Evaluating Teams with Early-Season September Bye Weeks

The college football season kicks off this weekend, and the full slate of games begins the following week over Labor Day weekend. I have outlined the college football September bye week schedule along with each team's pre and post-bye opponents. In NCAA football, this can be a real benefit to the rested and prepared team, and especially later in the season. In college football betting, when playing at home off a bye, there is a solid situational edge when playing an opponent that is not off a bye.

There are plenty of situations and profiles to consider as you evaluate these bye teams, knowing too that in some seasons past, this base situation favoring home teams off a bye has produced better than 65% against the spread (ATS). In conference action, this becomes a stronger sub-set and especially later in the season for a team playing at home.

We'll review more as the season moves along, but recognize college football scheduling situations and take note of teams off a bye, and those playing at home that may also have additional motivation that includes significant redemption.

This is another piece to add to your handicapping arsenal, but know that you still must evaluate the match-ups, motivation, injuries, statistical profiles and betting lines before you blindly bet on these rested and ready teams off a bye. The linesmaker has made more adjustments in recent seasons to the bye week situation, but there are still good opportunities available when you factor in all the information above.

FairwayJay is a leading national sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. Read more great insights from Jay here and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay