Alabama tops power ratings as college football betting lines posted

It should shock exactly no one that Nick Saban is coaching the most powerful team in college football again this season.

South Point sports book director Chris Andrews opened lines Friday on the season’s first week and 40 more of the season’s top games. Alabama is the No. 1 team in Andrews’ power ratings.

Andrews posted the Crimson Tide as 10-point favorites over Southern California on Sept. 3 at Arlington, Texas. The Trojans attracted initial action to drop the line to 9.

The first week is loaded with marquee games. Louisiana State is a 10-point favorite against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. Notre Dame faces Texas on Sunday, Sept. 4, and after the line opened at pick’em, two $1,000 limit bets moved the Fighting Irish to 1½-point favorites.

Here are the South Point lines for the rest of the season (home team in CAPS):

Saturday, Sept. 10

PITTSBURGH (-7½) over Penn State

UTAH (-6) over Brigham Young

TEXAS CHRISTIAN (-6) over Arkansas

Saturday, Sept. 17

NOTRE DAME (-6) over Michigan State

OKLAHOMA (-7) over Ohio State

NEBRASKA (-2) over Oregon

Alabama (-3) over MISSISSIPPI

Saturday, Sept. 24

Arkansas (Pick) Texas A&M at Arlington, Texas