Best Bets & Advanced Week 1 Insights: Thursday Slate

The 2022 season is here and BetQL is your source for NCAAF best bets, live college football public bets, live NCAAF sharp data, college football line movement and historical betting trends in addition to our NCAAF articles that cover the sport from top to bottom. Scroll down to see all the best bets for Thursday’s top matchups.

BALL STATE AT TENNESSE

2021 Records: Ball State 6-7, Tennessee 7-6

Returning Starters: Ball State 11 (6 Offense, 5 Defense), Tennessee 15 (8 Offense, 7 Defense)

Notable Trend: UT coach Josh Heupel has gone 29-11 against the 1st half spread as a favorite in his career.

Major Storyline: Tennessee coach Josh Heupel instantly made an impact in his first season last year, turning around a program that had underachieved for years and years. Now with quarterback Hendon Hooker (2,945 passing yards, 31 passing TD, 3 INT, 620 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD) and wide receiver Cedric Tillman (64 receptions, 1,081 yards, 12 receiving TD) back, this offense has sky-high potential and should eclipse the 39.3 points per game that it averaged last season. 

SEE: BetQL Projected This Exact Point Total In Week 0

CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT #12 OKLAHOMA STATE

2021 Records: Central Michigan 9-4, Oklahoma State 12-2

Returning Starters: Central Michigan 11 (7 Offense, 4 Defense), Oklahoma State 11 (7 Offense, 7 Defense)

Notable Trends: Under Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State has gone 83-56 ATS as a favorite and 15-5 ATS as a favorite of 21.5 to 31 points; under Jim McElwain, Central Michigan has gone 21-11 ATS. 

Major Storyline: Ex Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason took over as Oklahoma State defensive coordinator. This defense ranked 1st in Division I football in sacks last year, 2nd in tackles for loss, and was the best overall defensive unit in the Big 12 (by a wide margin). The Cowboys are in a prime position to excel on that side of the ball once again. READ FULL PREVIEW

SEE: Looking Back At A 5-Star Week 0 NCAAF Win

WEST VIRGINIA AT #17 PITTSBURGH

2021 Records: West Virginia 6-7, Pittsburgh 11-3

Returning Starters: West Virginia 11 (7 Offense, 4 Defense), Pittsburgh 15 (8 Offense, 7 Defense)

Notable Trends: Pittsburgh has gone 10-3 ATS as a favorite over the last two seasons and under Pat Narduzzi, they have gone 29-14 ATS in the first half of the season. 

Major Storyline: After Kenny Pickett turned heads and went pro, former USC QB Kedon Slovis transferred to take over QB1 duties at Pitt. Last year’s offensive coordinator moved on to Nebraska, so Frank Cignetti Jr. was called back to duty. This is his third different time serving on Pitt’s coaching staff and he has over three decades of coaching experience under his belt, but it’ll be fascinating to see what this Panthers offense looks like without Pickett or superstar wideout and 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison, who transferred to USC. READ FULL PREVIEW

SEE: Staff Picks To Win The Heisman Trophy

PENN STATE AT PURDUE

2021 Records: Penn State 7-6, Purdue 9-4

Returning Starters: Penn State 11 (7 Offense, 4 Defense), Purdue 14 (7 Offense, 7 Defense)

Notable Trends: Under Jeff Brohm, Purdue has gone 19-8 ATS as an underdog and 60-33 ATS versus the 1st half line; under James Franklin, Penn State has gone 22-6 SU when the total is between 49.5 and 56 and 13-3 SU in the first month of the season.

Major Storyline: After throwing for 534 yards in a 48-45 overtime win over Tennessee at the Music City Bowl, Purdue’s graduate quarterback Aidan O’Connell has the potential to put up a ton of passing yardage this year. He surpassed 370 passing yards in five different regular season games last year and threw 21 touchdowns to only three interceptions over his last six starts of the year. READ FULL PREVIEW

SEE: Best College Football Win Total Values By Conference