College Football Week 10 betting odds: Picking Top 25 teams against the spread

Rolling through the Week 10 betting odds in college football.

For much of the 2015 college football season, we have enjoyed success in handicapping the games involving top-25 teams each week. Last week, though, did not reflect that success.

We finished with a brutal 5-11 mark and now it is time to own it. To make up for that disaster, an extra emphasis has been placed on this slate. However, getting away from the core philosophy of “fading the public” is simply not an option, and you will see that reflected in the picks for the upcoming weekend.

Let’s get to the games and remove this sour taste as quickly as possible.

No. 25 Texas A&M (-7) over Auburn

I’m really tired of having Auburn and the points every week only to lose by a half-point against the number. That is, of course, terrible logic, but A&M is also better and I’m all in on Kyler Murray. Lay the number.

Missouri (+8) over No. 24 Mississippi State

Missouri’s offense is a disaster and I know it. Still, I have a hard time laying more than a touchdown with Mississippi State on the road in a conference game, especially against an opponent that has a real defense. Most people won’t agree, as evidenced by 90% (!) of the action being on the Bulldogs via Sports Insights, but if you can get more than seven with the home underdog, do it.

SMU (+12.5) over No. 23 Temple (-12.5)

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but I’m taking the home underdog that no one else likes. Much like the game above with Missouri, SMU isn’t as good as Temple, but this number is just too big given that the Mustangs are playing at home. SMU’s offense is suddenly competent this season, and Temple could be in for a sleepy spot on a Friday night as they come off a brutal loss to Notre Dame. I wouldn’t put SMU in a “best bets” category for this week, but the underdog is the right side.

Oregon State (+17.5) over No. 22 UCLA

This line just moved too far. At the opening mark of 15.5, I would have taken UCLA, as they are much, much better than Oregon State, especially in a game that no one will be paying attention to on Saturday. Still, 17 is a key number, and the Beavers have to be my pick after we’ve crossed that barrier. I don’t love it, though.

Duke (+8) over No. 21 North Carolina

If you were early on this game and got 9 or even 9.5 points with Duke, congratulations to you. As long as the number stays above seven, I absolutely love the Blue Devils in a rivalry game, and this line might be five points too high at eight. On a neutral field, I’m not sure that Duke isn’t flat-out better than UNC, but at worst, I think David Cutcliffe’s team plays this one close to the end and covers with ease. One of my favorite bets of the week.

Next: Teams 20-16