?We got a nice, little appetizer in Week 0 with 18 FBS teams in action, but we’ve got some bigger games and a whole lot more of them in Week 1. Early-season matchups are interesting across the board for a variety of reasons, including a lot of matchups between teams that never really play each other. Bigger games on the horizon may cause coaches to go into a shell a little bit, while other times one team just looks a lot more prepared than another.
As I mentioned last week, a certain situation should never be the sole justification for making a bet. It’s just another part of the handicap and something to consider. We’ve got a lot of intriguing spots this week, so let’s survey the card and see what stands out.Virginia Tech Hokies (-8.5, 49.5) at Old Dominion Monarchs, Friday
I will always be intrigued by “Little Brother vs. Big Brother” games in non-conference. That’s especially true when Big Brother is willing to travel. The Hokies head from Blacksburg to Norfolk, a spot where the Monarchs won 49-35 back in 2018. Virginia Tech has held serve in both games at home (2017, 2019). The Hokies are in a state of flux with a new head coach in Brent Pry, while Old Dominion was one of the most improved teams in the country last season after missing all of 2020 due to COVID. This will be a fascinating game and one where I kind of like Little Brother.
Illinois Fighting Illini at Indiana Hoosiers (-3, 46.5), Friday