The Herd with Colin Cowherd

The Favorites – College Football Betting Preview

Release Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

In this preseason college football betting preview, host Chad Millman (Action Network) is joined by professional bettor Simon Hunter and special guests Stuckey and Colin Wilson (Action Network’s Big Bets on Campus), two of the most respected voices in college football gambling media. The group digs deep into storylines, team outlooks, coaching changes, and—most importantly—their favorite bets for Week 1 and season-long futures. The tone is conversational, sharp, and full of inside jokes and long-embedded opinions—ideal listening for college football fans and betting enthusiasts.

Main Themes and Structure

• How quarterback uncertainty defines 2025’s college football landscape
• Major opening-weekend matchups and betting angles
• Futures: Win totals, conference odds, playoff prices, and longshots
• Best bets for Week 1, with actionable analysis
• Discussion of data-driven trends and deeper betting strategies

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Table – Kickoff Excitement and Season Outlook

[02:13 – 04:57]

• Chad welcomes Stuckey and Colin Wilson and tees up the unprecedented QB turnover among college football powerhouses.
• Stuckey reflects on the seasonal grind:

  “That was like my last breath of freedom. Now it’s time to lock in from now until April after college basketball is over.” (Stuckey, 04:02)

• Anticipation for a full season of football, with no more calm weekends until February.

2. Marquee Matchup: Texas (with Arch Manning) at Ohio State

[04:57 – 06:11]

• Colin Wilson's analysis:
  • Sees a major coaching edge for Texas’s Steve Sarkisian over Ohio State’s new DC, Matt Patricia.
  • “Matt Patricia as a coordinator is one of the biggest downgrades I could ever make in the world... he’s responsible for one loss on the Buckeye schedule somewhere.” (Colin, 05:29)
  • Unusually, the #1 team (Texas) is an underdog at Ohio State.
• Stuckey’s take:
  • Likes Texas but notes both teams face uncertainty at quarterback.
  • Decision-making among young or unproven QBs could decide Playoff runs across the sport.
  • Points to a "slight edge" for Texas given Arch Manning’s talent and the Buckeyes' defensive transition.

3. Notre Dame at Miami – Week 1 Under the Microscope

[06:11 – 09:13]

• Game leans toward a slow, defense-driven first half due to both weather concerns and inexperience at QB (especially for Notre Dame's Carr).
• Miami’s offense replaces lost talent; expect more reliance on the run.
• Stuckey: “I might feel more comfortable with the first half under like 24 just because if there are questions with Carr... you could see some mistakes.” (Stuckey, 08:33)

4. Clemson vs. LSU – The Trench War and The Brian Kelly Problem

[09:13 – 11:45]

• Colin admits to being “higher on LSU, lower on Clemson,” but is concerned about LSU’s rebuilt O-line versus Clemson’s dominant D-line.
• Echoes the statistical reality:

  “Last year, even though [LSU] had a bunch of guys drafted... they couldn’t run the ball at all. They just couldn’t figure out their zone run blocking.” (Stuckey, 10:24)

• Stresses Brian Kelly’s recurring issue: “Brian Kelly never wins Week 1.”

5. Hype and Doubt: QB Talent Tier Analysis

[11:45 – 16:22]

• Chad voices skepticism about the supposed breakout years for middling QBs (Nussmeier, Klubnik, Aller).
• Colin:
  • Defends Klubnik as a "riser" and sees pro potential.
  • Paints Nussmeier as gifted but limited by LSU circumstances and head coach Brian Kelly.
  • Critiques Aller's NFL prospects:

    “He cannot read pre snap blitz... never throws the ball away... If he doesn’t fix it, I’d be selling him on NFL draft day like crazy.” (Colin, 16:22)

• Stuckey notes experience often drives the preseason QB buzz, even when the raw ceiling is in doubt.
• Penn State praised for completeness, but “their ceiling depends on whether Aller makes a huge leap forward.”

6. Futures: Best Bets, Value, and Deep Longshots

[17:01 – 22:21]

Colin’s Futures:

• Oklahoma Over 6.5/7 Wins

  “This team is absolutely loaded... Oklahoma is loaded on defense... not opposed to anyone out there looking at 25 to 1 to win the SEC.” (Colin, 17:09)

• Central Michigan to Win the MAC (20–25:1)
  • “They brought in the guy who rebuilt the Army offense—no Mac defense knows how to cover the triple option.”
• Rutgers Team Total Over 31.5 vs. Ohio

Stuckey’s Futures:

• UCF Under 5.5 Wins
  • “Alex Grinch is the defensive coordinator for Scott Frost... one of the worst hires.”
• Penn State to Make the Big Ten Title Game (plus money)
• USC (+480) and Texas A&M (+240) to Make Playoff
• Watch LSU’s price if they lose close to Clemson but show promise at OL.

7. Week 1 Best Bets—Lines, Angles, and Rationale

[26:59 – 38:26]

Colin’s Best Bets:

• Sam Houston +10.5 vs. UNLV ([27:04])
  “UNLV’s defense is a dumpster fire… they missed 17 tackles. That’s really hard to do.” (Colin, 27:04)
• Rutgers Team Total Over 31.5 vs. Ohio
  "Shiano always has his foot on the pedal… he will keep scoring in every quarter no matter what the score is." (Colin, 30:25)
• Arizona - up to -21 vs. Hawaii
  “Hawaii’s quarterback... looked like a transformer out there... hobbled... I think Arizona’s the side.” (Colin, 35:26)

Stuckey’s Best Bets:

• Georgia State +35+ vs. Ole Miss ([28:18])
  • “Number is too high. Line should be 31-32. Ole Miss lost key players; Lane Kiffin may not run it up.”
• Virginia Tech (+7 or more) vs. South Carolina ([33:20])
  • “South Carolina’s defense takes an enormous step back. New coordinator at VT could be the X-factor, especially confusing Lenora Sellers.”
• Charlotte +7 vs. App State (Friday night)
  • “Edge in coaching with Charlotte... I’d take the seven.”

Analytical Trend:

• Teams making their season debut in Week 1 vs. teams that played in Week 0 cover >60% against the spread since 2005:

  “It’s not like the NFL where everyone starts in one week. 61% since 2005... Very unique angle for week one.” (Stuckey, 36:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Matt Patricia... is responsible for one loss on the Buckeye schedule somewhere.” (Colin, 05:29)
• “It’s just lock-in mode now until April.” (Stuckey, 04:02)
• “If he doesn’t fix [his ability to handle pressure], I’d be selling Aller on NFL draft day like crazy.” (Colin, 16:22)
• “Rutgers... Shiano just does not give a shit. He will keep scoring in every quarter no matter what the score is.” (Colin, 30:25)
• “UNLV's defense is a dumpster fire... they need to take that defense and throw it in deep storage with the Rebel Roller underneath Allegiant Stadium.” (Colin, 27:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 02:13 | Introduction, new season energy | | 04:57 | Texas at Ohio State breakdown | | 06:11 | Notre Dame-Miami: Unders, QB questions | | 09:13 | Clemson-LSU analysis: O-line woes | | 11:45 | Are Nussmeier, Klubnik, Aller overhyped? | | 17:01 | Futures: Win Totals and Longshots | | 26:59 | Week 1 Best Bets Begin | | 27:04 | Sam Houston +10.5 vs. UNLV | | 28:18 | Georgia State +35+ vs. Ole Miss | | 30:25 | Rutgers TT Over 31.5 vs. Ohio | | 33:20 | Virginia Tech (+7 or more) vs. South Carolina | | 35:26 | Arizona -21 vs. Hawaii (fade Hawaii) | | 36:34 | Week 1 debut vs. Week 0 trend (60% ATS) | | 38:26 | Charlotte +7 vs. App State |

Conclusion

In a lively, expert-driven roundtable, Chad Millman, Simon Hunter, Colin Wilson, and Stuckey offer sharp, actionable college football betting insights for the 2025 season’s opening weekend and beyond. The discussion is anchored around trends (notably QB uncertainty), coaching mismatches, and key personnel changes, always tied to concrete bets and rich context. Listeners are left with clear, confident wagering recommendations and a strong sense of where the value lies this year.

For deeper analysis, subscribe to Big Bets on Campus—“the number one ranked college football betting podcast”—for continuing weekly insight.