<
>
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Get ESPN+

Notable CFB betting storylines: Sell Alabama's defense

Don't be too quick to discount Mark Dantonio's Spartans in the Big Ten. Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire

College football lookahead is the essential grab bag of numbers, trends, reads and concepts each Monday throughout the season.

Join us for opening week as we preview an intersectional revenge matchup, look at two teams with unexpected issues on one side of the ball coming out of camp and remind you that the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines aren't the only heavyweights in the Big Ten.

All odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless otherwise listed.


Portfolio checkup

Which teams we're buying and selling and why

Buy

Michigan State Spartans

Over/under wins: 8
National title odds: 125-1

Big Ten and national storylines abound for retooling Ohio State and overdue Michigan, but don't sleep on Little Brother despite a tough schedule that counts both aforementioned bluebloods plus the past two West Division champs among five Big Ten road games.

Like Michigan, Sparty is in the process of modernizing a largely smashmouth offense. But while Jim Harbaugh followed Nick Saban's lead in bringing in outside coaching talent to run that side of the ball, Mark Dantonio is keeping his offensive overhaul in house. The entire offensive staff returns, but there's a new playcaller and every coach has been reassigned to his original position of expertise.