Week 5 College Football Betting Analysis
Okay BetUS NCAA college football bettors, four weeks have passed since the start of the 2008 NCAA college football season and several ‘truths’ have been revealed about many of the nation’s elite teams.
Here is a look at each AP Top 25 team taking the field in the BetUS Sportsbook this coming weekend, followed by my brief analysis on each of their matchups and NCAA Football Free Picks.
Southern California (1) at Oregon State
USC, (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS, 1-1 O/U) take on Oregon State, (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 O/U) this weekend in a contest the Trojans likely won’t have much trouble in as they are clearly the cream of the crop in an unimpressive Pac-10 this season. NCAAF Free Pick: USC 38 Oregon State 17
Tennessee at Auburn (9)
The Tennessee Vols, (1-2 SU, 0-3 ATS, 1-2 O/U), take on Auburn, (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS, 1-3 O/U) this week in a matchup the Tigers should be able to win with their eyes closed. Take the Tigers to roll. NCAAF Free Pick: Auburn 28 Tennessee 17
Mississippi at Florida (4)
Mississippi, (2-2 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U), should be no match for the Florida Gators, (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS, 1-2 O/U) and will fall in this matchup as they are clearly overmatched. NCAAF Free Pick: Florida 38 Mississippi 21
Mississippi State at Louisiana State (6)
Mississippi State, (1-3 SU, 1-2 ATS, 1-2 O/U) takes on No. 6 Louisiana State, (3-0 SU, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U) in this matchup I fully expect the Tigers to dominate after falling to Auburn last week. NCAAF Free Pick: LSU 42 Mississippi State 14
South Florida (16) at North Carolina State
The South Florida Bulls, (4-0 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 O/U), hit the road to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack, (2-2 SU, 2-1 ATS, 1-2 O/U) in a contest they should win – even if it’s not by as big a margin as most people think. Take the Bulls to win narrowly. NCAAF Free Pick: South Florida 28 NC State 21
Minnesota at Ohio State (14)
Minnesota, (4-0 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U) may be 4-0 but they certainly haven’t faced a team of Ohio State’s, (3-1 SU, 0-3 ATS, 0-3 O/U), caliber. Take the Buckeyes to roll, to victory, though they clearly aren’t national title contending material this season. NCAAF Free Pick: Ohio State 31 Minnesota 21
Maryland at Clemson (21)
Were Maryland, (3-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U), at home in this contest, I might say they’ beat Clemson, (3-1 SU, 0-2 ATS, 0-2 O/U), outright, but since they’re on the road, I say take the Tigers to win but the Terrapins to cover the spread, whatever it may be come game time. NCAAF Free Pick: Clemson 28 Maryland 24
Marshall at West Virginia (22)
Marshall, (3-1 SU, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 O/U) West Virginia, (1-2 SU, 0-2 ATS, 0-2 O/U)
While Marshall was routed in their season opener, losing on the road to Wisconsin, 51-14, the Mountaineers are not the Badgers and I’m going out on a limb to say that Marshall keeps it close with a serious possibility of winning outright despite being on the road. Take the Thundering Herd to cover the spread in this matchup – if they don’t win outright that is! NCAAF Free Pick: West Virginia 21 Marshall 20
Houston at East Carolina (17)
The Houston Cougars, (1-3 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 O/U), are going down and they are going down really, really hard in this matchup against East Carolina, (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS, 3-1 O/U), one of the best surprises in all of college football this season. NCAAF Free Pick: East Carolina 38 Houston 20
Weber State at Utah (20)
Weber State, (0-1 SU, 0-0 ATS, 0-0 O/U), should probably not even show up for this contest against the surprising Utah Utes, (4-0 SU, 2-1-1 ATS, 4-0 O/U), in this contest. Simply put, take the Utes to cover the spread while putting Weber State to be by halftime in this matchup. NCAAF Free Pick: Utah 42 Weber State 10
Colorado at Florida State (25)
The Colorado Buffaloes, (3-0 SU, 2-0 ATS, 0-2 O/U), will take on a Florida State, (2-1 SU, 0-1 ATS, 0-1 O/U), team that just got a lot healthier with the return of four key players this week. Even without them, they still win this contest. NCAAF Free Pick: Florida State 27 Colorado 20
UPSET SPECIAL
Alabama (13) at Georgia (3)
Alabama, (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS, 2-2 O/U), takes on Georgia, (4-0 SU, 2-0-1 ATS, 1-2 O/U), in this matchup of Top 25 teams – and I’m going to come right out and say I think the Crimson Tide get the huge road upset in this contest against a Georgia team that looked absolutely pitiful in beating South Carolina 14-7 on the road two weeks ago. Take Nick Saban to lead the Tide to a huge upset victory in this matchup, which really wouldn’t be much of an upset at all in the grand scheme of things. NCAAF Free Pick: Alabama 31 Georgia 28
Wisconsin (8) at Michigan
If Michigan’s, (1-2 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 O/U), 35-17 loss to mediocre Notre Dame this past weekend didn’t tell you that Rich Rodriguez has a long way to go with the Wolverines, then you weren’t paying attention. Wisconsin, (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U), wins this game easily. NCAAF Free Pick: Wisconsin 28 Michigan 17
Navy at Wake Forest (18)
There is absolutely no way that Navy, (2-2 SU, 1-2 ATS, 1-2 O/U) win this contest over a better-than-expected Wake Forest, (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U), team that has already opened plenty of eyes this season. NCAAF Free Pick: Wake Forest 41 Navy 14
Texas Christian at Oklahoma (2)
Say what you want, but I say Oklahoma, (3-0 SU, 2-0 ATS, 2-0 O/U), quarterback Sam Bradford is the best quarterback in all of college football – and that’s no knock against Tim Tebow or Chase Daniel. Texas Christian, (4-0 SU, 3-0 ATS, 2-1 O/U), has gotten off to a terrific start this season, but they pick up their first loss in this matchup. NCAAF Free Pick: Oklahoma 42 TCU 24
Oregon (12) at Washington State
The Oregon Ducks, (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS, 2-1-1 O/U), will have absolutely no trouble against a Washington State, (1-3 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 O/U), team that has started off their 2008 season in typical mediocre fashion. Take the Beavers to lay an emphatic smackdown on Washington State despite being on the rod in this contest. NCAAF Free Pick: Oregon 35 Washington State 14
Arkansas at Texas (7)
Arkansas, (2-1 SU, 0-2 ATS, 2-0 O/U), got literally blown out on Saturday, losing to the Crimson Tide 49-14 despite playing at home. I say they fall once again in this matchup against a Texas, (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS, 0-3 O/U), team that is clearly superior. Take the Longhorns to ‘Hook ‘em’ good this weekend. NCAAF Free Pick: Texas 38 Arkansas 14
Illinois (23) at Penn State (15)
Illinois, (2-1 SU, 0-2 ATS, 1-1 O/U), has won each of their last two games, but clearly isn’t in the same class as the Penn State Nittany Lions, (4-0 SU, 3-0 ATS, 2-1 O/U), who, admittedly, have beaten up on the ‘Sisters of the Blind’ in each of their first four contests this season. Despite their lack of quality opponents, I say take the Nittany Lions to roll to another convincing home victory in this contest. NCAAF Free Pick: Penn State 38 Illinois 31
