BEST BETS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 10, INCLUDING THREE TOP-25 SHOWDOWNS
College football is finally back in full swing this week with all five Power Five conferences competing this Saturday for the first time this season. Facing the fullest Saturday slate yet, we take a look at some of the best bets across the country.
Air Force at Army
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 11:30 PM ET
Odds: Army -6
Total: 42
As these two teams battle it out with the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy on the line, you can expect a close game. But more than that, you can expect a low-scoring game. Since 2005, unders in games between two service academy teams have gone 36-9-1, hitting at an absurd 80 percent rate. In a game between two triple-option service academy teams that rank dead last in passing play percentage this year, expect the under to hit again.
Pick: Under 42.
Arizona State at No. 20 USC
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – NOON ET
Odds: USC -11
Total: 59
The Pac-12 is back this week, and the conference is trying something new with games in the early slot, meaning a 9 a.m. kickoff in California, meaning players will likely be waking up well before 6 a.m. for their pregame routines. Between this obscenely early start and the long layoff since these teams have last seen the field, expect a slow start and relatively few points from both sides.
Pick: Under 59
No. 23 Michigan at No. 13 Indiana
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 3:30 PM ET
Odds: Michigan -3
Total: 54
Michigan looked dominant in its 49-24 win against Minnesota, but the Wolverines lost all that momentum last week with a 27-24 home loss to Michigan State in a game where they struggled to throw the ball downfield and had no answer for freshman receiver Ricky White. Meanwhile, enters the game as a home underdog despite playing its best football in years and riding a wave of momentum after a 2-0 start. The Hoosiers will get the win here.
Pick: Indiana +3
Maryland at Penn State
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 3:30 PM ET
Odds: Penn State -24.5
Total: 63
Penn State began the season as a top-10 team with Big Ten title hopes, but just two weeks into the season, the Nittany Lions find themselves 0-2 and outside of the AP top-25. But even in those two losses, Penn State showed promise. The Nittany Lions outgained Indiana 488 to 211 in the first game and hung with the Buckeyes for four quarters in the second. Expect Penn State to bounce back in a big way behind a talented roster.
Pick: Penn State -24.5
No. 8 Florida vs. No. 5 Georgia
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 3:30 PM ET
Odds: Georgia -4
Total: 53.5
Saturday’s neutral-site showdown between No. 8 Florida and No. 5 Georgia will be effectively a college football playoff elimination game after both teams suffered an early-season loss. It will be a strength-on-strength matchup pitting Florida’s high-powered offense against Georgia’s stout defense, but the Bulldog defense won’t be able to slow down this high-powered Gator offense all game. Florida will roll, while Georgia will struggle to keep up offensively.
Pick: Florida +4
No. 14 Oklahoma State at Kansas State
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 4:00 PM ET
Odds: Oklahoma State -12
Total: 46
Oklahoma State suffered its first loss of the season in a 41-34 overtime thriller against Texas, but the Cowboys hadn’t looked dominant on the season up to that point with close wins against largely inferior opponents like Tulsa and West Virginia. This team hasn’t proved it can go on the road against a Kansas State team that’s better than its record and win by double digits. The Wildcats could win this game straight up, but at the very least they’ll keep it close.
Pick: Kansas State +12
No. 1 Clemson Tigers at No. 4 Notre Dame
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 – 7:30 PM ET
Odds: Clemson -6
Total: 50
Clemson and Notre Dame will battle on Saturday night not only for the inside track to the ACC title and a spot in the college football playoff, but the Tigers enter this matchup with a distinct talent advantage, even with Trevor Lawrence sidelined after a positive COVID-19 test. The Irish defense is stout, but freshman D.J. Uiagalelei and Travis Etienne will prove too much for them in this one, and the Notre Dame offense just isn’t built to score enough points to keep them in this game.
Pick: Clemson -3