College Football Predictions: Arkansas State vs Auburn - Sports Betting

The Auburn Tigers look to continue to build on their momentum off a surprisingly good first year in 2009 under head coach Gene Chizik and a top ranked recruiting class from the spring. Auburn will open the 2010 sports betting season with a match-up against the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Kick-off is schedule for 7:00pm EST and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Net. Online sportsbooks have opened with Auburn -31 in college football predictions for week 1 with an over/under total of 57.5. Arkansas State finished 4-8 last year in college football odds for 9-year head coach Steve Roberts after hovering at or around the .500 mark for the 4 previous seasons.

The Red Wolves lost half of their starters from last year and will start a new QB with sophomore Ryan Aplin, who did see action last year. These teams last met in 2006 when Auburn scored a 27-0 win but failed to cover as 31-point college football betting favorites. The Red Wolves have gone 2-5 against the spread in college football predictions for non conference action and 2-7 ATS as road underdogs since 2008. Auburn finished 8-5 last year and nearly upset eventual BCS champion Alabama. They capped off the season with a win over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl and have 7 starters back on offense with 8 back on defense.

The Tigers improved offensive output as they scored 33 points per game compared to 17 PPG in 2008. The defense regressed, however, going from 18 PPG against in 2008 to 28 PPG in 2009 and it failed to hold a late lead against Bama. Junior Cameron Newton is the new QB and top receivers Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary return. Auburn was 3-2 ATS in sports betting odds as a home favorite last year. Arkansas State looks to be a team that is slipping under Roberts but the big question is if Auburn can retain their board value for 2010.