2026 NFL, College Football Odds: Best Bets For Bama-UK, Packers-Vikings

Last Monday night in Tallahassee, Florida State created four turnovers and still didn’t cover as a 3-point underdog. 

The Seminoles lost 27-24 to SMU, so it’s a push for this column but hopefully a win for any of you that were able to grab +3.5 closer to kickoff.

Boy, did it feel good to sweat football bets again.

We know you’re here for informed wagers and I assure you I vet everything through multiple handicappers, oddsmakers and betting buddies who know what they’re doing. Those that do well in this racket know the “How, what and why,” and that’s always my goal.

Also, this will never be the place for a million picks or five-team parlays. These will always be the wagers I love the most and ones that I’m betting with my own money.  

Let’s go to work.

(2026 Record: 1-2-1, -1.2 units)

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The Owls were demolished by Florida last week, 66-21. So, why are you betting them Well, they moved the ball surprisingly well against an SEC defense — 396 yards ain’t too shabby. Life will be a lot easier against Navy, a program that doesn’t sniff the type of athleticism and speed that Florida brought to the table. I like veteran FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp a ton and think the Owls are ripe to pull an upset at home.

My love for this year’s Minnesota team is well-documented. I enjoy betting on teams that return their starting head coach, both coordinators and starting quarterback. And oh, by the way, they return Anthony Smith, the guy who led the Big Ten in sacks last year. Miss State quarterback Kamario Taylor wowed last week against Louisiana-Monroe with 354 yards and four touchdowns, but now he has to face a real defense, headlined by Smith.

After bulldozing East Carolina last weekend, Alabama heads to Lexington for a very early SEC tilt. It’s the first collegiate road start for freshman quarterback Keelon Russell, who improvised a ton against the Pirates to the tune of 6.6 yards per rush. I’m sorry, but that’s not gonna happen against Kentucky. If the Wildcats can limit Russell’s escapability and keep him in the pocket, they’ll have every chance to hang inside this big number.

Consider Sammy P one of the few not sold on Ben Johnson’s Bears (Getty Images).

I hope my bosses at FOX Chicago aren’t reading this. Simply put, the Bears are one of the most overvalued teams in the betting market. Their prices to win the conference and Super Bowl are insane given all the question marks on the defensive side of the ball. There’s a lot to like about the Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams partnership, but this line is too fishy. I’ll take Carolina off a playoff berth, catching a full field goal in its home opener.

Speaking of overvalued, meet the Green Bay Packers. Defensive superstar Micah Parsons isn’t walking through that door for weeks, and I’ve never been a big Jordan Love believer. Meanwhile, Minnesota brings back most pieces from a top-10 defense and now Kyler Murray is orchestrating the offense with a loaded receiver room and a veteran backfield. People forget the Vikings won nine games last year. And now they have a quarterback.