Another positive week for the GMS underdog picks, highlighted by Nebraska hanging tough with Ohio State as an 18-point underdog and West Virginia taking out Texas on the road (the Mountaineers were underdogs early in the week, but sharp money moved them to a pick ’em or even to -1 by kickoff.)
This week, we’ll pick a couple more SEC games, pick on the Longhorns again and go off the beaten path for another pick. Here are this week’s best college football underdog picks:
Underdog pick No. 1: Ole Miss
At Texas A&M (-12), noon ET, CBS
The Rebels lost a big lead — and the cover– against South Carolina last week, but part of the reason for that was an injury to quarterback Jordan Ta’amu that cost Ole Miss its offensive leader. The Aggies started the year with high expectations that have quickly come crashing to earth with back-to-back losses; now they’ve got to return home, pick up the pieces and deal with a very good Rebels offense (with Ta’amu expected to be ready to start). That’s a good recipe for an underdog to keep it close.
Pick: Ole Miss +12
Related: College Football Betting Guide | Opening Odds
Underdog pick No. 2: Massachusetts
Vs. BYU (-14), noon ET, NESN/BYUtv
It won’t be easy to find this game on your TV screen unless you live in New England or Utah, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bet on it. The Minutemen started out the season as one of the bottom-feeders nation-wide, but UMass has been more competitive of late and has even won its past two games, including a momentum-building double-overtime victory against Liberty last week. BYU is sliding the other way, so even though the Cougars should win outright here, it’s tough to see a blowout, especially considering BYU has to travel across the country and play a game at 10 a.m. according to its body clocks.
Pick: UMass +14
Underdog pick No. 3: Miami
At Georgia Tech (-3.5), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The Hurricanes, a preseason top-10 team, have been completely forgotten with three straight losses. Much of that is rightfully so, but this still is a talented roster that seems ripe to turn things around at some point. Plus, Miami is 23rd in the nation against the run, and if you can control the ground game against Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense, you’ve got a good chance. In what appears to be a toss-up game on paper, take the 3.5 points and run.
Pick: Miami +3.5
Underdog pick No. 4: Arkansas
Vs. LSU (-14), 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network Alternate
It’s a classic hangover game: LSU thought it had a chance to shock Alabama and flip the college football world upside-down, but instead was rocked to sleep in a 29-0 Crimson Tide shutout. Can the Tigers pick up the pieces, go on the road and take care of Arkansas? They did it last year and the year before, but that was also with the Alabama game not being quite as big of a deal. Arkansas has been playing better and should be able to keep this thing close on what should be an unseasonably chilly night in Fayetteville.
Pick: Arkansas +14
Underdog pick No. 5: Texas Tech
Vs. Texas (-2), 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Speaking of hangovers, can Texas find a way to get a tricky road win a week after losing a heartbreaker to West Virginia at home? Texas Tech is surging offensively and, had a few things broken right, might have stunned Oklahoma at home last week. The Red Raiders should be able to score with the Longhorns, and a prime-time home crowd could push them over the top.
Pick: Texas Tech +2
SEASON RECORD: 27-25 ATS, 17-35 straight up
