The fifth week of the college football season features some intriguing matchups, especially in the Pac-12 and the Big Ten. Here are some of the best bets for this week, based on the latest odds and predictions from CBSSports.com.
Washington looks to extend winning streak against Arizona
The No. 7 Washington Huskies are one of the hottest teams in the country, having won their last four games by an average margin of 37 points. They face a 3-1 Arizona Wildcats team that has shown some resilience, but also some vulnerability. The Wildcats’ only loss came in overtime on the road at Mississippi State, but they also struggled to beat Northern Arizona and Colorado at home.
Washington has dominated this series in recent years, winning the last four meetings by an average of 24 points. The Huskies have a balanced offense led by QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin, and a stingy defense that ranks second in the nation in scoring and third in total yards allowed. They should be able to cover the 18-point spread against an Arizona team that ranks 95th in scoring defense and 103rd in total defense.
Fresno State aims to keep rolling against Nevada
The No. 25 Fresno State Bulldogs are the reigning Mountain West champions and look poised to make another run at the conference title this season. They have won their last three games by an average of 33 points, including a 38-14 win over UCLA on the road. They face a Nevada Wolf Pack team that is one of the worst in FBS this season, ranking 132nd in the latest CBS Sports 133 rankings.
Fresno State has a potent offense led by QB Marcus McMaryion, who has thrown for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. The Bulldogs also have a solid defense that ranks 17th in scoring and 20th in total yards allowed. Nevada has struggled on both sides of the ball, ranking 101st in scoring offense and 117th in scoring defense. The Wolf Pack have lost their last two games by a combined score of 96-34.
Michigan State looks to bounce back against Iowa
The Michigan State Spartans are coming off a disappointing 31-20 loss to Notre Dame at home, dropping them to 2-2 on the season. They face a tough challenge against the Iowa Hawkeyes, who are also 2-2 but have played better than their record suggests. The Hawkeyes’ only losses came on the road against Penn State and Michigan by a combined seven points.
Iowa has a strong defense that ranks ninth in scoring and seventh in total yards allowed. The Hawkeyes have held their opponents to 19 points or less in every game this season. However, their offense has been inconsistent and ineffective, ranking 89th in scoring and 121st in total yards gained. The Hawkeyes managed only 76 yards on 33 plays against Penn State last week.
Michigan State has its own issues on offense, ranking 75th in scoring and 86th in total yards gained. The Spartans have been plagued by turnovers, committing nine in their last three games. However, they have a capable QB in Brian Lewerke, who has thrown for 963 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. The Spartans also have a decent defense that ranks 36th in scoring and 32nd in total yards allowed.
This game could be a low-scoring affair, with both teams relying on their defenses to keep them in the game. The spread of 11.5 points seems too high for a matchup that could go either way. Michigan State has won four of the last five meetings against Iowa, including a 16-13 win in the Big Ten championship game in 2015.
Upset of the Week: Houston over Texas Tech
The Houston Cougars are off to a rough start in the Big 12, losing their first two conference games to Oklahoma and Texas by a combined score of 90-41. However, they may have a chance to pull off an upset against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who are dealing with a major injury at quarterback.
The Red Raiders lost their starter Tyler Shough to a fractured fibula last week against West Virginia, and he could be out for the season. Backup Behren Morton was only 13 for 37 for 158 yards in relief of Shough. The Red Raiders rely heavily on their passing game, ranking fourth in the nation in passing yards per game.
Houston has a dynamic QB in Clayton Tune, who has thrown for 1,164 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. The Cougars also have a dangerous weapon in WR Nathaniel Dell, who has caught 32 passes for 517 yards and four touchdowns. Houston has a weak defense that ranks 123rd in scoring and 128th in total yards allowed, but they may be able to exploit Texas Tech’s vulnerability at quarterback and score enough points to pull off the upset.
