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Currently when you take a look at the college football playoff picture, you’ve got a few of the undefeated teams from power conferences up near the front, like Georgia, Oklahoma, Michigan (and Michigan State), with those teams with one loss who are always going to get consideration, like Alabama and Ohio State.
I’m not sure Cincinnati is the second-best team in the nation, but whether they figure out a way to jostle them out of the top four is anybody’s guess.
The highest-ranked unbeaten from a Power 5 league is Wake Forest, at 7-0. They would still have to go through the process of winning a conference title game, but it looks as if they are a “no hoper” for a playoff spot, even if their record is spotless.
Rutgers at Illinois Parlay Betting
Time: Saturday, October 30 – Noon ET
ATS Odds: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -1.5 (-110) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini +1.5 (-110)
The Play: RUTGERS -1.5 (-110)
Obviously there are a few things to be said for the Illinois side, especially after the upset win over Penn State last week. It was the first time this program had beaten a Top 10 team on the road in 50 years. But if there was any time for a letdown situation, this is it.
That thriller took nine overtimes, and Penn State gifted them with some pretty questionable play-calling, but the fact is, the Illini will get caught reading their press clippings.
Sure, Rutgers has been blown away in consecutive weeks by Ohio State, Michigan State and Northwestern. But there was also that very competitive effort at Michigan, and Greg Schiano ought to have his team at a fever pitch coming off the bye week. Take note that Illinois QB Artur Sitkowski won’t get a chance to face his old teammates, having suffered a season-ending injury, so it’s Brandon Peters, who hasn’t even reached 50% accuracy.
Iowa at Wisconsin Parlay Betting
Time: Saturday, October 30 – Noon ET
ATS Odds: Wisconsin Badgers -3.5 (-105) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes +3.5 (-115)
The Play: IOWA +3.5 (-115)
Hey, whatever happened to Graham Mertz? He came in with a bang, a touted prospect who looked like he was going to take Wisconsin to another level. Since then, we can’t even calculate a level for him. With a low accuracy rate (56%), just 6.2 yards an attempt and a ratio of two TD’s to seven INT’s, he’s a liability. But he’s the best the Badgers have.
So Wisky will have to hope that they can put together a ground game against an Iowa front that isn’t going to be pushed around, yielding just 2.7 yards per carry. Wisconsin tops the nation in that category (1.9 ypc), but at least Iowa QB Spencer Petras brings a little more to the table than Mertz. And Kirk Ferentz has had a bye week to put together an attack plan. Taking any points available.
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Duke at Wake Forest Parlay Betting
Duke vs. Wake Forest Picks
Time: Saturday, October 30 – 4 PM ET
ATS Odds: Wake Forest Demon Deacons -16.5 (-105) vs. Duke Blue Devils +16.5 (-115)
The Play: WAKE FOREST -16.5 (-105)
With a couple of embarrassing losses lately (to North Carolina) and Virginia, Duke has kind of disappeared from the radar screen. So in a sense, Wake Forest comes along at the wrong time.
The Demon Deacons are currently 13th in the AP poll, the highest ranking ACC team, and one has to wonder what happens if they win out to finish an undefeated season. Do they have an argument to get into the playoff? Perhaps the “style points” are going to loom important, although a couple of national contenders weren’t able to get the job done in that area lately.
Wake (just under 44 ppg) has the ammunition to make that happen, as evidenced by the 70-point explosion against Army last week.
Florida State at Clemson Parlay Betting
Florida State vs. Clemson Picks
Time: Saturday, October 30 -3:30 PM ET
ATS Odds: Clemson Tigers -9.5 (-110) vs. Florida State Seminoles +9.5 (-110)
The Play: FLORIDA STATE +9.5 (-110)
What Florida State has done the last three games has not necessarily been monumental, but it is an indication that there is a positive attitude and uptick in the program, even if it doesn’t wind up saving Mike Norvell his job.
But I mean, remember how this team lost to FCS entry Jacksonville State? A low point in the program, to be sure. Maybe a better barometer of the raw talent level was the near-miss against Notre Dame in the season opener.
In that one, a resurgence was led by ex-UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton. But now it’s Jordan Travis providing the spark that has propelled the ‘Noles to three consecutive wins.
How much does this mean against Clemson? Well, D.J. Uigalelei was hailed as a real Heisman possibility before the season started, but things have gotten so bad that he was benched in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh. There are 130 Division I (FBS) teams, and Clemson is 117th in offense, with just five TD passes. Against FBS opposition, they have topped 20 points only once.
North Carolina at Notre Dame Parlay Betting
North Carolina vs. Notre Dame Picks
Time: Saturday, October 30 – 7:30 PM ET
ATS Odds: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -3.5 (-110) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels +3.5 (-110)
The Play: NOTRE DAME -3.5 (-110)
True, Notre Dame is coming off the annual game with bitter rival USC, but they have handled this level of opponent in a rather routine fashion. Sam Howell was hailed as a Heisman candidate before the season started, but his numbers this season haven’t even approached his magical 2020; this year, for instance, his yards per attempt are a yard and a half below last year’s figures, and he’s throwing with less accuracy.
One reason he’s operating with less efficiency should be obvious; he does not have the help from the sensational backfield of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, who combined for almost 2400 yards and are now playing in the NFL. This year Howell himself is the second-leading rusher.
Now, we can’t speak to much that is sensational on the Notre Dame offense, which has struggled to put together a running game. But Jack Coan doesn’t give a whole lot away (just three INT’s in 190 attempts), and recent defensive efforts against the likes of Georgia Tech, Virginia and Miami an indication that the Heels aren’t ready for prime time.
