Hoosiers return 17 starters from the team that almost took down Ohio State in 2020, including QB Michael Penix Jr. He’ll be joined by reigning Big Ten Receiver of the Year Ty Fryfogle, who’s racked up 1,325 receiving yards in the past two seasons.

Iowa has an excellent defense almost every year, but there question marks on the defensive line. The Hawkeyes have to replace 2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Daviyon Nixon, All-Big Ten DE Chauncey Golston and DT Jack Heflin. Returning QB Spencer Petras also doesn’t ooze much confidence after completing only 57.1% of his passes one year ago.

This should a very close game between two great defensive teams, so getting more than a field goal with this experienced Indiana squad is a gift.  Look for Penix Jr. to make a few big plays and take advantage of some of Iowa’s inexperience on defense. The Hoosiers have covered the spread in eight straight games as road underdogs and should do it again Saturday.

• Pick: Indiana +4 (-110)

Stanford vs Kansas State Odds

Wildcats Run Over Cardinal

Kansas State will look to start their 2021 season on the right note after underwhelming with a 4-6 record in 2020. The Wildcats return starting QB Skylar Thompson alongside one of college football’s most explosive running backs in Deuce Vaughn. Thompson is back to full health after a season-ending shoulder injury, while Vaughn is primed for a big year after recording over 1,000 yards in 2020.

Kansas State’s advantage of an experienced quarterback is reason to consider laying the points with them in Week 1. Stanford is tasked with replacing starting QB Davis Mills after a 4-2 season in the Pac-12. Senior Jack West and sophomore Tanner McKee have been competing in camp and are expected to rotate snaps in the opener.

With the 67th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Texans select QB Davis Mills, Stanford#NFLDraft2021 pic.twitter.com/xLF6UBRoiT

— PFF (@PFF) May 1, 2021

Not only does Stanford have to replace their quarterback, but they’ve also lost all-conference receiver Simi Fehoko to the NFL. Defensively, the Cardinal lose their leading tackler Curtis Robinson from an already shaky unit. Stanford’s pass rush was fairly non-existent in 2020 and the pass defense managed just two interceptions.

Thompson has started a whopping 30 games at the collegiate level, which is invaluable in a Week 1 season opener. Look for him and Vaughn to have a monster afternoon on the ground against a Stanford rush defense that surrendered 222 yards per game last season.

• Pick: Kansas State -3 (-115)