Welcome back to Games & Locks of the Week, my friends. We’ve got a short slate this weekend, but it’s still football, and it still counts, so I guess we’ll take it. 

Note that we’ve left the FCS games in this week’s schedule. That won’t be the norm going forward. However, it makes sense this particular week.

Note, too, that we’re posting this week’s piece publicly. Ordinarily Games & Locks is available starting at the Yearling level for AFF supporters on Patreon. We legit could not do this without our patrons, so if you enjoy this piece, consider sticking with us through the season. Speaking personally, this is my favorite piece every week.

Also: if anybody stays up to watch Delaware State at Hawaii, please let us know. Not sure what we’ll give you, but you’ll definitely win some kind of no-prize, especially given that the game is on freaking pay-per-view! 

You’ll get a shoutout on Roundtable at a minimum.

As always, lines on these games are listed against their direction of movement. For example, the line on Florida State started at (-13) but has since fallen to (-10.5). The latter is obviously a better bet, so we’re listing it on that side of the equation.

Let’s go!

Bandwagon Fantasy Sports

Join us for our picks league! As For Football’s official league runs through the Bandwagon Fantasy Sports app, available for free for iOS and Android. You pick 8 teams using a salary cap system and can then make up to 25 trades over the course of the season. You get 2 points for each win. That’s it. It is not hard! 

Note, though, that the cap system makes it so that you can’t just pick all the best teams in college football. You have to pick at least some teams from every tier of the FBS. So you have to watch the Power 4, but you also need to watch the Group of 5, too. That’s what makes it awesome.

Our League is called “As For Football 2024”. I set it to private just to counter the spam-bots, but anyone can join using the code “AFF2024”.

As with last year, the league’s top-ranked Firstie Club member will win the coveted AFF Cruiserweight Championship Belt.

College Football Schedule: Week 0

Noon

Florida State (-10.5) vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN)

I feel like the people betting up Tech are just out of practice. The Seminoles ought to romp in this one.

Afternoon

McNeese at Tarleton State (ESPNU)
Montana State at New Mexico (+12.5) (FS1)

I said this on Roundtable this week, but it bears repeating. I’ve never seen nor even heard of an FCS team giving points on the road to an FBS team. That is insane, and doubly so because they’re giving up almost two full touchdowns.

Is UNM also paying Montana State for this game? This is nuts.

Prime Time

North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri State (ESPN)
Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State (ABC)
SMU at Nevada (CBSSN)

Three cheers for the SWAC starting conference play in Week 0. That takes guts. It’s also liable to give us the best game of the weekend. 

North Alabama vs. SE Missouri State also matters, but it’s at least out of conference.

Late Night

Delaware State (+39.5) at Hawai’i (Spectrum Sports PPV)

Last I heard, Delaware State had missed its flight to Hawaii. Then somebody sent me a forecast showing that Hawaii is also about to be hit by a hurricane.

Is this game gonna happen? If it does, take the UNDER.

Locks of the Week

Last year’s final tally saw the AFF crew go 50.3% on picks. So if you followed us you broke even. Rob says that if you’re really looking to bet on an in-game parlay, Triggered Joe is the man to follow. 

Dan’s Locks

Florida State (-11) vs. Georgia Tech
This game is always about emotion. I think the ‘Noles get up early and keep it rolling.

Montana State (-10.5) at New Mexico 
This line is nuts. Betting this game was almost certainly a mistake, but what can you do?

Delaware State at Hawai’i UNDER 51.5
I’m gonna claim credit for this pick if the game gets canceled. Just FYI.

Rob’s Locks 

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech OVER 55
Rob made a good bet here. He said on the show that FSU probably scores 50 of these points, and I tend to agree.

Delaware State (+39.5) at Hawai’i
Rob says Hawai’i is terrible. I, however, have seen Delaware State play in-person, and more to the point, this team can’t catch a flight much less a football. Yikes.