When sports betting goes awry in college football, it can really go awry. In 2021, we have seen this happen at an historic rate. This weirdness began in Week Zero, as Nebraska, favored to beat Illinois, saw its punt returner catch a kick at his own 1-yard line and then fall into the end zone. He tried to throw the ball out of the end zone and was given a safety. In Week 1, Iowa State barely held off Northern Iowa, an FCS school, and six FCS teams beat FBS opponents — including Montana, who knocked off then-#20 Washington. Through the first seven weeks of the season, ranked teams lost 47 times, which is the highest rate since 1936, when the AP Top 25 poll first began. Ten FCS teams have beaten FBS teams, the most since 2013. Alabama lost to an unranked team for the first time since 2007, showing that even the blue bloods of the sport are not secure — and don’t even get us started on Clemson.
What mismatches await this week? Read on for those College Football Odds.
NCAA News: Biggest Sports Betting Mismatches for Week 9
Florida State (+10) at Clemson (O/U 47) (3:30 pm ET, Saturday)
FSU +310 / Clemson -400
Clemson has beaten the Seminoles five times in a row, and the last three wins have come by a combined 97 points. However, Clemson is the team struggling now, as the O-line has injury and depth issues, and a quarterback controversy has emerged, as D.J. Uiagalelei got benched during the team’s loss at Pitt last week. Clemson has not covered the spread in any of its seven games so far this season. Mike Norvell could use something to cool off his hot seat at Florida State, and a rousing win over Clemson on the road would be an excellent start.
I’m not putting huge money on this, but I like Florida State to cover | Bet the Game Now!
UCLA (+6.5) at Utah (O/U 60.5) (10:00 pm ET, Saturday)
UCLA +205 / Utah -250
UCLA pushed then-#8 Oregon hard last week and ended up losing down the stretch, and that was with backup quarterback Ethan Garbers entering the game in relief of the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Thompson-Robinson remains questionable for Saturday’s game, but if he can go, UCLA has finally been playing like a Chip Kelly team can play — and the team also has some teeth on defense. The value looks right, but even if you don’t like UCLA straight up, that’s enough points to interest me.
UCLA to cover | Bet the Game Now!
UTEP (+11) at Florida Atlantic (6:00 pm ET, Saturday)
UTEP +350 / FAU -450
UTEP has never won a game in the Eastern Time Zone in 26 tries. Florida Atlantic had a breakout game last week against Charlotte, but the offense is not consistent. UTEP brings a terrific D-line and should be able to harass Owls’ quarterback N’Kosi Perry; the Miners are off to their best start in 16 years, so this line appears to be way out of balance.
UTEP to win straight up and cover | Bet the Game Now!
Purdue (+7.5) at Nebraska (3:30 pm ET, Saturday)
Purdue +240 / Nebraska -300
Nebraska has been getting love as a potentially underrated squad, but that loss to Minnesota, in which the Cornhuskers just could not get stops, should tell you that this is a team taking on water. Purdue may not have been worth a move into the top 25 despite that win at Iowa, but the Boilermaker offense has players that can make chunk plays and score in a hurry. But a line of more than a touchdown? You’ve got to be kidding.
Purdue to cover | Bet the Game Now!
UNLV (+20.5) at Nevada (10:00 pm ET, Saturday)
UNLV +850 / Nevada -1600
UNLV is still looking for its first win since the 2019 season. However, in the last four games, UNLV’s losses have come by one score or less, including ranked foes UT-San Antonio and Fresno State, and San Jose State. Nevada is also a tough team, but this spread comes across as too large.
UNLV to cover | Bet the Game Now!
College Football Betting Odds
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