NCAAF Parlay Picks Today: Best Bets for Week 1: Badgers, Cougars Look to Impress With Defense

With three games on Sunday, it’s the perfect time for NCAAF parlay picks today. Two of the games aren’t expected to be that close, which sets up multiple options for parlay choices.

Washington State and Wisconsin both come in with nothing to lose, with the Cougars facing a local rival and the Badgers playing a “home” game in Lambeau Field. The third game is expected to be the best of the day, as Louisville and Mississippi brings together the only ranked teams of Week 1.

This is a good place to expect the unexpected. There are no games to get a read on yet, and every team comes in with plenty of new faces these days. Here are the best NCAAF parlay picks today for Sunday’s action.

NCAAF Parlay Picks Today (+597, DraftKings)

• Washington State-Washington Under 51.5

• Wisconsin +20.5

• Mississippi -6.5

Washington State has put a lot of effort into its pass rush. The Cougars hit the transfer portal hard after the defense let down late, and they’ve come up with what they think are several solid edge rushers. That’s likely to pay off throughout the season, but especially in this first matchup with Washington.

First, the Huskies have a pair of freshmen starting on the offensive line. They’ve got a true freshman at left tackle in Kodi Greene, and the right side of the line includes a redshirt freshman and a transfer. Offensive linemen take time to come together, and the Huskies will likely make several mistakes in their season opener.

Second, the teams don’t tend to put up points in Seattle. None of the past seven meetings in Seattle have seen more than 55 points. Three of the past four meetings in the Emerald City came in under 50 points. The Huskies scored 59 by themselves on Washington State last year, but that happened in Pullman. That was also a far more experienced Washington offense, which won’t be the case this time.

Badgers Have Something to Prove

Nobody expects Wisconsin to keep this game close. Notre Dame is a potential national championship contender; Wisconsin has real concerns as to whether Luke Fickell will have a job next year.

But the Badgers have a pretty decent defense. They held four of their final five opponents last year to 21 points or less. That included Oregon, and the one exception was Indiana. Wisconsin’s defense looks even better this season, and Notre Dame’s offense will take time to jell.

The Irish don’t have running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price anymore; both are now in the NFL. C.J. Carr is back to lead the offense, but Wisconsin has put a lot of work into its secondary. It’s going to take time for Notre Dame to figure out this defense, and that isn’t optimal for a spread this large. The Irish should win, but Wisconsin should keep the game interesting.

Rebels Will Be Hard to Stop

Notre Dame might not have its top pieces back from last year, but Mississippi does. Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy both return, and the Rebels appear the one favorite of these NCAAF parlay picks today that seem a safe play.

That’s because Louisville hasn’t done very well against the SEC. The Cardinals are just 4-10 in their past 14 games against the SEC, and three of those wins came over Kentucky. Over the past 11 years, Louisville has played three non-Kentucky SEC regular season games, and the Cardinals’ average margin of defeat is 21 points.

Louisville’s defense has had its problems against stronger opponents. Last season, the Cardinals gave up 20 points or more against seven of nine power conference opponents. That’s a recipe for disaster against Mississippi. If the Cardinals try to play a shootout, they won’t be able to keep up.