Best College Football Bets October 9th

It might be a hot take but this could be the best week of the college football season. We have the number three team in the country playing the number four team. We have a Red River Showdown between ranked Oklahoma and Texas teams with a combined one loss. We have the number two team in the country visiting the number 18 team. The next time we could potentially get three different showdowns between ranked, relevant teams is Thanksgiving weekend and by then many teams will be out of the national title picture. So, let’s enjoy the best weekend of the season with our best NCAAF bets of the week.

Season Record: 9-9

Texas vs. Oklahoma

The Bet: Oklahoma -3.5 (+100, DraftKings)

In what is arguably the biggest Red River Showdown in years, the #6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners will take on the #21 Texas Longhorns. The game will also be a Heisman showcase for Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler and Texas RB Bijan Robinson Jr.

The Sooners have been a -12.5 or larger favorite in every game this year until now. Oklahoma has defeated Tulane, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Kansas State by a touchdown or less. The Sooners’ only comfortable win was a 76-0 rout over Western Carolina.

Texas is 4-1 with their lone loss coming to Arkansas. The Longhorns have defeated Louisiana, Rice, Texas Tech, and TCU. Only the TCU win was by fewer than 20 points.

The Sooners are only 1-4 ATS on the season.  They defeated West Virginia by 3 points as a -17.5 favorite, they topped Nebraska by 7 as a -22.5 favorite, and Tulsa by 5 as a -31 favorite.

Meanwhile, Texas is 4-1 ATS on the year and has covered in three straight games. Texas has been a favorite in every game this season until now. The Longhorns were a -4 favorite over TCU last week and won by 5. Two weeks ago they were a -9 favorite against Texas Tech and won by 35.

So, why is Oklahoma the pick? The Sooners will be able to pass the ball on the Longhorns and it’s not totally clear Texas will be able to run the ball on an Oklahoma defense allowing just 83.6 rushing yards per game.

Maryland @ Ohio State

The Bet: Ohio State -20.5 (-110, Fox Bet)

A pair of 4-1 Big Ten teams will face off as #7 Ohio State hosts the unranked Maryland Terrapins.

The Buckeyes are 6-0 all-time against Maryland and are 4-2 ATS in those games. Last week, the Buckeyes were a -15 favorite at Rutgers and won by 39 points. This is the sixth time in six games this season that Ohio State is a -14 or higher favorite.

Ohio State bounced back from its loss to Oregon with three straight wins, including the 52-13 drubbing of Rutgers last week. The Buckeyes are averaging 45.0 points per game.

Maryland started the season 4-0 but was pummeled 51-14 by Iowa last week as a +3 underdog. Maryland has a conference win against Illinois and non-conference wins against West Virginia, Howard, and Kent State.

If you want to play the total, all six Maryland games against OSU have gone over, with the total set at 69.5 for Saturday.

BYU @ Boise State

The Bet: BYU -5.5 (-110, Borgata)

The Bet: Under 56.5 points (-104, Bet MGM)

Last year BYU beat Boise State 51-17 as a -5.5 road favorite. This year, the Cougars are arguably better, as their balanced offensive attack has led them to a spot in the AP top ten. Boise State, on the other hand, is having its worst season in years.

The Broncos are 2-3, having lost to UCF, Oklahoma State, and Nevada, with their not-especially impressive wins coming against UTEP and Utah State.

BYU, an independent, has already torn through the PAC-12, defeating Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, in addition to Utah State and South Florida.

For BYU, Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney have combined to throw 12 TD and 2 INT for BYU. Tyler Allgeier has rushed for 569 yards and 7 TD. Neil Pau’u’ leads the Cougars with 22 catches for 281 yards and 4 TD.

Boise’s Hank Bachmeier is among the nation’s leading passers with 1,520 yards, to go with 11 TD and 4 interceptions. Boise has had a tough time running the football, carrying the ball 175 times for 353 yards, good for just 2.0 yards per carry. Kalil Shakir has 31 catches for 518 yards and 4 TD.

The team with the blue turf is not as intimidating as it once was. Including last year’s blowout loss, Boise has only covered in one of their last six games against BYU.

As far as the total is concerned, 7 of BYU’s last 8 games have gone under with the total set at 56.5 for Saturday.