The recent trend of big neutral-site clashes between name-brand college football programs has certainly spiced up Week 1 of the 2015 season, and in the first installment of our weekly bets column we'll take a look at all the top plays from the board, including giving against-the-spread (ATS) picks on the winners of these big neutral-site showdowns: Arizona State-Texas A&M, Wisconsin-Alabama and North Carolina-South Carolina.
Here are ATS picks and score predictions for eight games taking place in Week 1. (Note: All lines are from the Westgate Las Vegas SportsBook as of Wednesday, Sept. 2.)
Saturday games
Arizona State Sun Devils (+3.5) versus Texas A&M Aggies (Houston)
Arizona State won 10 games again last year with just eight returning starters, despite logging fewer yards and points and allowing more yards and points than Todd Graham's first two editions in the Valley. Not bad, but Graham's fourth team is so much better that it will only barely resemble the accomplished 2013 and 2014 squads. This outfit is bigger, stronger, faster, deeper, more athletic and physically the most talented roster Graham has ever been around at any school. Yet the Sun Devils might be even better off the field than they are on it. This team checks every box