CFB Wagering Trends to Know for Week 5: Alabama, Northwestern in Profitable Betting Situations
By Reed Wallach
Let's get you ready for Week 5 of the college football season by taking a look at a few trends.
Coaches like Nick Saban and Pat Fitzgerald have thrived in the spot they enter in Week 5, one as a massive SEC favorite and the other as a big underdog. There are other trends in play as well such as Iowa hosting a top 10 team and Georgia Tech heading to Pitt to face Pat Narduzzi's team.
Here are some trends to get you ready to fill out your betting card for Saturday across the college football lan
Nick Saban Cashes as a Road Favorite
While his track record may not be as good lately, winning a thrilling game at Texas 20-19 n Week 2 as 21-point favorite, Saban is a great bet as a road favorite.
The Alabama head coach is 22-12 against the spread (ATS) as a road favorite of two touchdowns or more. The Crimson Tide are 17-point chalk as they head to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks.
Check out our game preview for this SEC matchup here!
Pat Fitzgerald as an Underdog is One of Best Spots in College Football
Fitzgerald's Northwestern Wildcats thrive in certain situations, and that is as an underdog. Remember when they won outright as a double digit underdog to Nebraska? Remember when they also lost as double digit favorites to Duke the next game?
Well, the Wildcats are back in their preferred spot as an underdog, this time as a 25-point pooch to Penn State on the road. Northwestern is 59-45 ATS as an underdog and also is tied for the most wins outright as a double digit underdog over the last decade (h/t Action Network). We'll see if Northwestern can not get absolutely demolished and cash your spread bet!
Iowa's Special Home Field Advantage
Here are some wild tweets that show that Kinnick Field is a special space where top 10 teams go to die.
In Iowa's last 6 home games against AP top-5 foes:
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) September 26, 2022
2008 vs. 3. Penn State, W 24-23
2010 vs. 5. Michigan State, W 37-6
2016 vs. 2. Michigan, W 14-13
2017 vs. 4. Penn State, L 21-19
2017 vs. 3. Ohio State, W 55-24
2021 vs. 4. Penn State, W 23-20
This week, No. 4 Michigan
Iowa is a 12-6-2 since 2003 as a double digit home underdog and that includes eight outright wins.
We'll see if Michigan can survive on Saturday.
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