Using the eye test, the top team through the first nine weeks of the college football season may be Ohio State. They are 8-0 after holding off Penn State, 44-31, and each of their eight wins has come by double figures. The offense has scored at least 40 points six times, and the defense has permitted 21 or fewer points in seven different games – the first team to break that mark was the Nittany Lions. As we await the first College Football Playoff committee poll, Ohio State’s gritty victory was joined by Georgia routing Florida in Jacksonville and Tennessee undressing Kentucky. As we move to Week 10, here are some winners we feel confident with in our online betting.
NCAA News: Sure Winners for Week 10
→ Friday, October 4
#24 Oregon State Beavers (+4.5) at Washington Huskies
(10:30 pm ET, ESPN)
A pair of 6-2 teams square off on Friday night in one of these Pac-12 prime-time showdowns. Oregon State comes in off the momentum of a 42-9 shellacking of the Colorado Buffaloes. Ben Gulbransson went 14 of 22 with two touchdowns without an interception, and Damien Martinez rumbled for 178 yards on just 22 carries, scoring three times. The Beavers have covered in six of their last eight games and have gone 1-1 as an underdog of at least 4 ½ points.
Washington edged Cal, 28-21, last week to get their sixth win of the season. Michael Penix Jr went 36 of 51 for 374 yards with two touchdowns (and no picks). Damien Martinez averaged 8.1 yards per carry on 22 attempts, scoring three times. Cameron Davis ran the ball 13 times for just 46 yards and found the end zone once. Washington is 3-3 when favored by at least 4 ½ points, and they have covered in four of their eight games this season. I’m rolling with the momentum of Oregon State right now, so while Washington might rally late, I see the Beavers covering. Oregon State to cover.
→ Saturday, October 5
#17 North Carolina Tar Heels (-9.5) at Virginia Cavaliers
(12:00 pm ET, ACC Network)
North Carolina is just 2-4 against the spread as a favorite – and 0-2 as a road favorite. However, Virginia has not broken the 20-point mark on offense since Week 1, and North Carolina brings quarterback Drake Maye, who has five consecutive 300-yard games and an 18:2 TD:INT ratio during that stretch. Antoine Green and Josh Downs have combined to catch 13 of those touchdown passes, and on the ground, Maye is also the leader, with 493 yards and three more scores. The issues for North Carolina come on defense, as the Tar Heels permit 31.4 points per game.
Home has not been the best place for the Cavaliers, who have lost four of six in their own stadium straight up and have only covered once in their last six home games. On offense, Brennan Armstrong has just a 55.7% completion rate and a 6:9 TD:INT ratio. The ground game only averages 135 yards per game, so the ground game is not making up for a pedestrian pass attack. The Cavaliers are steady on defense, permitting just 21.5 points per game, but it’s hard to say they can keep up with the Tar Heels. North Carolina to win and cover.
#19 Tulane Green Wave (-8) at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
(12:00 pm ET, ESPNUB)
This line has already climbed by a point since the open, and Tulane is 7-1 both straight up and against the spread this season. However, Tulsa has won the last two meetings. The problem for Tulsa comes on defense, which permits 34 points per game and gave up 45 to SMU in a home loss last weekend, and Tulane has shown that they can put up the points. Tulsa is typically a difficult place to win, and I see Tulsa fighting to keep this one close. Tulsa to cover.
College Football Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA football? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college football lines
