WELCOME BACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL, oh how we have missed you!  Last year we just about 60% with our weekly College Football Picks, and this year we expect to do better.  We've got a few more writers this year, so that means more free picks for you.  Tonight we start off with two games that we feel should get us started in the right direction.  On to the matchups...

North Carolina State +14.5 at South Carolina -14.5

The first game of the season that we are going to bet on is NC State vs. South Carolina and the old ball coach.  The old ball coach has had a rough go of it at South Carolina, and for the first time has relinquished the play calling...albeit passing it off to his son, so we know who will still be pulling the strings during crunch time.  The Gamecocks, aka Cocks, started off an impressive 6-1 last year, only to finish 6-6, and give Spurrier his longest losing streak of his career.  There were some questions early on about who was going to be the QB, but it looks like Junior Tommy Beecher will be at the helm for his first start, so expect some early nerves and possibly some early Turnovers.

On defense they are returning an impressive 10 starters, so that should be solid against an inexperienced and struggling Wolfpack.  The Pack wasn't great last year, especially early on in the season, but found some sort of stride later on.  The problem is going to be that they don't have any studs at the skills positions.  Their starting RB and WR are injured, so they are going to be looking for some young players to step it up.  To top that off, they are going with a redshirt freshman at QB, so like USC, there will be turnovers.  This game is going to be good only in so much that is the opening game on ESPN, but after that, South Carolina should run away with it.  Give up the points and pull for some Cocks...

Oregon State -3.5 (-105) at Stanford +3.5 (-115)

The second game on the docket tonight is OSU versus Stanford.  Stanford was horrible last year, and even worse the year before, and although I hear they are again going to be better this year, I'm not sure I believe it just yet.  Sure, they beat USC last year, but that was then, and I don't think they recruited Usain Bolt in the offseason, so I'm not sure they have improved that much.  They do have their starting QB and receiver back in the lineup, the same ones that beat USC, but Oregon State just seems to be the better team here. 

Stanford's defense was probably worse than their offense, and I expect OSU to exploit that tonight.  Sammie Stroughter is back in the offensive lineup this year after missing most of last year due to injury.  To help matters along, OSU is returning 7 starters to the offense, so they should be solid.  Go with the favorite in this one also...and have some Beaver.

I guess it's sex night here at Who To Bet as we are pulling for Cocks and Beavers.  What a great way to start off the season!