This ACC encounter starts week two of the college football campaign and it has the potential to be a good one. If history is any indication, bettors should be loading up on Clemson, as underdogs have dominated the head-to-head series between the Tigers and Yellow Jackets. Currently, Sportsbook.com has Clemson as 5 ½ point dogs.

In week 1, Georgia Tech manhandled Jacksonville State 37-17, while Clemson covered the spread against Middle Tennessee State 37-14. The Yellow Jackets are getting love in Southern circles with their 16 returning starters.

Forget any talk about coach Paul Johnson’s triple option offense won’t work against better athletes. It’s not as if Johnson is recruiting the same level of player he could at Navy. Georgia Tech should be plenty explosive in its second year of this offense, with Josh Nesbitt running the show. The offensive backfield will be as good as any in the ACC and if Nesbitt becomes a better passer, watch out! The Jackets however are just 6-5 ATS as ACC home favorites the last three years.

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The bitter Florida rivalry between Florida State & Miami had gotten rather dull in recent years. However, with both teams supposedly headed back towards greater respectability, they will play once again on Labor Day night. Host FSU is a 6-1/2 point favorite at Sportsbook.com and receiving the majority of attention from the early bettors.

Miami is 4-1 ATS at Tallahassee and has new coordinators on both sides of the ball to work with 16 returning starters. The Hurricanes will feature a pro-style attack, with sophomore Jacory Harris running the show solo, Robert Marve having transferred. Graig Cooper leads a rushing attack that should be improved, with a greater commitment after averaging only 129 yards per game a season ago. This is key area for Miami since they are 22-8 ATS in road games when they rush for 150 to 200 yards.

Defensively, a number of real solid players are available, though not the typical All-American studs normally seen on the Coral Gables campus. The Hurricanes were last in run defense in the ACC a year ago and defensive packs managed only two interceptions. Linebacker is the best position at the “U”, with Sean Spence the ringleader.

Most of the off-season talk on the Florida State campus has centered on legendary Bobby Bowden losing 14 wins in 2006-07 for rules infractions. As Florida State continues the fight to reinstate those victories, Bowden will work on something he can control, this year’s team.

The Seminoles regained their strength up front on offense, averaging 177 yards rushing per game in 2008. All five starters from that contingent are back and will be leaned on heavily, while new receivers are discovered for sophomore signal caller Christian Ponder. Last season, Ponder played like a talented freshman, showing glimpses of good and bad, he’ll be expected to improve if Florida State expects to be ACC Atlantic champs. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, in his 26th season, will have work to do with just five starters back. How quickly Andrews can make this cohesive unit will set the tone.

Sportsbook.com has the Seminoles as 6-1/2-point favorites with a total of 48. Florida State is only 12-19 ATS as an ACC home favorite since 2001 and will be playing in Doak Campbell Stadium at well below capacity. The Canes are 6-3 ATS as conference road underdogs the last five years in this competitive series.

This Florida battle has been dominated by the underdog, covering eight of the last 10 times. That has usually been the road team, who is 8-3 ATS in these gatherings. Keep an eye on the first team to score, with this squad emerging as straight up winner 80 percent of the time in last 20 encounters.

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The opening weekend of college football season is by no means over, despite the completed full lineup of games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday and Monday both boast two game slates, all of the rivalry nature.

On Sunday, highly touted Ole Miss visits Memphis as a 16.5-point road favorite, and Colorado hosts Colorado State, also as double-digit chalk. Bettors are backing both favorites at last checked on Sportsbook.com.

(205) OLE MISS at (206) MEMPHIS

This will be the sixth straight time these teams that are separated by a mere 85 miles will start a new campaign matched against one another. Ole Miss is the sexy SEC West pick, led by QB Jevan Snead. Going from trendy underdog to flashy front-runner has sidetracked more than one team in the past. Mississippi is 29-11 ATS in non-SEC action. Coach Tommy West has found success in Memphis, but wants to play in the C-USA title game this season. Pulling a massive upset would get people talking about a team that is 17-9 ATS as home dog and 18-12-1 ATS vs. the SEC.

(207) COLORADO ST at (208) COLORADO

Even if you include last year’s 38-17 drubbing by Colorado, the last seven matchups in this in-state rivalry have been decided by 6.5 points per game. Coach Dan Hawkins believes his team could compete for Big 12 North, if injured players return and the offense gels. This is a meaningful year for coach Hawkins, who is 13-24 (14-21 ATS) at Boulder. Colorado State had surprising 7-6 campaign with a bowl victory and looks to build on solid season. Easier said than done without established QB and only 5 starters back on defense. This rivalry returns back to campuses with the Buffs 17-4 in home openers, however, they have dropped their last seven ATS.

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