College football betting is finally back, with the regular season starting this week. Let’s have a look at the trends to watch for—starting with the Thursday games.

Marshall vs (2) Ohio State

They’re massive underdogs but can the Thundering Herd at least help bettingsharps by beating the spread in Week 1? Marshall is 4-1 ATS over its last five road games dating back to last season. It has a tall order against the BCS championship contender Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 5-1 ATS over their last six home games. And Marshall is a slow starter, going 4-10 ATS over its last 14 September games.

Southern Mississippi vs South Carolina

Southern Miss doesn’t scare easily away from home, having gong 5-2 ATS over its last seven road contests. But the Golden Eagles struggle against the SEC, winning just two of their last eight ATS versus that conference. South Carolina tends to start strong, having beaten the spread in its last four September games.

Minnesota vs Middle Tennessee State

The Golden Gophers don’t do so well when they stray from their lair. Minnesota is just 1-4 ATS in its last five non-conference games. Middle Tennessee State has the oddsmakers fooled; the Blue Raiders have beaten seven consecutive spreads. Expect the score to trend OVER in this sports betting matchup, as both teams are 4-1 over their last five games on turf.

Northern Illinois vs Iowa State

Something has to give when two hot September teams face off. Northern Illinois is 5-1 ATS over its last six September games but the Iowa State Cyclones are 8-3 ATS over their last 11 in September. Worth noting on this sports betting blog; Northern Illinois has lost five straight road games ATS and the trends strongly favor the UNDER. The under is 6-1 over the Huskies’ last seven non-conference games and 6-0 in the Cyclones’ last six home games.

(15) Pittsburgh vs (24) Utah

The Utah Utes usually treat bettors well in non-conference action, having gone 27-12-1 ATS over their last 40 against non-neighbors. But they also tend to play in more shootouts outside their conference; the OVER is 10-2-1 over the Utes’ last 13 non-conference games. With Dion Lewis in Pittsburgh’s lineup, we could see the point total spike again. Pittsburgh finished last season strongly, going 5-2 ATS over their last seven, but the Panthers are 2-6 ATS over their last eight September games.

Oh the football sports betting service picks are ready, but now the Dancing with the Stars cast has been named.

The CNN ticker people are giddy now that they have another excuse to have the name “Palin” in a front page headline 10-15 times a day. Oh the Huffington Post will have the venom spewing.

The Dancing with the Stars cast has been revealed and this season, it’s an eclectic bunch of characters that will be sure to get viewers tuning in.

Want to know what a conversation between Michael Bolton and The Situation would be like? Well, now we’ll get to find out. These two couldn’t be more different – and they’ll up against the likes of David Hasselhoff and Bristol Palin. What a crew!

Also included in the cast is former NFL quaterback Kurt Warner, The Hills actress Audrina Patridge (we’re guessing The Situation will try to tap that) and Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey.

Recording artist Brandy Norwood, who hasn’t been heard from since her involvement in a 2006 car accident that killed another driver, will be strapping on her dance shoes in an attempt to make a bit of a comeback. Joining them in the lineup are comedian Margaret Cho, Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson, actor and former basketball star Rick Fox and That’s So Raven actor Kyle Massey.

Who do you think will prevail this season? We’re thinking Jennifer Grey has a good shot since she was in the movie Dirty Dancing and therefore has a background in dancing. We’re also thinking that a ton of Jersey Shore fans will be tuning in to vote for The Situation, no matter what his dance moves are like. Florence Henderson will play the “I can dance well for my age” card, and she was on Broadway for a long time, so she must have rhythm, right?

How much longer with the Jersey Shore’s fame last? Bet on these and other fun entertainment props in the Bodog today!

Dancing With the Stars Season 11 starts tonight. Glen Beck’s the Blaze commences today, but the sports betting handicapping hub remains ablaze.

If only weather handicappers could predict the Hurricane Earl path as well as Matt Rivers picks MLB. He has a free pick Tuesday is on the A’s.

Last night I backed the Yankees right here at that dirt-cheap price and it worked out pretty well. Now I am reversing course and will take my chances with the big dog A’s.

The Yankees are clearly the far superior squad and probably the best team in the game today. Even without Arod the Pinstripers are awesome and loaded and a total force. With that said though I don’t fully trust Phil Hughes who has thrown a lot of innings and has not been the same guy after the phenomenal first few months to the season.

Hughes was unreal to begin the season but was then held back a bit by the organization and that seemed to stem his momentum and things have just not gone as well. Oakland is far from an offensive juggernaut so Hughes may be all right here but Vin Mazzaro has been extremely stellar and at this price why not back the capable enough visitors?

Take out one poor start in late June in Texas and Mazzaro has literally hurled 9 straight quality starts. Even superstar aces have trouble pulling off such an incredible feat. The guy may only have a 6-6 record but he has been beyond consistent and should once again go at least six or seven solid innings.

It’s asking a ton of the inferior visitors but as long as Mazzaro doesn’t just all of a sudden lose it and fall apart I can’t help taking back a price in the range of $2.

The pick: Oakland +170

For more information: This is far from the greatest slate I have ever seen but I have isolated one play that I expect to cash that ticket. I’m not raising that bar and going bawls to the wall but still a solid 300,000* nonetheless. One play, one winner, a 300,000* between the Tigers and Twins. Is this a solid underdog lock or a run-line special? You’ll see. Click now to purchase or for more information and a free pick

Remember the days of the scorephone Tailgate Party when you’d get the famed “free trends”? We have them here, but you don’t have to suffer through the self-promotion of that flat tire Chris Jordan on his uber late reports.

Week 1 of our college football betting trends coverage continues with Friday action and the early games on Saturday.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Arizona vs Toledo

Neither team enters this Friday nighter with much sportsbook momentum. Arizona is 2-7 against the spread over its last nine games whereas the Toledo Rockets are 1-4 ATS over their last five. You may want to avoid the unpredictable over/under. The OVER is 16-7 over Toledo’s last seven home games but the UNDER is 6-1 over the Wildcats’ last seven.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Western Michigan vs Michigan State

Sports betting sharps have to pick between the lesser of two evils in this all-Michigan matchup, as neither school has performed well against the spread of late. Western Michigan is just 2-8 ATS over its last 10 road games but Michigan State is only 3-7 over its last 10 at home. Something has to give.

Miami (OH) vs (3) Florida

The Miami Ohio Redhawks have a tall order against a Florida team anxious to show it can play without Tim Tebow. The Gators are 4-1 ATS over their last five at home and like to beat teams making long trips; they’re 21-7 ATS in their last 28 matchups against non-conference opponents. Miami has lost five straight September games ATS.

Lafayette vs (21) Georgia

Could the Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns pull off an upset against the spread on Saturday afternoon? They’re 5-2 ATS over their last seven September contests overall. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are not a spread-friendly team. They’re 7-15 ATS over their last 15 and 1-4 ATS over their last five in September. The UNDER looks solid here, however. It’s 4-1 over Lafayette’s last five and 4-1-1 over Georgia’s last six at home.

Illinois vs Missouri

The NCAA football betting trends are ice-cold for Illinois and red-hot for Missouri here. Illinois is 4-11 ATS over its last 15 and 1-7 ATS over its last eight non-conference games. Meanwhile,  Missouri has beaten seven straight spreads playing on turf and nine of its last 11 spreads in September. The kicker is the head-to-head record. Missouri has beaten the spread five straight times against Illinois.

As the Carpenters said, “We’ve only just begun,” but here is part one of the sports betting tip sheet for college football picks to go with college football spread trends (podcast) like our old scorephone roots.

Thursday, April 2

Minnesota vs. Middle Tennessee State

MTSU’s appropriately named QB Dwight Dashers is suspended, which means sophomore Logan Kilgore will get his first snap as starter. Dasher was the Sunbelt preseason offensive player of the year.

Pittsburgh vs. Utah

The Panthers have a first-time starter at QB, two new starting CBs and a new MLB. QB Tino Sunseri is a redshirt sophomore with 17 passes, none as a starter.

Saturday, September 4

Syracuse vs. Akron

It’s a game of uncertainty against the NCAA Football Odds. Akron has a completely new coaching staff, while the Orange will have a lot of young players playing key roles. RB Averin Collier is academically ineligible for ‘Cuse. A lot was expected of the sophomore who averaged 6.8 yards per carry last year and scored two touchdowns.

Utah State vs. Oklahoma

One of the top DT in the country, the Sooners Adrian Taylor is a game-time decision.

Miami Ohio vs. Florida

Sports handicappers are concerned that the Gators are without two offensive tackles Xavier Nixon and Matt Matchan. The shuffling is done as John Brantley makes his first start in the post Tim Tebow era.

Sunday, September 5

SMU vs. Texas Tech

It’s the first game as head coach Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech. He is expected to continue the high-powered offense though hiring former coach Neal Brown as offensive coordinator. Troy averaged 487.5 yards per game last year, third in the nation.

OffshoreInsiders.com CEO Joe Duffy says his California University of PA Vulcans will dominate the Pennsylvania Conference, but how about the other Cali? Bodog previews the California team from the west coast.

The California Golden Bears have 8/1 odds to win the Pac-10 this season. Cal is first up in today’s college football preview.

Not much is expected of the Golden Bears this season but, much like the pudgy girl at the bar, perhaps that pushes them to work harder and defy expectations. Cal has certainly done it before, though it’ll be a fruitless battle if the quarterback situation isn’t resolved. It’s not all Kevin Riley’s fault, as he was sacked 31 times last year. Both he and the offensive line must get better.

The “D” is led by a fantastic set of linebackers. Mike Mohamed is the unit’s unquestioned leader after racking up 112 tackles and three interceptions last year. The pass defense was pretty bad, though, largely thanks to a floundering secondary. Three new starters will be in place in 2010. More help from the pass rush wouldn’t hurt, either.

Get your NCAA Football Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook! Grandmaster Sports Handicapper Joe Duffy’s expert take: Sorry, Cal is not among the top five and a notch below No. 6. We have them projected for seventh, though some of our models have them as high as fourth.