Before we dig into the Week One SEC Betting Lines, let’s start with a simple question. What will be the narrative of the 2024 college football season? The Big Ten and SEC have established themselves as college football leaders. The Coach’s and AP Polls both reflect the sentiment. Notre Dame is the only program not in either of the two conferences to make their way into the Top 10 in either poll. Yet, the Irish still find themselves a 2.5-point dog as they head to take on the 12th Man Saturday night in College Station. After being left on the outside looking in Florida State found themselves carrying the ACC, a conference they are doing everything to get out of, with a #10 ranking in the AP Poll.
Tech Wrecks the Noles (and ACC)
The Seminoles went into last Saturday feeling very good about themselves. They were desperate to prove to the world and Kirk Herbstreit that they deserved to be among the top programs in college football. How did they respond? By laying another egg against a team from Georgia for the second game in a row. While this one was not by 60+ points, like last year’s Orange Bowl, the loss was devastating for the Seminoles and the ACC and great for the SEC (assuming they take care of business).
For Florida State, the psychological impact of being left out last year, compounded by the loss to Georgia Tech, could put their season into a tailspin before it even starts. The ACC is desperate to stay relevant and is banking on securing one of the four byes in the College Football Playoff. Flordia State’s loss and SMU nearly stubbing their toe Saturday night put those chances at risk. The SEC has a great opportunity to seize the narrative and a playoff advantage in Week One to start the season.
How the SEC Can Control the Week One Narrative
The ACC and SEC have plenty of history, sharing a common geographical footprint and some of the sport’s favorite rivalries. This weekend, the SEC has five opportunities to establish itself as the top conference in college football.
- No. 1 Georgia and No. 14. Clemson meet on Saturday at noon in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Classic.
- Virginia Tech heads to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt.
- No. 19 Miami travels to the Swamp to take on the Gators.
- No. 20 Texas A&M is favored at home against No. 7 Notre Dame.
- No. 13 LSU will play the Big Ten’s newest member, No. 23 USC, on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Sorry, Vandy, but we are chalking up a for-sure loss to the Hokies. Other than that, there is a genuine possibility that the SEC could win the other four games. Georgia is not a lock for a win but seems to have positioned itself well for a likely win. The other three games are toss-ups, and if they fall in the SEC’s favor, it will help bolster the narrative.
The Gators have not been great under Billy Napier, but they seem to play better at the Swamp than on the road. The Aggies face an inexperienced Notre Dame offensive line that may have communication issues when the 12th man is rocking. Who knows what to expect from Brian Kelly and the Tigers? His Week One Sunday night has not been the prettiest or easiest to watch for Tiger fans. The questions surrounding what USC is doing in year three with Lincoln Riley give us confidence. A 4-1 or even 3-2 record is a success and enables the SEC to control the narrative.
Week One SEC Betting Lines
The SEC has games Thursday through Sunday this weekend. Take note of the varied start times. No longer are teams locked into the noon, 3:30 p.m., and late window. ESPN is doing an excellent job of varying the times to give us football all Saturday long. Plan accordingly. Rankings are based on the AP media poll. Lines and game totals are courtesy of FanDuel. All games are Eastern Standard Time. Check the links for insights from your favorite Last Word on College Football writers.
SEC Betting Lines Courtesy of FanDuel
| Matchup | Date | Time | TV | Line | O/U |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Arkansas | Thursday, August 29 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU | #WooPig -49.5 | 57.5 |
| Murray State @ No. 11 Missouri | Thursday, August 29 | 8:00 p.m. | SECN | #Miz -46.5 | 57.5 |
| Temple @ No. 16 Oklahoma | Friday, August 30 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | #Boomer -43.5 | 59.5 |
| No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia | Saturday, August 31 | Noon | ABC | #UGA -13.5 | 49.5 |
| Virginia Tech @ Vanderbilt | Saturday, August 31 | Noon | ESPN | #AnchorDown +13.5 | 50.5 |
| Chattanooga @ No. 15 Tennessee | Saturday, August 31 | 12:45 p.m. | SEN | #RockyTop -38.5 | 56.5 |
| Colorado State @ No. 4 Texas | Saturday, August 31 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | #HookEm -33.5 | 59.5 |
| No. 19 Miami @ Florida | Saturday, August 31 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | #Gators +2.5 | 54.5 |
| Old Dominion @ South Carolina | Saturday, August 31 | 4:15 p.m. | SECn | #BigSpur -20.5 | 52.5 |
| Eastern Kentucky @ Mississippi State | Saturday, August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+ | #HailState -26.5 | 60.5 |
| Western Kentucky @ No. 5 Alabama | Saturday, August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | #RollTime -30.5 | 59.5 |
| Furman @ No. 6 Ole Miss | Saturday, August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ | #TheSip -42.5 | 60.5 |
| No. 7 Notre Dame @ No. 20 Texas A&M | Saturday, August 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | #GigEm -2.5 | 46.5 |
| Alabama A&M @ Auburn | Saturday, August 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ | #WDE -46.5 | 56.5 |
| Southern Miss @ Kentucky | Saturday, August 31 | 7:45 p.m. | SECN | #BBN -27.5 | 50.5 |
| No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU | Sunday, September 1 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | #GeauxTigers -4.5 | 63.5 |
The post Set The Narrative: Week One SEC Betting Lines appeared first on Last Word on College Football.