College Football Betting: Memphis vs Mississippi State - Week 1 Lines

Mississippi State will enter the 2010 college football betting season with momentum and enthusiasm after a better than expected 2009 as they entertain the Memphis Tigers in the opener for both teams. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00pm EST and the game can be seen on ESPNU. Online sportsbooks have opened with Mississippi State as a 21-point favorite in college football lines with a total of 48. The Memphis Tigers look to be rebuilding in 2010 with 25 lettermen gone and a new sophomore QB in Cannon Smith. The offense has 7 returning starters and averaged 22 points per game last year. The defense returns 6 starters to a unit that allowed 35 PPG.

Memphis has been lit up for no less than 27 PPG in each of the last 4 years. Larry Porter arrived from LSU to become the new head coach of his Alma Mater and will have his work cut out for him. Memphis has gone 1-6 against the spread in non conference action and 2-6 ATS in college football betting odds as a road underdog since 2008. Dan Mullen gave the Mississippi State Bulldogs a much needed shot in the arm last year as they finished 5-7 and were competitive in losses against bowl teams such as Florida, LSU, Georgia and Houston.

Mullen has 7 starters back on both sides of the line but will have a new QB with junior Chris Relf. Anthony Dixon’s 1445 yards rushing will be missed and leaves a big hole. Relf did see some action last year and was the 2nd leading rusher on the team. The offense went from 15 PPG in 2008 to 26 PPG last year while the defense allowed 27 PPG and has 7 starters back. The Bulldogs have gone just 5-11 ATS in college football betting lines as a home favorite and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non conference games. These two teams last met in 2003 as Mississippi State has won the last 10 matchups in the series.