We are 5-1 against the spread in our NCAAF best bets column and looking for more ATS covers this week in our college football picks right here at OddsTrader!
Maryland Terrapins vs. Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 12:00 PM EDT at Michigan Stadium
Maryland Terrapins Analysis
The Terps will invade the Big House this coming Saturday afternoon, fresh off of a 34-27 victory over SMU. Maryland trailed by three at the half but outscored the Mustangs, 17-7, in the second half, getting the game-winning touchdown off of a five-yard touchdown pass from Taulia Tagovailoa to Corey Dyches with seven minutes and change remaining.
Although the scoreboard reflected a Terps’ victory in which they covered the 2 ½ point impost, it was hardly a flawless game for the victors. Maryland had 15 penalties backing them up for 141 yards and two lost fumbles, yet still managed to come out on top. However, it wasn’t all bad as the Terps had a pair of interceptions, recovered a fumble, and had several critical stops on downs.
Michigan Wolverines Analysis
Like Maryland, Michigan is undefeated this season with their last victory coming via a 59-0 curb stomp of Connecticut in which they easily covered as 47 ½ home chalk. This will be Michigan’s first real test as their other two opponents included Colorado State (51-7) and Hawaii (56-10).
But how much of a test will this truly be? Michigan has won and covered the last six meetings against Maryland the Wolverines’ defense looks sharper than ever. The penalties that almost cost the Terps last week will be the death of them this week.
Maryland vs. Michigan: Pick and Prediction
The college football odds at all of the best online sportsbooks are dealing Michigan as 16 ½ point home favorites, the same spread as last year when they defeated Maryland 59-18.
They say there’s nothing sweeter than a repeater which is why we will back Big Blue on Saturday over the Terps.
Predicted Score: Michigan 41 – Maryland 17
Free NCAAF Pick: Michigan -16 ½ (-107) at PointsBet
Clemson Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 12:00 PM EDT at Truist Field
Clemson Tigers Analysis
Clemson checks in with a 3-0 record (1-2 ATS) but their performances haven’t been as dominating as one might expect over the weak sisters they have met early in the season, at least if you are betting on them.
The Tigers claimed a 41-10 victory on the road over Georgia Tech, covering as 24-point favorites, but then failed to cover as 45 ½ point home chalk over FCS entry Furman in a 35-12 win followed by last week’s 48-20 victory over Louisiana Tech as a 33 ½ point money-burner.
Wake Forest Analysis
The 21st-ranked Demon Deacons are also undefeated entering this home matchup against their ACC rivals with wins over VMI (44-10), Vanderbilt (45-25), and most recently against Liberty in a 36-35 nail-biter.
It was their first ATS loss of the season and a game in which Liberty attempted the two-point conversion for the win rather than kicking the extra point to tie the game and send it into overtime with a little over a minute remaining.
Clemson vs. Wake Forest: Pick and Prediction
As of this Tuesday morning writing, Wake Forest is getting a generous 7 ½ point head start over at FanDuel and despite Clemson winning the last four meetings and covering in three of them, I am siding with the Demon Deacons in this one.
Although Wake Forest’s defense is somewhat suspect, their offense is built for speed and scoring. Let’s grab the points in a shootout.
Predicted Score: Clemson 34 – Wake Forest 31
NCAAF Pick: Wake Forest +7 ½ (-115) at FanDuel
UMass Minutemen vs. Temple Owls
Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 02:00 PM EDT at Lincoln Financial Field
Temple Analysis
This is technically a neutral-site game but it will be played at the Linc, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, and only a 15-minute bus ride from Temple University. The Owls are coming off a gritty 16-14 loss to Big Ten entry, Rutgers, as 18-point home underdogs.
After a 30-0 loss at Duke and a 30-14 win over Lafayette, Temple checks in with a 1-2 straight-up record and 2-1 against the number.
This is not a good team but one whose defense has risen to the occasion, for the most part, this season. And that’s the key to this game because UMass is, to put it candidly, a mess.
UMass Analysis
The Minutemen are an FCS caliber school playing an FBS schedule and it is not surprising their only win of the season was against FCS challenger, Stony Brook, in which UMass secured a 20-3 win and covered as a one-point favorite.
We would argue the fact that the best sportsbooks made them only a point better than a team that ended with a 5-6 record in FCS play last year says more about their program than the fact they won by 17 points.
UMass vs. Temple: Pick and Prediction
In what can be considered much more of a fade against UMass than a ringing endorsement of Temple, we will lay the 8 ½ points and watch the Owls coast to victory.
Predicted Score: Temple 31 – UMass 13
NCAAF Pick: Temple -8 ½ (-110) at FanDuel
