NCAA football betting players don’t have to worry about the one-and-done era permeating their sport as it has on the hardwood, as the top five picks slated to go in next year’s draft are all freshmen.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina – The much-hyped rookie is still working on his rhythm, but he already has an NBA body and word is he has a great attitude, which is different from most freshmen of his pedigree.

Perry Jones, Baylor – Jones is 6’11″ with the handles of a guard, and as he goes, he’ll learn that he doesn’t have to do it all by himself as Jones has a tendency to try and take on a team on his own.

Kyrie Irving, Duke – Some say Irving has the potential to be the best point guard to come out of Duke, and that is high praise. His aggressiveness is perfect for the Duke system, and unlike most freshmen, Irving makes some good decisions.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State – Sullinger is the next big man to come out of Columbus, and while he’s not that athletic, Sullinger can pound it in the paint, which wears on opposing defenses and gets them in foul trouble.

Brandon Knight, Kentucky – The next one in the John Calipari School of Points Guards, Knight is more Derrick Rose than John Wall in that he is a very strong guard, and he’s probably a better outside shooter than either Rose or Wall were as freshmen. This bodes very well if you’re going to lay on bet on Kentucky next March.

College football betting is my main focus until the NBA season heats up, even though many are dying to make a World Series bet, so here’s my three picks to watch this weekend, with odds from BetOnline.com:

No.13 Penn State vs Michigan – Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com odds: Penn State -4.5

The Nittany Lions have lost five straight trips to the “Big House”, and they’re facing a Michigan team that is getting better each and every week. With two road losses by a combined eight points (one in overtime) and coming off an almost-criminal 63-6 destruction of Delaware State, the Wolverines have momentum. With the charges rallying behind Tate Forcier, bet on the home underdogs.

No.1 Florida vs Mississippi State – Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Florida -22.5

The Gators haven’t come close to being as good as they were last year, and they were gambling with their 16-game winning streak last week with four turnovers in a last-second win over Arkansas. They’ve lost their last two trips to Mississippi State as road underdogs, and their play hasn’t been convincing at all, it’s like Urban Meyer is in a gambling ring or something. Florida may squeeze out another win, but there’s no way in this world they’re covering that spread.

No.3 Texas vs Missouri – Saturday, October 24, 8:00 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Texas -12.5

Colt McCoy says he’s fine after getting beaten up all over the field in last week’s 16-13 win over Oklahoma in the “Red River Rivalry”, and he’s surely better off than Sooners’ counterpart Sam Bradford, who re-injured his shoulder, is now out for the season, and may need to go into employment as a district attorney after turning down last year’s guaranteed NFL money. The Tigers have dropped two straight and are starting to show their stripes. They’re a very young team, which is usually  something to stay away from when you make a bet on sports. However, their defense is quick but small, and they’re starting to wear down. The Longhorns will make it six in a row over the Tigers, easy enough to cover in your sportsbook.

This weekend’s big matchup comes the Florida vs LSU odds, and the No.1 Gators are favored by a touchdown at Death Valley. However, they began as 9.5-point favorites in your sportsbook, and it’s all because of the health of one man.

Tim Tebow is a game-time decision due to the concussion he suffered two weeks ago at Kentucky, and the former Heisman winner (as well as one of this year’s favorites) hasn’t participated in any contact drills yet. Contact is basically the most important part of Tebow’s game, and this will change Florida’ place dramatically. However, he has to consider if future as one of the top NFL picks next year, and he shouldn’t do anything stupid.

LSU has won 32 Saturday night games in a row at Death Valley, and they can’t be happy about being an underdog at home. The Tigers are coming off a big win at Georgia, yet they still haven’t played to their expectations. They’ll make a statement and blow the championship race wide open with a win. Regardless, the atmosphere alone in Tiger Stadium will be well worth the price per head.

Online betting players know that Blake Griffin, the first overall pick in the NBA draft, went to Oklahoma. The Sooners are more known for their football program, but in recent years, they’ve earned the title of “Chokehoma”, due to their play in big games. How did the Sooners fare in Week 1?

Despite being a 22-point favorite at a neutral-site that favored them (Dallas), the Sooners were beaten 14-13 by BYU, and more importantly, Heisman winner Sam Bradford was hurt and could miss 2-4 weeks of action. The Sooners’ NCAA football betting odds have definitely dropped, and now, even running the table may not get them back to a BCS bowl. However, that may be for the best, as the Sooners have lost their last five BCS games, including last year’s loss to Georgia in the championship game.

Last year, Oklahoma’s offense was worth the price per head to watch the Sooners set records, but it won’t be a smooth ride this year. We’re betting management at the University of Texas are licking their chops for October 17′s edition of the “Red River Rivalry”, where a comprehensive beatdown of the Sooners would allow some room for a loss. Meanwhile, the Sooners have a lot of work to do to shed their status as chokers.