College Football Week 4 betting odds: Picking Top 25 teams against the spread

Another week of college football is upon us and teams are beginning to shape up and we’re getting a better picture of where everyone stands. Non-conference play is starting to wind down and conference play is beginning to start.

There are also two match ups pitting top 25 teams against one another. Let’s dive right into it.

Thursday

No. 5 Auburn at No. 20 Kansas State

Auburn are 8.5 favorites on the road. Home-dogs are always intriguing bets and this isn’t as big of a spread as I expected. Still, Auburn is 2-0 against the spread this season and Kansas State is 0-2. I think you can expect Auburn to win after beating Arkansas by 24 points.

Saturday

Eastern Michigan at No. 11 Michigan State

Michigan State is favored by 45.5, I hate big spreads and they’re seemingly never covered. Take Eastern Michigan and the points.

Troy at No. 13 Georgia

Georgia is favored by 40 points here, and after what happened against South Carolina they’ll be looking for a big win. I just don’t like big spreads and I avoid them so I’d take Troy with the points.

Bowling Green at No. 19 Wisconsin

Wisconsin opened as 23.5 point favorites against the spread but that number has raised to 27 points. Bowling Green is a strong offensive team averaging 41.3 points a game, they can score and prevent Wisconsin from covering the spread. Wisconsin is also 0-2 against the spread this year, pick Bowling Green with the points.

Florida at No. 3 Alabama

An SEC clash that sees Nick Saban’s team favored by 14.5 points. Alabama is hosting the game, but 14.5 seems like a lot of points for hits SEC clash, but given Florida’s struggles against Kentucky, Alabama might just pull this out. Given Alabama’s struggles against West Virginia, coupled with the fact that Alabama has yet to cover a spread this season, and are 0-5 in their last five games, they’re not convincing locks here either. I think it will be closer than this so I’d take Florida, though the value here might be on the under.

No. 6 Texas A&M at SMU

Texas A&M are 33 point favorites on the road against SMU, which I thought was considerably smaller than expected given SMU’s struggles this season and turmoil at the head coach position. They were blown out by Baylor and North Texas by a combined 88 points, I think A&M can and will cover here.

Virginia at No. 21 BYU

BYU are 15.5 favorites against Virginia at home. Both teams are solid against the spread on the road, though this is Virginia’s first game away from home all season. Virginia played a tough UCLA team and lost by an eight-point margin, but BYU has gone on the road to beat Texas by 34 points in Austin. Given that BYU are 2-5-1 against the spread in their last eight games, I’d go with Virginia to cover.

Indiana at No. 18 Missouri

Mizzou open as 13 point point favorites against Indiana, who are 0-2 against the spread. Missouri are 2-1 against the spread this season and their smallest margin of victory has been 20 points. Indiana is also 1-6 against the spread in their last seven road games and 1-3-1 in their last five games overall, take Missouri here.

Mississippi State at No. 8 LSU

Another SEC clash that sees LSU favored by 10 points. Both teams have solid records agains the spread, Mississippi State 2-1 and LSU 3-0. Mississippi State is also 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games in Baton Rouge and 3-14 in their last 17 games against LSU. Take LSU to cover, they’ve had Mississippi State’s number for years.

No. 14 South Carolina at Vanderbilt

South Carolina are hot off their big win over Georgia and come in as 22 point favorites against Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt were blown out by Mississippi so you could expect South Carolina to have their way with Vanderbilt again, but the spread I think is just too big. They could be emotionally drained and while they’ll still win, they might not cover. South Carolina is 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games against Vanderbilt.

No. 4 Oklahoma at West Virginia

Oklahoma are slight favorites in this game, with just 7 points. Their 2013 meeting was a low-scoring 16-7 win for the Sooners. Both teams are solid against the record this season, but I think you can still take Oklahoma to cover here. West Virginia is also 8-15-1 against the spread in their last 24 games at home. The 61.5 point over/under line is interesting when you think about the Sooners’ 50-49 win in 2012.

No. 22 Clemson at No. 1 Florida State

This is the marquee match up that everyone is focused on. Florida State are 17 point favorites, but the Seminoles will be without Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston and that has caused the line to dip from the opening 21 point mark. We haven’t seen Florida State dominate yet, with a six-point win over Oklahoma State and a 25 point win over The Citadel. Florida State is also 0-2 against the spread this season and 1-4 against the spread in their last give games against Clemson. Take Clemson and the points.

Miami (FL) at No. 24 Nebraska

Nebraska is just seven point favorites against Miami at home. Cornhuskers are 1-4 against the spread at home, while Miami is 1-5 against the spread int heir last six road games. This has to be one of the least appealing match ups, but I think you go with Nebraska to cover.

No. 2 Oregon at Washington State

The Oregon Ducks are 24 point favorites over the Cougars. Both teams are 1-2 against the spread this season, and Oregon is 1-4 in their last five games against the spread and when playing Washington State and 1-4 against the spread in their last five road games against Washington State. Take Washington State and the points.