College Football Betting Preview: Week 5
The college football season continues on Saturday, but it's Thursday night's slate that features the week's marquee matchup in Tempe.
Here’s a look at five matchups that will be of note to bettors in Week 5.
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Thursday, September 25
Texas Tech Red Raiders at 24 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Spread: Oklahoma State -14
Total: 71
Analysis: The big question mark surrounding this game comes from the Texas Tech defense, which has been terrible to start the year, and was forced to replace defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt who resigned during the bye week due to personal reasons.
That's not a recipe for success with a potent Oklahoma State team coming to town.
Oklahoma State may be without injured starting quarterback J.W. Walsh, but junior Daxx Garman has looked just fine in relief. Garman threw for 315 yards and two scores, leading the Cowboys to a second-consecutive 40-point output a week ago against Texas-San Antonio.
Texas Tech can answer right back, as Kliff Kingsbury has found himself a quarterback. Davis Webb has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions through three weeks.
Meetings between these teams typically yield a shootout, with at least 72 points scored in five of the last seven matchups.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 45, Texas Tech 35
The Play: Over 71
The Trend: The over is 8-2 in the Texas Tech's last 10 road games.
11 UCLA Bruins at 15 Arizona State Sun Devils
Spread: UCLA -4
Total: 60.5
Analysis: This game doesn't have the same shine it did before the season as it seems neither Taylor Kelly nor Brett Hundley figure to play in this game.
With both quarterbacks on the sideline, this game takes on a very different complexion, even though it remains the marquee matchup in a rough week of games.
Should both quarterbacks miss the contest, the Sun Devils seem to have a clear edge with D.J. Foster spearheading a ground attack that's churned out better than 300 yards per game.
If Hundley plays at a level near what we've come to expect from him, the Bruins are the clear favorite, but it didn't feel like a one-week injury when he went down in Austin.
Prediction: Arizona State 31, UCLA 28
The Play: Arizona State +4
The Trend: Arizona State is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following a bye week.
Saturday, September 27
1 Florida State Seminoles at NC State Wolfpack
Spread: Florida State -18.5
Total: 57.5
Analysis: Florida State is ranked No. 1 in the nation at the moment, but the team has plenty of warts.
The team needed overtime to eke past a rebuilding Clemson squad last weekend, albeit without their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. They'll get Jameis Winston back for Saturday's game, but that won't be enough to cure what ails them.
NC State has been sneaky good, averaging an ACC-best 502 yards of offense and scoring 40.3 points per game in compiling a 4-0 record. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been a breath of fresh air in an offense that desperately needed one.
An upset of Florida State is highly unlikely, but the Seminoles have had difficulty building up margins thus far, and it doesn't look like this game against an improving Wolfpack squad will be any different.
Prediction: Florida State 34, NC State 24
The Play: NC State +18.5
The Trend: NC State is 13-3-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
16 Stanford Cardinal at Washington Huskies
Spread: Stanford -8
Total: 47.5
Analysis: Washington has gotten off to a fast start in Chris Petersen's short tenure with the team, guiding the Huskies to four straight wins.
They'll take a big step up in class Saturday, but if there's one thing we learned from Petersen's time at Boise State, it's that he always keeps one eye looking forward to the marquee matchups, and this is one.
Stanford's first three games will be viewed as a disappointment by many because of the result against USC, but those looking for positives should look no further than the team's elite defense, which has allowed 13 points through three games.
Washington's defense hasn't been all bad, but it's the team's offense that will make noise on Saturday. The Huskies may not solve the tough Cardinal defense often enough to win this game, but they'll keep things close.
Prediction: Stanford 23, Washington 21
The Play: Washington +8
The Trend: Washington is 16-7 ATS in its last 23 home games.
Missouri Tigers at 13 South Carolina Gamecocks
Spread: South Carolina -6
Total: 62.5
Analysis: Many, including the voters for the national AP poll, have been quick to jump off the Missouri bandwagon following the team's loss to Indiana, but this is the same squad that obliterated the spread by a combined 49 points the previous two weeks.
Quarterback Maty Mauk and the Missouri offense have been solid over the first month of the season, racking up 38 points and 430 yards per game.
Meanwhile, even at 3-1, South Carolina has failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on the team in the offseason.
It's been the Gamecocks defense that has held the team back, as the unit ranks second-last in the SEC in scoring defense and dead last in total defense.
The Missouri defense let the team down a week ago, but that looked like more of an apparition than a trend, as the unit has been strong, allowing 20.8 points per game for the season.
Both teams figure to get their points in this one, but expect the Missouri defense to be the one that comes up with enough key stops to pull off the road upset.
Prediction: Missouri 34, South Carolina 31
The Play: Missouri +6
The Trend: Missouri is 13-4-1 ATS in its last 18 games overall.
Lines courtesy Scoresandodds.com. Trends courtesy Covers.