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College Football October 17th Picks Against the Spread

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in College Football

Updated Oct 16, 2020 · 7:06 AM PDT

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence and the number one ranked Clemson Tigers travel to Georgia Tech on Saturday. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire)
  • This weekend the college football season features a slate of intriguing games on Saturday, October 17th
  • Two games in the ACC and one from the SEC appear to be offering great value
  • See the odds and the best picks against the spread in the game previews below

Buckle up for a great weekend of college football.

We’re getting to the point in the season where the sample sizes are significant enough to dive deep into the stats. After doing so three games, in particular, offer spreads you can take advantage of.

Let’s start with the number one team in the country getting a little too much love from the oddsmakers.

#1 Clemson vs Georgia Tech

Team Spread Moneyline Total
#1 Clemson -27 (-113) -10000 O 64 (-109)
Georgia Tech +27 (-108) +1600 U 64 (-112)

All odds taken Oct. 16 at DraftKings

Clemson Aiming To Extend Win Streak Versus Georgia Tech

Clemson tops the National Championship odds for a reason. They are an incredible football team with a great coach and a Heisman Trophy caliber quarterback. That said, they are giving up way too many points to Georgia Tech in this football game. The Tigers have beat the Yellow Jackets five times in the last six years but nobody is telling you to pick an upset here.

The 27-point spread is the number in question. In those games, Clemson would have covered 27 points exactly once. Georgia Tech is a plucky group that loves to run the football and control the clock. They may not be a winning program but they aren’t likely to get blown out by four touchdowns either.

Quarterback Jeff Sims was great against Louisville last week. He led Georgia Tech to a 46-27 win thanks to 249 passing yards, 64 rushing yards, and three touchdowns. He isn’t Trevor Lawrence or anywhere close but he is capable of putting up enough points to keep this game interesting.

Couple his recent play with a defense that has created nine turnovers on the season and you have a recipe for a good football game. Clemson will make good on the -10000 moneyline, but the spread is simply too high.

The Pick: Georgia Tech +27 (-108)

Ole Miss vs Arkansas Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Ole Miss -1.5 (-110) -125 O 76 (-108)
Arkansas +1.5 (-110) +104 U 76 (-113)

Ole Miss Offense Is On Another Level

Lane Kiffin has turned Ole Miss into must-watch television. They ultimately lost 63-48 to Alabama but was it ever an exciting football game to enjoy. Who hands 48 on the Alabama defense? The correct answer is Lane Kiffin does.

Ole Miss has the 2nd ranked offense in college football. They average 381 passing yards per game and somehow also have the second best running offense in the SEC. With all the accolades on offense it begs the question – why are the Rebels sitting at 1-2?

The reason for their inability to turn points into wins is their abysmal defense. They stopped the Crimson Tide exactly twice the entire football game. Sporting the worst defense in the SEC, which is stocked full of poor defenses at the moment, isn’t a formula for success.

That being said, Ole Miss is in luck this weekend. Arkansas has a boring offense that never seems capable of very much. They could keep this one interesting for a short time or maybe even a half, but there’s no way they have the firepower to keep up with the Rebels offense for 4 quarters.

Bet the moneyline, bet the spread, do whatever you want. Just make sure you bet on Ole Miss.

The Pick: Ole Miss -1.5 (-108)

#5 North Carolina vs Florida State Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
#5 North Carolina -13.5 (-108) -455 O 64 (-110)
Florida State +13.5 (-113) +340 U 64 (-110)

North Carolina With Highest Ranking In 23 Years

North Carolina is ranked 5th in the country and they are heavy favorites over Florida State. No, you didn’t stumble across a college basketball article we’re still talking football. Mack Brown has himself one hell of a team in the Tar Heels.

They haven’t been ranked in the top five since the 1990s yet here we are, enjoying a team showing they are capable of qualifying for the college football playoff. They’ve started the season a perfect 3-0 thanks to the best offense in the ACC. Yes, the conference with Clemson is currently led by UNC in total offense.

Another reason to love the Tar Heels in this game? Quarterback Sam Howell loves to break the hearts of Seminoles fans. He was originally committed to play at Florida State before Brown convinced him to change his mind and join him at North Carolina.

This season Howell has racked up 777 passing yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. His most impressive stat is his completion percentage. He’s clicked on 68.7% of his throws which is up from 61.4% last year. Expect him to keep throwing an accurate ball in this one.

Howell and the Tar Heels should have no issues covering the 13.5 point spread. To maximize your chances of winning the wager get it in before the line moves and you have to give up a full two touchdowns.

The Pick: North Carolina -13.5 (-108)

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