I went 2-3 last week, moving my overall Group of Five best bets record to 27-23 this season. That’s not too shabby through 50 bets, but I’d like to finish this season strong.
I’m still chasing a 5-0 week, which I’d love to secure before the end of the season. Let’s dive into the college football betting odds and see if I can’t put together the elusive perfect week of wagers.
Tulsa +7.5 vs. Tulane
Let me start by saying Tulane is awesome. They’re the No. 1 team in HERO’s latest Group of Five Power Poll, and they’re a wildly impressive 7-1 this season. I just don’t love the spot for the Green Wave, who host a ranked UCF team next week. I could easily see Tulane overlooking Tulsa, which is just 3-5 this season, but the Golden Hurricane is fighting for a bowl game and they’ve looked solid in a few losses.
Tulsa lost to Wyoming by three, Ole Miss by eight, Cincinnati by 10, and SMU by 11. Those are respectable teams, and Tulsa played them reasonably tight. I like Tulsa to once again hang tough with a solid opponent. Give me the underdog.
Temple +3.5 vs. South Florida
I don’t recommend watching this game, but I’ll gladly put a small amount of money on it. I don’t think either team is very good – there’s a reason their combined records are 3-13 – but this could end up being a competitive game. Each team has a few losses that easily could’ve gone the other way.
My logic for playing this matchup admittedly isn’t great, but in a game with two disappointing AAC teams, I’d rather take the home underdog. Based on data from The Action Network, there’s also sharp action on Temple. That’s enough for me to place a small wager on the Owls.
Georgia Southern +4 vs. South Alabama
South Alabama has the more complete team, but Georgia Southern makes impressive weekly progress under Clay Helton. The Eagles have notable wins over Nebraska and JMU, and their three losses have come by an average of 8.7 points per game. I like this Georgia Southern team, which is trending in the right direction, and I’m expecting the Eagles to be amped up for the chance to secure bowl eligibility. I like Georgia Southern to find ways to move the ball against a good South Alabama defense.
New Mexico-Utah State, under 42.5
In conference play, New Mexico has reached 20 points in just one game, and Utah State has 31 points scored in its last two league games. Neither offense is impressive, and I’m expecting a decent number of punts in this game. It wouldn’t surprise me if one team fails to reach 14 points, which would lead to one team needing to put up four or more touchdowns for the over to hit. I just don’t see it happening.
JMU +7.5 at Louisville
If JMU’s starting quarterback Todd Centeio plays, which I believe he will, I like the Dukes. Louisville is riding high off of a blowout win over Wake Forest, and they face Clemson next week. It’s a letdown spot for the Cardinals, and JMU is 5-1 with a road win at App State when Centeio plays. JMU’s defense also excels at stopping the run, which is how Louisville likes to move the football. The Dukes are a borderline top-25 team in college football with Centeio, so I’ll take them to cover the spread against a Louisville team likely more focused on ACC matchups.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
