College Football Week 10 could again separate the contenders from the pretenders. The biggest game of the week has 1 Alabama hosting 19 LSU. Alabama versus LSU has become one of the toughest college football games of the season to handicap.
Could LSU possibly keep it close? I preview other huge matchups including 6 Clemson at 20 NC State, 8 Oklahoma at 11 Oklahoma State, and 23 Arizona at 17 USC. Check out my 2017 College Football Week 10 Preview!
2017 College Football Week 10 Preview
Friday, Nov. 3
22 Memphis -12 at Tulsa +12
Memphis is favored by 12 points over Tulsa this Friday night. Most of the trends point to the Tigers getting it done. Memphis is 4 and 0 ATS in their last 4 Friday games. They’ve also gone 5 and 0 against the spread versus a team with a losing record. The road team, Memphis in this case, is 6 and 0 against the spread in the last 6 meetings. One bad spread for Memphis is that they’re 2 and 6 ATS in the last 8 meetings between these 2. Is the bad spread enough for me to go with Tulsa? Yep. I’m taking the 12 points.
Pick: Tulsa +12
Saturday, Nov. 4
4 Wisconsin -9 at Indiana +9
The Wisconsin Badgers head to Indiana as a -9 favorite. Wisconsin doesn’t always cover the spread. The thing is, this matchup favors the Badgers big time. Indiana’s best shot of beating Wisconsin is to turn this game into a shootout. If that happens, the Badgers are much better suited to winning a shootout than Indiana. Why? Wisconsin allows less than 13 points on average. I think they rout Indiana. 70% of college football handicappers agree with me. I’m not alone in my assessment. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Best Pick: Wisconsin -9
7 Penn State -11 at Michigan State
I don’t feel Michigan State is on the same level as the Penn State Nittany Lions. Sparty was ranked until losing 31 to 39 to Northwestern in overtime as a +2 road dog in Week 9. Losing to Northwestern in overtime in no way is comparable to facing a team like Penn State. The last time Michigan State faced a legitimate Top 10 squad, Notre Dame, they were routed. I don’t see the Spartans keeping pace with the Lions in this. Penn State comes back huge after the 4th quarter meltdown against Ohio State in Week 8.
Pick: Penn State -11
Massachusetts +28 at 21 Mississippi State -28
Mississippi State should have no trouble dominating Massachusetts on Saturday. The Bulldogs have won 3 in a row after 2 terrible performances at Georgia and at Auburn. Mississippi State’s absolute destruction of Texas A&M 35 to 13 on the road in College Football Week 9 is a sign that they’re back to being one of the better teams in the SEC this season. UMass doesn’t have much shot versus Mississippi State on Nov. 4.
Best Pick: Mississippi State -28
16 Auburn -12.5 at Texas A&M +12.5
The betting line has gone up to Texas A&M +15. I’m not sure if stays there. Either way, I’ll back the Aggies versus an Auburn squad that doesn’t always perform as well as their fans would want them to perform. This is a good game to go to the trends because Auburn and A&M have played each other every season for a while. The road team is 5 and 0 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Does that mean Auburn is the play? I don’t think so. Auburn, the road team, is also 3 and 9 ATS in their last 12 games in November. This is the month Auburn slows down. I’ll take the points.
Pick: Texas A&M
18 Stanford +3 at 25 Washington State -3
Washington State allowed Arizona to score 58 points against them in their 37 to 58 loss to the Wildcats in Tucson in Week 8. Luckily for Washington State fans, the Stanford Cardinal averages 21 points per game. This is just a bad matchup for Stanford. A team that could only score 15 points versus Oregon State doesn’t have much chance against Washington State, right? That’s what I’m thinking. The Cougars are a best pick.
Best Pick: Washington State -3
3 Ohio State -16.5 at Iowa +16.5
The Buckeyes made a furious comeback to take down the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ohio State is now ranked third in the nation. Although the Buckeyes aren’t a great covering team, they should carry on the fantastic performance against Penn State to their Week 10 battle against Iowa. The favorite in the head to head is 8-2-1 against the spread in the 11 meetings. The road team is 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Pick: Ohio State -16.5
6 Clemson -7 at 20 NC State +7
I just don’t believe in Clemson as much as every one else does. To me, NC State has a huge shot of bouncing back against the Tigers after their blowout loss to Notre Dame in Week 9. The Wolfpack is 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 conference games. Although Clemson has dominated in recent years, this NC State team is much better than the ones that the Tigers have blown out in the past couple of seasons. I’m willing to take the points on the home dog.
Pick: NC State +7
South Carolina +25 at 2 Georgia -25
60% of college football handicappers are taking the 25 points on the South Carolina Gamecocks in their battle with the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 4. I’m part of that 60%. Georgia is the second best team in the nation. Nobody can argue against it. I can’t even argue against it. But, the Gamecocks allow less than 21 points per game on average. South Carolina has won 3 in a row and 4 out of their last 5. The Gamecocks can keep their battle with the Bulldogs much closer than 25 points.
Pick: South Carolina +25
14 Iowa State +3.5 at West Virginia -3.5
Iowa State heads to Morgantown as one of the hottest college football teams in the country. The Cyclones have already beaten TCU and Oklahoma this season. Could Iowa State really add a win on the road versus West Virginia? Iowa State should. Holding TCU to only 7 points was a brilliant piece of defensive play by the Cyclones in Week 9. Iowa State should have no trouble scoring points versus a West Virginia defense that yields an average of 31.6 points per. Iowa State ATS is a best pick.
Best Pick: Iowa State +3.5
Wake Forest +14 at 5 Notre Dame -14
Notre Dame has gone 7 and 1 against the spread this season. I believe the Irish are one of the Top 4 teams in college football. The only loss has been to undefeated Georgia. That loss happened way back in Week 2. Wake Forest has a decent defense. I don’t believe Wake’s offense can keep pace with the Irish, though. Notre Dame should cover the 14-point spread.
Best Pick: Notre Dame -14
8 Oklahoma +3 at 11 Oklahoma State -3
The trends tell us which way to go in this battle. Oklahoma is 8 and 1 ATS in their last 9 games versus a team with a winning record. The Sooners are also 5 and 1 ATS in their last 6 following an against the spread win. Those aren’t the most important trends. The most important trends are: Oklahoma is 5 and 1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Stillwater, and Oklahoma is 9 and 3 ATS in the last 12 meetings. Oklahoma has no business losing straight up to Oklahoma State. I think the Sooners prevail as a dog.
Pick: Oklahoma +3
Texas +7 at 10 TCU -7
60% of football handicappers believe TCU bounces back from their loss to Iowa State to beat Texas and cover the 7-point spread. I don’t. Texas is an incredible 6-1-1 ATS even though they’re 6 and 4 straight up. The Longhorns have a good defense while TCU showed this past Saturday how bad it’s offense can be versus a good defense. Texas has a good shot of beating the Horned Frogs straight up. Taking the points is a no-brainer.
Best Pick: Texas +7
13 Virginia Tech -1.5 at 9 Miami +1.5
Why is Virginia Tech favored? I’m not sure the Hokies should be. Miami’s terrible at covering spreads, but the Hurricanes are undefeated. I don’t see Miami losing straight up to Virginia Tech at home. What it means is that I must side with the Canes against the spread.
Pick: Miami
19 LSU +22 at 1 Alabama -22
LSU always plays Alabama tough. Granted, this LSU team isn’t the same LSU team that has faced Alabama in the past. However, the road team is 15-6-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings. I’ve got the feeling LSU plays their best game of the season. They’re still going to lose. They just won’t lose by more than 21 points.
Pick: LSU +22
23 Arizona +9 at 17 USC -9
Arizona’s offense should be too much for USC. Zona doesn’t even play defense. It won’t matter in this game. USC has very little chance of keeping up with the Wildcats on the scoreboard. Taking 9 points in this game is a must. Truth be told, I’m not sure Arizona isn’t the overall better team in the matchup. USC’s had moments where they don’t play well at all. Arizona straight up is a nice play on the money line. I’ll take the points in all parlay bets.
Best Pick: Arizona +9