College Football Best Bets Friday 10/18/24

We’re back for another Friday slate of college football action, and today’s matchups bring us some prime opportunities to find betting value. Let’s dive into some of the top picks for today’s slate, breaking down each game and explaining why these plays make sense.

Best Bets for Today’s Slate:

Florida State Seminoles (+3) vs. Duke Blue Devils

• Suggested Bet: Florida State +3
• Analysis: Florida State may not be having the best season, sitting at 1-5, but they’ve been competitive in their losses, especially when facing tough opponents like Clemson and Georgia Tech. Their offense, led by Brock Glenn, has shown flashes of improvement, and the defense held a potent Clemson offense to just 29 points. On the other hand, Duke is coming off a disappointing loss to Georgia Tech, where their offense struggled mightily. If Florida State’s defense can capitalize on Duke’s inconsistent offense, we’re looking at a tight game. With FSU’s superior talent, grabbing them as an underdog with a field goal is a solid value play.
• Key Points:
  • Florida State has a tougher strength of schedule than Duke.
  • Duke’s offense is shaky when the run game stalls.
  • Florida State’s defense is good enough to keep it close.

Oregon Ducks (-28.5) vs. Purdue Boilermakers

• Suggested Bet: Under 60.5
• Analysis: Oregon is coming off a massive win over Ohio State, but they’ve shown vulnerability on defense, especially in the secondary. Purdue, despite a heartbreaking loss to Illinois last week, has a strong running game that could help control the clock and keep the game from turning into a complete blowout. While Oregon’s offense is high-powered, I don’t see this being an absolute shootout. Purdue will try to grind it out with their run game, limiting Oregon’s opportunities to rack up the score.
• Key Points:
  • Oregon’s secondary has struggled against passing teams.
  • Purdue is focused on controlling the tempo with their ground game.
  • The total points line (60.5) seems a bit inflated given Purdue’s ability to slow things down.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (+9.5) vs. BYU Cougars

• Suggested Bet: Oklahoma State +9.5
• Analysis: Oklahoma State has been a disappointment this season, but they’re a better team than their record suggests. The Cowboys have had issues with mistakes and uneven play, but their offense has the firepower to keep pace with a BYU team that hasn’t been tested much this year. BYU’s defense has struggled against the run, and Oklahoma State should exploit that with their ground game. This is a classic spot where a struggling team can cover the spread against an opponent that might be overvalued.
• Key Points:
  • Oklahoma State’s offense ranks 16th in passing yards per game.
  • BYU has had issues stopping the run, which plays into Oklahoma State’s hands.
  • BYU is undefeated against the spread, but this could be a “buy low” spot on Oklahoma State.

Fresno State Bulldogs (-3) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack

• Suggested Bet: Nevada +3
• Analysis: Fresno State has struggled in recent weeks, especially on the road. Their offense, while effective on the ground, has been turnover-prone, and that could be their downfall against a Nevada team that just put up 42 points in a win over Oregon State. Nevada has been better than expected this season and has shown the ability to play up to their competition. At home, they’re a live dog against a Fresno State team that looks vulnerable, particularly in late-game situations.
• Key Points:
  • Fresno State is coming off back-to-back losses, including a blowout to UNLV.
  • Nevada has a strong running game and has been good at home.
  • Nevada is 5-2 against the spread this season, while Fresno State is just 3-3.

Win More With Oddsjam

Leverage the tools available on OddsJam to help you quickly identify the best value plays across today’s college football slate. Whether you’re looking for line movements, prop bets, or odds comparisons, using the right tools can give you an edge when placing your bets.

Let’s sweep the slate with these insights, and make sure to lock in your bets early as the lines can shift quickly. Good luck, and let’s cash in!