BetMGM is the place to be for college football fans this season. Week 1 is officially under way. Games kicked off on Thursday night and continue Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of this long Labor Day Weekend.
Of course, the marquee matchup is taking place in Columbus, where the No. 1 Texas Longhorns take on the reigning champion No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. Arch Manning takes over as QB1 for the Longhorns, while Julian Sayin makes his first start for the Buckeyes.
Here’s a look at the odds for Saturday’s big game via our friends at BetMGM:
Compared to a book like DraftKings, BetMGM is the better value if you think the Longhorns are going to win. DraftKings has Texas as -1.5 favorites at -108 odds. Texas is -118 on the money line at DraftKings, so BetMGM has the better odds for Steve Sarkisian and company.
DraftKings, of course, is the better value if you’re backing the Buckeyes, as Ohio State is -102 on the money line over there.
For sports bettors, BetMGM offers 2 initial bonuses to new players. Let’s take a look at the BetMGM promos compared to each other.
BetMGM offers new users in all states a $1,500 first-bet offer, where you can get your first wager (up to $1,500) back as bonus bets should you lose.
Users in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia can choose between that offer and a “bet $10, get $150 if you win” initial bonus.
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Now back to the game. Below are a couple of our favorite bets from Saturday’s big game:
Bet 1: Under 47.5 points (-110 odds at BetMGM)
Let’s not overthink this. Both squads are replacing a ton of talent on offense and breaking in (relatively) new quarterbacks. Texas has a reworked offensive line and needs guys to step up in the receiving corps.
Ohio State has a first-time starter at quarterback and new faces in the backfield.
Meanwhile, Texas has one of the deepest, most-talented defenses in the entire country. Ohio State has perhaps the best defensive player in college football in Caleb Downs.
This feels like a game where both teams will struggle early before finding some rhythm in the second half.
I like the full game to go under 47.5 total points (-110 odds) and also the first half under of 23.5 points (-115 odds on BetMGM).
Bet 2: Max Klare anytime TD (+270 on BetMGM)
The Buckeyes snagged Klare out of the transfer portal from Purdue to play tight end for them this fall. He’s a big, strong guy who should be Sayin’s best friend when Ohio State is in the red zone.
Klare managed to snag 4 touchdowns for an atrocious Purdue squad last season. With much more talent around him this year, I like him to double that number.
He gets started in Game 1 by grabbing a touchdown pass from Sayin in the second half.
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Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
