Each week throughout the college football season OddsTrader scours the odds board and highlights three of the biggest potential upsets for that week’s NCAAF slate.
These are underdogs that will not only cover the spread but are poised to pull the outright victory. Last week, Ole Miss and Virginia not only covered as underdogs but defeated LSU and Boston College, respectively, rewarding those who bet them on the moneyline! Let’s see what we have in store this week!
Picks Summary
- Iowa State ML (+195) at BetRivers
- Wyoming ML (+180) at Caesars Sportsbook
- Washington State ML (+135) at Caesars SportsbookÂ
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Saturday, October 07, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at Jack Trice Stadium
Stat Trifecta
- Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel has 24 receptions for a team-high 250 receiving yards (62.5 per game) and two touchdowns.
- TCU is 2-3 ATS this year.
- Iowa State has covered in 4 of their last 6 meetings with TCU.
TCU has been disappointing, to say the least, this season. Last year’s CFP entry has fallen fast, getting stunned as 21-point favorites over Colorado in their opening game of the season and losing last week, 24-21, as 13½ point home chalk to West Virginia.
Iowa State is certainly no powerhouse this season, fashioning a 2-3 record after their five games but they are 2-1 straight up and against the spread at home this season and have a decent enough defense to stay within the margins against what can only be described as a deflated Horned Frogs squad.
Let’s follow the NCAAF computer picks and back the Cyclones in this one.
NCAAF Pick: Iowa State +6.5 (-109) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
NCAAF Pick: Iowa State ML (+195) at BetRivers (check our BetRivers Review)
Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Saturday, October 07, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at Jonah Field War Memorial Stadium
Stat Trifecta
- Wyoming has covered the spread on the two occasions it has been installed as an underdog this season.
- Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley has 130 rushing yards on 34 carries with three touchdowns, averaging 32.5 yards per game.
- Wyoming running back, Harrison Waylee, has 457 rushing yards, an 8.6 yards per carry average, and 3 touchdowns since being inserted into the lineup.
There’s a reason why Fresno State is the favorite in this matchup of Mountain West rivals. Despite taking to the highway and playing in hostile territory, the public will review the history between these two teams and realize that the Bulldogs have dominated this rivalry in recent memory, having won and covered their last four meetings with the Cowboys.
But the Fresno State offense looked sluggish last week against a porous Nevada defense. They were installed as 25½ point home chalk and won the game, 27-9, which proved to be a money-burner for those who backed the Dawgs.
I like the Cowboys’ chances of covering at home and pulling the upset. Their rushing game has caught fire since Harrison Waylee was inserted into the starting role starting in Week 3 and he has been a nightmare for opposing defenses. Let’s go with the home pup here.
NCAAF Pick: Wyoming +5.5 (-108) at BetRivers
NCAAF Pick: Wyoming ML (+180) at Caesars Sportsbook
Washington State Cougars vs. UCLA Bruins
Saturday, October 07, 2023 – 03:00 PM EDT at the Rose Bowl
Stat Trifecta
- Washington State is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
- Washington State is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games against UCLA.
- UCLA is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing at home against Washington State.
The Cougars of Washington State appear to have the Bruins’ number when playing at the Rose Bowl, having covered the number in 6 of their last 7 meetings at UCLA’s home turf. Washington State is a team in the thick of the loaded Pac-12 Conference, currently ranked No. 13 in the nation with an undefeated 4-0 record and covering 3 of those 4 games.
The Cougars have defeated two ranked teams this season with a 31-22 victory over then No. 19 Wisconsin as 5 ½ point home dogs and last week they dispatched No. 14 Oregon State by the score of 38-35, covering as 3-point home pups and rewarding those who bet them on the moneyline with a +125 return.
And while The Cougars were on the sharp side of a shootout with the Beavers in their last outing, the Bruins’ offense was stuck in neutral in a 14-7 loss to No. 11 Utah. Both teams have had two weeks off to prepare and the fact that we are getting undefeated Washington State, No. 2 in the nation in passing yards averaging 406 YPG and No. 4 in scoring, averaging 46.8 points per game, with a 3½ point head start is all I need to know.
NCAAF Pick: Washington State +3.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
NCAAF Pick: Washington State ML (+150) at Caesars Sportsbook
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