College football Week 11: 6 best bets to take to the bank

College football best bets for a Week 11 slate that already has multiple SEC cancelations but still plenty of odds that we’re ready to call locks.

College football is not immune to the rising COVID-19 numbers in the United States. That’s evident by the number of games that we’re seeing postponed entering Week 11, which thus makes it a bit more difficult to find the best bets for a week. In the simplest terms, there are fewer options to choose from, which feels somewhat limiting.

Though we no longer have Texas A&M-Tennessee or Alabama-LSU or even Memphis-Navy on the slate anymore, we’re lucky enough that the oddsmakers have still graced the college football betting public with some tasty numbers to attack. It’s been a difficult season to fully get a read on as a whole but we’ve been hitting our stride a bit as of late.

Let’s look to continue that as we look at the college football best bets for the Week 11 slate, including a double-digit underdog against a top-five ranked team. All odds are via The Action Network.

College football best bets for the Week 11 slate

6. South Carolina at Ole Miss – Over 71.5

If you like points, then we’ve got the game for you. Ole Miss has boasted one of the most potent offenses in the SEC overall this season, averaging 38.0 points per game. And while South Carolina’s offense has been anything but consistent, the Gamecocks have flashed. Most importantly, though, these are two very bad defenses, allowing a combined 73.7 points per game.

Whenever you have two competent-to-very-good offenses against bad defenses, the result is points and lots of them. 71.5 isn’t a low total by any stretch of the imagination but it’s one that’s easily in reach for this game and the over is the easy play.

5. Miami (+2.5) at Virginia Tech

While I understand trepidation about Miami after they needed a perfect late-game performance from D’Eriq King to get past NC State, that isn’t the best version of the Hurricanes. In fact, that may have been the worst version of The U and their ultra-talented quarterback was able to save them still.

Virginia Tech is not only banged up on offense but their defense has been an absolute sieve throughout the year. To me, that doesn’t bode well for the Hurricanes as they still have an outside shot at making the ACC Championship Game. Subsequently, a motivated Miami team as a road underdog should prove to simply be the more talented and better team in a win.

4. Wake Forest at North Carolina (-13.5)

Things haven’t necessarily gone to plan for Mack Brown‘s North Carolina Tar Heels this season, even if they are still 5-2 on the year. But you know what Sam Howell and his team have done? Beat up on their in-state rivals in pretty convincing fashion.

The Tar Heels thrashed NC State by the count of 48-21 and then beat Duke even worse last week, winning 56-24. You should probably be looking at the over for this game as well but Wake Forest is the inferior team against a rival that seems to be relishing in demolishing their fiercest foes.

3. Iowa at Minnesota – Under 58

On Friday night, we get a classic Big Ten matchup in terms of the stylistic differences. Iowa has been a stout defensive team that has endured some paltry offensive performances while Minnesota has proven their ability to score in bunches but can’t stop anyone.

When these games tend to happen, the defense tends to win out for both teams. Given the state of the Hawkeyes and Gophers, the under is the safe play as it’s hard to imagine Minnesota scoring at will or to think Iowa will be able to fully take advantage of the weak opposing defense.

2. USC (-14) at Arizona

Yes, USC didn’t exactly look like a juggernaut at home last week. The Trojans needed some fourth-quarter heroics from quarterback Kedon Slovis to pick up the one-point win over Arizona State. But here’s the part that doesn’t include; while the Sun Devils might be USC’s toughest matchup of the season, Arizona might well be the easiest.

This is going to be a long year for the Wildcats and that will start against the Trojans. With the first-game jitters out of the way, USC should not only cover but might double-up this point spread before it’s all said and done.

1. Notre Dame at Boston College (+14)

Notre Dame is obviously coming off of a signature win as they knocked off previously unbeaten Clemson last week. That victory vaulted them up to No. 2 in the latest rankings and has everything coming up Fighting Irish, right? Well, this is a perfect spot for a classic letdown game.

Not only are the Irish on the road but they have to play a Boston College team that remains dangerous. Furthermore, Eagles quarterback Phil Jurkovec would certainly love some revenge against his former team. It may not be an outright win for BC but they’ll threaten the upset and cover the two-touchdown spread.

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