Media by Associated Press – UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet (24) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Let’s take a look at the top five teams to bet on in College Football as the calendar rolls into October.
Kansas +3
Off to their best start in years, the 4-0 Kansas Jayhawks still can’t get any respect from the linemakers. This weekend they are +3 at home against 3-1 Iowa State. Kansas has scored at least 35 points in all four games and has three wins by double digits, including the Big 12 opener at West Virginia.
Quarterback Jon Daniels is the real deal. He has completed 71% of his passes for 890 yards and rushed for another 320 yards. Daniels has 15 total touchdowns with just one interception.
The Cyclones got a big win over Iowa but last week lost at home to No. 17 Baylor with two interceptions. They turned the ball over three times against Iowa, and if they lose the turnover battle on Saturday, Kansas should move to 5-0.
UCLA +3
UCLA is also a home underdog this week as they are +3 for Friday night’s game at the Rose Bowl against Washington. The Huskies will travel well to Los Angeles, but UCLA should still have a nice home-field advantage.
Both teams boast a strong rush defense, with the Huskies allowing 89 ypg and UCLA at 84.3. But the Bruins also get it done on the ground as the offense averages 230.5 ypg, and six different players have scored a rushing touchdown this season.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson has eight touchdown passes for the Bruins with just one interception. His senior leadership will be key for the Bruins to get a win on Friday as he must take care of the ball.
Washington has a better resume to this point with wins over Michigan State and Stanford, but the Bruins’ defense will be the best they’ve seen thus far. Look for the Bruins to at least keep this one within a field goal.
Oregon -16
Suppose you are looking for a blowout look at the Oregon/Stanford game. The Ducks are -16 at home against a team that has been dreadful so far this season. The Cardinal allowed 41 points to USC and 40 to Washington in their last two games, both double-digit losses.
Oregon scored 44 points last week as Bo Nix threw for 428 yards and three touchdowns. He has three touchdowns in three straight games with 1,100 yards and a 4.6 rush average. Oregon ranks 25th in the nation, rushing the ball at 198.2 ypg as they control the clock.
Stanford has allowed nearly 1,000 yards in their two games against Power 5 teams. Both USC and Washington topped 160 yards on the ground and look for Oregon to do the same in a blowout.
Michigan -11
There is absolutely no way the Iowa offense can keep up with Michigan, even at home. The Hawkeyes have five offensive touchdowns on the season and got more points from their defense last week in the win at Rutgers.
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras has twice as many interceptions as touchdowns on the season and just 524 passing yards in four games. The run game averages 3.0 yards per carry and barely 100 ypg.
Michigan has scored 51, 56, 59, and 34 points in their four games this season. While Iowa is arguably the best defense they’ve played so far, Michigan has only allowed 40 points on the season. A team is going to have to top 30 to beat them, and Blake Corum has rushed for more yards by himself than the entire Iowa offense.
Kentucky +6.5
Kentucky struggled to put away Northern Illinois last Saturday, but when two ranked SEC teams are going head-to-head, take the points. The Wildcats can score, and they will move the ball. The difference in the game is ending drives in touchdowns, like they did in Florida, instead of field goals.
Having already won at the Swamp, don’t expect Oxford to intimidate the Wildcats either. Quarterback Will Levis has better numbers than his Ole Miss counterpart Jayson Dart, though he must take care of the ball on Saturday.
Ole Miss will run the ball a lot more than in the past, and they average over 270 ypg on the ground. If Kentucky can keep the run game in check, they will keep their undefeated season rolling with a showdown looming against Tennessee at the end of the month.
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