Believe it or not, we’re already a quarter of the way through college football’s regular season.
Some teams have established themselves as conference championship contenders while others have dwindled and are looking less likely to meet preseason expectations.
Here are how the conference champion college football betting odds have shifted as we enter Week 5 and conference play starts to get in full swing.
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AAC Football Odds
Not much has changed within the top two favorites to win the American. Tulane still sits atop at a 2/1 favorite and SMU has gone from +400 to +280. Memphis now has shorter odds (+470) than UTSA (+500) and the Roadrunners shared the same odds as SMU entering the season.
The biggest surprise so far has come from South Florida. The Bulls were +5000 to win the conference but have pulled out some big wins and are now +2000, just behind FAU, who has gone from +700 to +1200.
Best bet: If you didn’t take the Roadrunners before the season, now might be the time to grab them at a discounted price. They have struggled without Frank Harris, but UTSA’s conference slate is fairly light until they head to Tulane in the final week of the regular season. If they can run the table before then, they will be in a good position.
CUSA Football Odds
Western Kentucky remains the favorite to win Conference USA even though Liberty has arguably looked like a more complete team.
Both squads have separated themselves from the rest of the conference with WKU at +120 (+135 before the season) and the Flames at +185 (+200) to win it. The next shortest odds belong to Middle Tennessee State, who has dropped from +500 to +650.
Louisiana Tech entered the year at 9/1 to win the league but now sits at 15/1 following its 1-3 start.
Best bet: WKU and LU will meet for the conference title and the spread will be small. With Liberty at a larger number, the Flames would be worth a wager.
MAC Football Odds
Like CUSA, there hasn’t been much change among the top teams in the MAC. Toledo remains the favorite, and the Rockets’ odds have barely moved from +175 to +160. Ohio is the second favorite, and its odds have gone from +230 to +290. Miami has become the third favorite to win the league, but the RedHawks’ odds have gotten longer — from +650 to +800 — even after a big win over Cincinnati a few weeks ago.
Eastern Michigan entered the season behind Toledo and Ohio at 5/1. It has since moved to 12/1 following a lowly four weeks. With the help of last week’s win over South Alabama, Central Michigan has jumped from 20/1 to 9/1.
Best bet: Toledo’s odds are going to get shorter and shorter as the season goes on. I don’t know if they’ll lose a conference game, and if they do it won’t be to a division opponent. Get the Rockets at plus-money while you can.
Mountain West Football Odds
Looking at how the odds have changed within the Mountain West in the past month, San Diego State immediately sticks out. The Aztecs have gone from +750 to +4000. Unfamiliar territory for a squad that’s finished .500 or worse in conference play just once since 2010.
Behind its addition to the AP Top 25, Fresno State has become the favorite to win the conference at +210 from +350, moving in front of Boise State, who has gone from +200 to +230. Air Force also sits at +230 after entering the season at 4/1 odds. Wyoming’s odds have shifted from +1600 to +1100 after its convincing non-conference wins.
Best bet: The value offered on Wyoming right now could be something to take advantage of. The Cowboys have proven they can pull out close wins but will need to win on the road if they want to play for a title.
Sun Belt Football Odds
South Alabama is the favorite to win the Sun Belt at 3/1 odds, a slight change from August when Troy was the favorite at the same number. Troy has since moved to +475. App State and Marshall are tied at +750 and the Mountaineers were +850 before the season while the Thundering Herd were 7/1.
Texas State was +6600 but now sits at +900, and Georgia State moved from +3500 to +1100 after their surprising start to the season.
Best bet: Georgia State looks like the real deal after its win over Coastal Carolina last week. And if the Panthers beat Troy this weekend, the odds will become shorter. I’ll bet they do. The Panthers have home-field advantage against the top SB East contenders this year.
