As the college football season powers through October and towards its final stages, teams are hunting for signature wins to strengthen their bids for conference titles and College Football Playoff spots. Week 9 offers key opportunities for programs looking to move closer to securing a spot in the expanded 12-team postseason. Let’s dive into the College Football Vegas odds for some of the biggest matchups.
Below are the money line odds from three of the best best College Football betting sites.
This Friday night’s Mountain West Conference matchup carries significant college football playoff implications, as both teams have one loss and are currently tied for first place in the conference. If you haven’t been paying attention, Boise State’s running back, Ashton Jeanty, is having an outstanding season. However, it’s worth noting that UNLV has also quietly established the fifth-best rushing attack in the nation, averaging 251.4 yards per game.
Offensively, Boise State is more balanced, ranking fourth in total yards (523 ypg), second in yards per play (7.8 ypp), and first in rushing yards (298.8 ypg). Recently, the Broncos have dominated this series. They boast a 6-0 straight-up record and a 3-3 mark against the spread against UNLV. When visiting Las Vegas, Boise has gone 4-0 straight-up and 3-1 against the spread.
This matchup might be one of the few opportunities this season to see Jeanty play a full game. We believe his performance could be the deciding factor in this contest.
UCF enters this matchup with a 3-4 record straight up and a 4-3 mark against the spread. The Golden Knights boast an offense that averages 31.3 points per game (ranked 48th out of 134 teams). The defense has allowed 25.7 points per game (78th). Last week, they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to No. 9 Iowa State, losing 38-35 on a last-minute touchdown pass. UCF relies heavily on its powerful ground game, which ranks third in the nation. They average 280.3 rushing yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry. They recorded 354 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the loss to Iowa State.
However, UCF’s biggest weakness is its one-dimensional offense. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who started three seasons at Arkansas, has struggled with accuracy and turnovers. He has completed just 59.3% of his passes for 1,012 yards, along with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. While BYU has allowed over 220 rushing yards twice this season, both instances were against well-rounded offenses that could threaten both through the air and on the ground.
Since joining the Big 12, UCF has struggled, posting a 2-9 record in their last 11 games. In contrast, BYU has a balanced attack, averaging 34.9 points per game (23rd) on offense and allowing 19.0 points per game (26th) on defense. The Cougars narrowly escaped last week against Oklahoma State, winning 38-35 thanks to a late touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Retzlaff to receiver Darius Lassister.
BYU has performed well on the road, going 4-1 against the spread in their last five away games and 5-1 against the spread in their last six conference contests. Although these teams have only met three times before, BYU leads the series with a 2-1 record both straight up and against the spread. Close losses can take a toll on a team, while close victories can provide a significant boost. BYU will look to maintain its perfect record and keep its College Football Playoff aspirations alive.
This in-state rivalry has tilted in favor of the Wolverines over the past eight college football seasons, with a 5-3 straight-up record since 2016. However, when it comes to betting, the Spartans have outperformed expectations, posting a 12-3-1 record against the spread in their last 16 encounters. Both teams currently stand at 4-3 straight up. Michigan State is 4-3 against the spread, while Michigan struggles at 1-6 ATS.
The Wolverines’ offense is significantly less potent than the one that contended for the National Championship, averaging two touchdowns fewer per game. Their defense is allowing 11 more points than last season. In contrast, the Spartans have already matched last year’s win total. New head coach Jonathan Smith has made notable strides, improving the offense from 15.9 points per game last year to 21.6 this season, along with a defensive drop from 28.3 points per game to 20.9.
Smith has a strong track record as an underdog, boasting a 10-18 straight-up record but an impressive 18-10 mark against the spread during his time at Oregon State. Since taking over at Michigan State, he has led the Spartans to a 2-3 straight-up record and a 4-1 record against the spread as underdogs. We expect this trend to continue as the rivalry unfolds.
See below some of the best options for college football betting. These are the best online betting sites in USA 2024.
