FanDuel Sportsbook PA Betting Update August 29: Clemson, BYU-Utah Headline Action

Hell. Yes.

College Football is back in full force this weekend, and it starts tonight with a combo platter of appetizers to indulge in at  FanDuel Sportsbook PA. Here is your betting update for Thursday, August 29.

The Phillies aren’t in action tonight, but that’s perfectly fine because there are 27, that’s right, 27 college football games to bet on at PA online sportsbooks, including four games featuring Top 25 squads.

The NFL preseason slate also wraps up this evening. The Eagles will travel up the New Jersey Turnpike to face the Jets, and I’m certain this clash will make for an instant classic. Well, maybe not.

Truthfully, while that game probably won’t generate a ton of gambling interest, we are now just a week away from the NFL regular season opener between the Bears and Packers. That game can’t get here soon enough.

In the meantime, let’s run through the highlights of tonight’s action.

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UCLA-Cincinnati Odds

Let’s begin in Cincinnati where Chip Kelly’s squad will look at avenge what was an embarrassing 26-17 Week 1 loss as a two touchdown favorite to the Bearcats last season. Here are the current odds as of 11 a.m. Thursday morning:

UCLA-Cincinnati Things to Know

Can’t sugarcoat it for UCLA fans – the Bruins have been a bad bet in recent seasons. Given the short line in this one, it’s worth pointing out that UCLA is 2-18 straight up over its last 20 games as an underdog and 1-14 straight up over its last 15 road games.

That’s simply brutal. It’s also worth noting that PAC-12 teams are 4-8-1 ATS in out of conference August and September road games when an underdog of three points or less.

Still, UCLA brings back most of its offensive line as running back Joshua Kelley looks to build off an excellent finish to last season.

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell has quickly built a winner, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson makes big strides in his second year in Kelly’s system, starting with a quality showing tonight. Something seems just a bit off with this short line, thus I like UCLA a tad here.

Utah-BYU Odds

Utah-BYU Things to Know

The Holy War, as it is called, has been dominated by Utah in recent seasons with the Utes winning the last eight matchups between these two teams. The expectation from most observers is that much probably won’t change this year. After all, Utah is coming off a Pac-12 South title and is expected to play for a conference title once again in 2019.

It’s not hard to see why. The Utes have a rock solid defense led by a stout front and experience on offense, particularly at the quarterback and running back positions.

Still, BYU also features a very good defense that should keep this game close. If sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson can replicate his hot finish to last season, one that was capped by a 300+ yard and four touchdown performance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, then this could be the year Utah’s run of dominance in this matchup comes to an end.

Keep an eye on tight end Matt Bushman against Utah’s inexperienced linebackers. The Utes defense doesn’t have many vulnerabilities, but that could be one of them.

BYU has won five straight season openers and has knocked off 12 power five teams over the past two decades in Week 1 games. This isn’t an unfamiliar spot for this program.

BYU is 3-1 ATS over its last four home games as a dog of seven points or less.

Eagles-Jets Odds 

Eagles-Jets Things to Know

It has been a mixed bag for bettors backing Doug Pederson’s teams in the preseason. Overall, the Eagles are 8-7 both straight up and ATS under him in such games. More recently, the Eagles are only 2-5 both straight-up and ATS since the start of the 2018 preseason. Their lone win last preseason came against the Jets in a 10-9 instant classic. Also, please note the sarcasm.

As for the Jets, they are 2-5 ATS overall and 1-4 ATS when favored in preseason games dating back to last year.

Penn State Odds at FanDuel Sportsbook

It’s never too early to look ahead to Saturday, so let’s take a look at Penn State’s opener against the Idaho Vandals.

Here’s something to know: Penn State hasn’t been favored by 40 points in a game dating back to at least the 2005 season. Idaho has struggled as a big dog in recent season. The Vandals are 0-4 ATS the last four times in which they were an underdog of at least 39 points.

One other thing: James Franklin’s Penn State teams are 2-1 ATS when favored by at least 30 points.

Oregon-Auburn Odds at FanDuel Sportsbook

Oregon-Auburn Trends to Know

Of course, we have to quickly hit on the weekend’s lone Top 25 matchup.

Yes, Oregon has Heisman hopeful Justin Herbert at quarterback, but the Ducks have been an absolutely miserable play as a short underdog since the start of the 2016 season. They are only 2-9-1 ATS when an underdog of three points or more during that span.

Conversely, Auburn is 5-1 ATS since the start of the 2016 season when favored between three and six points and 6-2 ATS when favored by six points or less.

$500 Risk Free Bet

Still going and likely will be going into football season, new FanDuel Sportsbook users in PA can claim a $500 risk-free bet when they sign up.

Parlay Insurance

FanDuel is running a cross-sport parlay insurance promo this week. Here’s how it works, with verbiage from their site:

Welcome to the Parlay Insurance promotion (the “Promotion”), where participants who place a four-leg or more straight parlay bet, and all but one leg wins, will receive a site credit equal to the amount of their wager, up to Twenty Five Dollars ($25) (“Promotion Bonus”) if their bet loses.

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