“Picks With Nick” CFB selections ATS Week 1
Selections (for entertainment purposes only) for Ohio State-Indiana, Florida-Michigan and Florida State-Alabama included
By: Nick Camino
Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
CLEVELAND – The soft opening for college football’s “Week Zero” is officially in the books and now things are about ramp up for an action-packed opening weekend.
“Picks With Nick” is back as we are selecting games against the spread (ATS) for entertainment purposes only, of course in both college football and the NFL. The picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to last football season, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results weekly with full transparency seeing how we stack up against the Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off a winning first season in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and NFL combined in 2016.
“Picks With Nick” will also feature a radio segment weekly on Newsradio WTAM 1100 discussing our selections.
Below are seven Week 1 college football selections ATS:
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Where: Bloomington, Indiana - Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Ohio State -20.5
Nick’s Pick: Indiana will be fired up as College Gameday makes its first ever trip to Bloomington, but Ohio State is more talented at every position and still has a 31-0 drubbing by Clemson in the College Football Playoff on their minds. New offensive coordinator (former IU coach) Kevin Wilson gets the keys from Urban Meyer and runs it up on his old team. Nick’s Pick is Ohio State -20.5.
Game: Boston College Eagles vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Where: DeKalb, Illinois - Huskie Stadium
Kickoff: 9:30 pm ET
TV: CBSSN
Spread: Boston College -2.5
Nick’s Pick: The first team to 21 points will likely win this game. Steve Addazio’s hard-nosed team thrives in these types of games and even if it looks ugly, the Eagles will gladly take an opening week victory against a former MAC power that has struggled recently. Nick’s Pick is Boston College -2.5.
Game: Maryland Terrapins vs. Texas Longhorns
Where: Austin, Texas – Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: FS1
Spread: Texas -18.5
Nick’s Pick: Tom Herman’s debut as head coach should be an absolute party in Austin Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns have loads of talent on their roster already and will ultimately find a way to win this opener against Maryland. That said, the ‘Terps have recruited well and have athletes on both sides of the football that can play with Texas. Nick’s Pick is Maryland +18.5.
Game: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Where: Charlotte, North Carolina – Bank of America Stadium
Kickoff: 3:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: North Carolina State -4.5
Nick’s Pick: Will Muschamp is quietly rebuilding the Gamecocks football program, but the Wolfpack look to be on the nation’s surprise teams this season and that will be on full display Saturday in Charlotte. Nick’s Pick is NC State -4.5.
Game: Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators
Where: Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Michigan -4
Nick’s Pick: Is the wrong team favored here? Yes, the Gators will be without seven suspended players, but Jim McElwain’s team looks deeper on both sides of the football still. Michigan may find a way to sneak out a Week 1 victory (a field goal), but the talented SEC Gators getting points is juicy. Nick’s Pick is Florida +4.
Game: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State Seminoles
Where: Atlanta, Georgia - Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Alabama -7
Nick’s Pick: Perhaps the best opening week game in college football history. Florida State will be much-improved from a year ago and ‘Bama is reloading with talent setting up a wild showdown. It’s hard to see Alabama losing this game, at the same time it’s unrealistic to think the Seminoles get blown out in this spot. Nick’s Pick is Florida State +7.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 1-2
Record in NFL ATS to date: 0-0
Total record ATS to date: 1-2
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.