Alabama is a double-digit favorite over USC in one of the big games on an exciting opening Saturday of the college football season, and Oklahoma is a big favorite over Ohio State in one of the top nonconference showdowns of the year.
The South Point sportsbook in Las Vegas posted the first college football lines in Nevada on Friday afternoon. Sportsbook director Chris Andrews released point spreads on 40 of the biggest games on the year, in addition to lines for every game in a loaded Week 1 slate.
The defending champion Crimson Tide are 10-point favorites over the Trojans in a neutral-field battle in Arlington, Texas. It's just one of several intriguing Sept. 3 openers. LSU is a 10-point favorite over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, and Clemson is an 8.5-point favorite on the road at Auburn.
Other opening lines on notable games this season include close matchups between Stanford (-1) and Notre Dame on Oct. 15 and Michigan (-2) at Michigan State on Oct. 29. One high-profile game not expected to be a close one is Oklahoma-Texas on Oct. 8, with Oklahoma opening as a 14-point favorite in the rivalry game.
Andrews, a veteran Nevada oddsmaker, said he has Alabama at No. 1 in his preseason power ratings, followed by Oklahoma. The Sooners are nine-point home favorites over Ohio State in Week 2.
Betting limits on the early lines at South Point are $1,000. The book will release season win totals for every college football team in two weeks.