betting trends
The Week 9 schedule threw a curveball at college football bettors, with a number of upsets and underdogs coming through. That makes things very interesting in the home stretch of the season, which officially gets underway in Week 10.
If you’re betting on the NCAA football odds this week, these are the biggest and best betting trends on the board:
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is the marquee matchup on the Week 10 board, with Georgia trying to salvage its season after a loss to South Carolina on October 12. The Bulldogs took out that frustration on Kentucky in Week 8, bouncing the Wildcats 21-0 but failed to cover as 23.5-point favorites. Georgia is out for a resume-boosting victory to stay in the playoff conversation but will need to find another gear on offense to do so, scoring 23 or fewer points in three of its last four outings.
Florida enters this classic rivalry game off a bye, giving the Gators plenty of time to recover from two straight road games. Florida has been a solid bet in recent weeks, covering in three straight games – including a tough matchup with LSU in Week 7 – thanks to its offensive firepower, putting up an average of 30 points per outing in that span. The Gators are betting underdogs in this matchup, a role that has failed to cover in four straight matchups between UF and UGA.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Hokies can give their bowl bid a shot in the arm with a win over the Fighting Irish in Week 10. Virginia Tech has five wins and can become bowl eligible with a victory Saturday, bringing a three-game winning streak into South Bend. The Hokies’ once vaunted defense has been overshadowed by the up-tempo offense, averaging 31.7 points during that winning run. Virginia Tech is hoping a bye in Week 9 can help get QB Hendon Hooker back on the field. He’s battling a knee injury suffered versus UNC on October 19.
Notre Dame comes into Week 10 with its head down following a one-sided loss to Michigan last Saturday. The Irish managed just 14 points in rainy Ann Arbor and watched any hope of a CFP spot disappear in a 45-14 thumping. The Irish were rolled for more than 300 yards rushing from the Wolverines and could be bound for a letdown against the Hokies following a very physical and important matchup with Michigan.
SMU Mustangs at Memphis Tigers
Top billing in the AAC is up for grabs when Southern Methodist visits Memphis in Week 10. The Mustangs get an extended break before this big game, having defeated Houston on Thursday night. Southern Methodist continues to put up big numbers, ranked sixth in the country in scoring and 10th in average offensive yards per game.
Memphis avoided a look ahead to this game with a one-point win over Tulsa in Week 9. The Tigers are also among the top scoring team’s in the nation, ranked 10th at 39.5 points per game. Their rushing game is still holding its breath on the status of running back Patrick Taylor Jr., who has been sidelined since Week 1. There is hope he could return for this key conference clash. Memphis has covered in five straight games against SMU.
