College Football Week 0/Futures – Return of the Tickets
Final 2023 Premium Plays Record: 48-23-2 (+43 units)
Final 2023 Leans Overall Record: 28-29-2 (-0.5 units)
Final Combined Overall Record: 76 – 52-4 (+42.5 units)
2023 Summary: I didn’t get a chance to take a victory lap after a close to 70% Premium Play hit record in 2023 (pull the receipts)so here we are. Honestly never seen anything like it, just spiking 3 unit plays left and right. Multiple clean sweep weekends on the back of Northwestern, Kansas, and Florida State. Unbelievable run we are going to look to replicate this season. Let’s get right in to it. Similar to last year…sniper not shotgun.
Futures:
Florida State to win ACC +260 (10 units): This is a team that single-handedly put food on our table in 2023. Despite massive roster turnover, 55% of production is returning mainly on the OLine and defensive secondary. With the addition of some key transfers on both sides of the ball, this Florida State team looks to replicate their success from a year ago. The newcomers on the offensive side of the ball have put the Seminoles in a position to make the same sweet music as last year all while singing a different tune. This is going to be a run heavy offense drawing the defense in with a the ability to get to the edge or go over the top. The stable of running backs is highlighted by work horse Alabama transfer Roydell Williams who will have support from the do-it-all 5th year RB Lawrence Toafili. The key to this running game is speed around the edges with Indiana transfer Jaylin Lucas who will give this offense a spark plug for Mike Norvell to utilize. Then we send 255lb Big Uce, DJ Uiagalelei, on a him draw up broadway. It’s may not be pretty but the defense will keep us in games and offensive scheme savant Mike Norvell will give us enough to win. Expecting a 10-2 season with losses at Notre Dame and potentially stubbing our toe along the way.
Utah Utes to win Big 12 +300 (7 units): All Rise. Cameron Rising with his swan song 6th year looks to bounce back from a year sidelined with a leg injury. This is an offense that will have significantly better depth at RB with the imminent coming out party of junior Jaylon Glover looming. Similarly, Wittinghambrings in some shiny new toys for Rising to throw to with the addition of USC transfer Dorian Singer who amassed over 1100 yards in 2022. They also add highly sought after TE Carsen Ryan and an additional WR Damien Alford. Defense will again look to be a top 10 unit in college football with a defense anchored by an elite defensive line and veteran linebacker corp. This is not necessarily a bet dubbing the Utah Utes as a national title contenders but it is certainly a bet against the rest of the B12. Utah will be in the B12 championship game and will be the favorite. On sale now at +300.
LSU Tigers to miss the playoffs -150 (10 units): Despite a palatable SEC schedule, I am eating the juice and taking Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers to miss the playoffs this year. Offense and defense lose 6 starters a piece which honestly might be a good thing on the defensive side of the ball. Offense is going to struggle to sniff the production of 2023 with the departure of Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas, and Jayden Daniels. They willhave a young wide receiver corp with the ball being delivered by Garret Nussmeier who is a huge question mark. Even if the defense makes massive improvements with their lack luster transfer portal haul, where does that leave us? Top 15…. In the SEC? LSU’s schedule is favorable but they still have to play Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Bama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. I’m going to take a stab and say Garrett Nussmeier isn’t leading this team to the SEC championship game so we are talking about the 3rd best SEC team AT BEST. I’ll take Ole Miss, Texas, Bama, and UGA all over LSU. SEC bias as real but Paul Finebaum , ESPN, and the crooked playoff committee will find their nut elsewhere.
Week 0 Premium Plays:
Georgia Tech 1H +6.5 (3 units): Disregard the Florida State suck fest above. I am not saying the Noles are dropping this game but am extremely confident the first half stays tight (uncomfortable confident for Week 0). Noles have a new signal caller throwing to a wide receiver corp which is expected to be the achilles heal of this team. We are going to have a rugby scrum on our hands in Ireland for the majority of the first half as both teams (and fans) struggle to wake up for this one. The yellow jackets have a veteran team littered with seniors and super seniors. Tech is lead by former Haynes King who had the team rolling down the stretch finishing 4-1 with close losses to UGA and Clemson. FSU pulls away late but Tech will be in this one or even in the lead in the first half.
Week 0 Leans (0.5 units each):
SMU -24.5: A Preston Stone led SMU team looks to build on a double digit win season from the year before. This is a team that is among the top in the country in returning production on both sides of the ball facing off against a team that is 4-20 over the course of the last two seasons. PStone and company open it up late.
Feels good to be back. Let’s go.
Cheers,
Billy Tickets
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