NCAAF Pick: Penn State -32 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Several early games on Saturday’s college football betting card have caught our handicapper’s eye, leading to free picks on contests in the Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 to get Week 9 started.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Saturday, October 28, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Kyle Field
One way or another, a short losing skid will come to an end in College State where Texas A&M hosts South Carolina in another early Saturday boot. According to the numbers at top sportsbooks, it will be the Aggies climbing back into the win column, though they’ll not do so with as much ease as the oddsmakers say.
Aggies 8-1 in Young Rivalry
South Carolina halted an 8-game losing streak against the Aggies last season, beating Texas A&M for the first time with a 34-23 mild upset as a 3-point home underdog. This is the ninth consecutive matchup to find the Aggies laying points.
Texas A&M covered the five previous clashes, including a 44-14 rout at Kyle Field in 2021. The Aggies were favored by 19½ in that one, and the final made it well past a 46-point total to end a 5-game run for the ‘under’ in the series.
Can Gamecocks Pull Off Outright Upset?
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks were understandably down after losing late to Florida in Week 7, and it showed when they dug themselves an early 24-0 hole at Missouri this past Saturday.
The Aggies took last week off following a close loss at Tennessee in Week 7. It was a sloppy showing for both sides with a combined 23 penalties, and Max Johnson threw a couple of picks in a very lackluster showing for the Texas A&M offense.
The Pick
Texas A&M wins it, but the Aggies have no business being favored by 2 TD. Take the ‘Cocks plus the points.
NCAAF Pick: South Carolina +14 (-105) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Houston Cougars vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Saturday, October 28, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Bill Snyder Family Stadium
One positive about conference realignment is getting to see matchups we’ve never seen before, and that’s the case this Saturday in the Big 12 where Houston and Kansas State pop the pads for the very first time.
‘Cats Have Top Rushing Attack in Big 12
It’s unanimous on the college football odds board where Kansas State is listed as 17-point chalk for the inaugural meeting. Most outlets list 60-60½ for the total.
Houston arrives with a 4-3 record against the spread while Kansas State is 5-2 ATS. Both teams are 4-3 O/U for the campaign.
Cougs Have Covered 3 of Last 4
Give Houston credit for at least making things uncomfortable for Texas this past weekend. A couple of turnovers and the absence of any ground attack ultimately did the Cougars in, but they still cashed as 24-point underdogs in the 31-24 loss.
Kansas State throttled TCU in Week 8, easily covering the spread in a 41-3 final. The Wildcats were your basic unstoppable force with close to 600 yards of offense and 29 first downs.
The Pick
It should be relatively easy for the Wildcats to move the ball against the porous Houston defense, and my free pick is to lay the points in a 45-17 K-State victory.
NCAAF Pick: Kansas State -17 (-108) at Heritage Sports
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Saturday, October 28, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Beaver Stadium
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Penn State Nittany Lions are expected to quickly return to the win column when the Indiana Hoosiers visit Happy Valley this Saturday. The question on the minds of college football bettors is, will the Nittany Lions cover the biggest spread on the BMR live odds board?
PSU 12-0 vs IU in State College
Heritage, like most shops, is burdening Penn State backers with 32 points for the 27th meeting between the two schools. Totals can be found from 44-45 at various shops.
Indiana and Penn State never met before becoming Big Ten opponents, and it has been a lopsided rivalry for the Nittany Lions to the tune of winning 24 of the 26 previous matchups. Penn State has been favored in all 26 meetings, and this is the biggest number since the Nittany Lions were giving up 35 in a 34-7 final back in 2008.
Hoosiers’ Worst Run Defense in B1G
After getting trounced on the road at Maryland and Michigan in their previous two games, the Hoosiers came home last weekend and got trounced in Bloomington by Rutgers. Indiana managed to stay in the game into the second quarter but was eventually worn down by a Rutgers ground attack. The Scarlett Knights were giving up 6 on the NCAAF odds.
Penn State dropped a 20-12 number in Columbus to Ohio State in a contest dominated by the two defenses. The Nittany Lions never could sustain drives against the Buckeyes, converting just 1-of-16 third downs, while Drew Allar was just 18-42 through the air and was sacked four times.
The Pick
It should be much easier for Penn State to move the pigskin against the Hoosiers, especially on the ground where Indiana ranks last in the conference allowing almost 175 yards per game. Lay the points in a 40-6 Penn State triumph.
NCAAF Pick: Penn State -32 (-108) at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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