College football Week 4 betting odds, picks, predictions for KU, Mizzou and more
The beautiful thing about betting on college football is that you don’t need a strong lineup of games to have an enjoyable (and profitable) Saturday.
ESPN decided to send “College GameDay” to an incredibly dull matchup between Miami and Florida this week. If that’s the blockbuster game of the day ... yikes. But that shouldn’t bother us, because there are many other interesting games to focus on.
Let’s find some more winners in Week 4...
West Virginia (+13.5) at Kansas
On the surface, this may seem like too many points for the Jayhawks to be laying against any Big 12 team.
But a closer inspection reveals that Kansas may be getting West Virginia at the perfect time to cover a big spread. The Jayhawks are usually at their best when Lance Leipold has extra time to prepare. Last season, Kansas covered against Houston (42-14) and Iowa State (45-36) when the team was coming off an idle week.
On the flip side, West Virginia is coming off the emotional high of beating rival Pittsburgh in overtime.
This is a great spot on the schedule for KU.
South Carolina (+9.5) at Missouri
The Tigers have a perfect 3-0 record against the spread this season. Can they add another cover to their winning streak in their SEC opener?
Maybe. South Carolina looked like a fraud against Vanderbilt last week and there are questions with a quarterback injury.
My favorite college football bets for Week 4
1. Arizona State (+3.5) at Baylor: This could end up being one of the most entertaining games of the day. Both teams can put up points in a hurry, and the winner will have a leg up in the Big 12 championship race. Who wins the shootout? Give me the side that can play a little bit of defense. Pick: Arizona State.
2. Fresno State (-2.5) at Hawaii: Here’s a bet recommendation for the night owls. Fresno State began the season with a loss to Kansas, but the Bulldogs have been dominating teams ever since. It could be hard for Hawaii to keep up, even at home. Pick: Fresno State.
3. California (-12.5) at San Diego State: Would you believe Cal has won all three of its games by at least 13 points this season? I don’t see that trend stopping against the Aztecs, who are coming off a 36-13 loss to Washington State. Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is legit. Pick: Cal.
4. North Carolina State (+3.5) at Duke: Are we sure the right team is favored here? I understand that Duke will be desperate to win at home after losing its last two games against Illinois and Tulane. But it is coming off a pair of losses for a reason. NC State is undefeated and playing like a better team. Pick: NC State.
5. West Virginia (+13.5) at Kansas: As mentioned above, the Jayhawks are well-positioned to win this game going away. Pick: Kansas.
Last week: 1-4.
Season record: 6-9 (-3.9 units).
Other bets worth considering
Tulsa (+11.5) at Oklahoma State: Both of these teams stink. With that in mind, this feels like a boring game that will finish with a score of 21-10. Lean: Under 54.5.
South Carolina (+9.5) at Missouri: The Tigers have been hard to beat at home this season. It’s hard for me to see that changing against the Gamecocks. Lean: Missouri.
BYU (+6.5) at East Carolina: Why is BYU playing a road game against East Carolina? I’m not sure. But it has the feel of a contest that the Cougars should win by a touchdown or more. Lean: BYU.
SMU (+7.5) at TCU: This rivalry game is always a shootout. Why not sit back and cheer for more points this weekend? Lean: Over 64.5.
Maryland (+10.5) at Wisconsin: I fully expect Wisconsin to win this game at home, but not by double digits.. Lean: Maryland.
Last week: 3-2.
Season record: 11-4 (+6.6 units).
Upset pick of the week
Auburn (+220) at Oklahoma: I’m not sold on Oklahoma. Yes, the Sooners have a great quarterback in John Mateer, and they are off to an undefeated start. They deserve to be ranked in the top 25. But their wins (Illinois State, Michigan, Temple) haven’t been all that impressive. On the flip side, I like what I have seen from Auburn. Jackson Arnold can give his old team problems through the air and on the ground. Plus, the Tigers have already won a difficult road game at Baylor. Let’s take a bigger swing this week and hope Auburn can win as a touchdown underdog. Pick: Auburn.
Last week: 1-0.
Season Record: 2-1 (+1.8 units).