After feeling high and mighty after winning my first college football parlay of the season, I fell back down to earth with my Week 3 play. Including Vanderbilt in my parlay was the right move. The Commodores were in front of the number for all but 1:15 of the game, and they nearly pulled off the upset at the end. However, my choice of Kent State fell flat, as Penn State put a beatdown on their opponent in the second half, outscoring them 35-0.
Time to shake it off and get back on the horse. There is a lot to like on the college football betting slate in Week 4, and I feel great about this week’s three-team parlay.
Week 1: No Play
Week 2: +$267.68
Week 3: -$100
College Football Parlay Betting Odds (Courtesy of BetDSI)
Northern Illinois +10 at Florida State
Florida -4 at Tennessee
Texas A&M +27 at Alabama
$100 to win $672.88
If you’re a weekly reader of this column, you might think I have an aversion to home teams. I grabbed two road teams for my parlay last week, and I’m on three road teams this week too. I go where the value is, and thus far in the season, it’s been on road teams.
Northern Illinois should not be a 10-point underdog to Florida State considering the Seminoles’ problems along the offensive line. Florida State is likely to start two guards as tackles this week due to injuries and underdevelopment at the position, and if you saw the Syracuse game, you’ll know the offense is likely to be a disaster.
Syracuse does not have a great defense, but the Orange looked like world-beaters up front last week against this outmatched offensive line. Northern Illinois has a much better defense than Syracuse, and it’s hard to see Florida State suddenly figuring things out up front.
I’m also really liking Florida laying the points against Tennessee. People are down on the Gators after their loss to Kentucky two weeks ago, but this isn’t a terrible team. Defensive end Cece Jefferson’s return helped in the win over Colorado State last week, and Tennessee’s offense has yet to show it can actually score points.
The Volunteers are 2-1 on the season, but the two wins were against hapless foes. East Tennessee State is not a very good FCS team, and UTEP might be the worst FBS team in the country. I think Tennessee is the worst team in the SEC East this year, and Florida should score a comfortable win on the road.
Alabama looks like the best team in college football by a mile this season, but this is simply too many points. Bettors are flocking to bet Alabama after how it easily covered the CFB betting line in each of its first three games, yet all those teams had major flaws. Louisville has looked lost without Lamar Jackson, Ole Miss couldn’t defend air, and Arkansas State is just a class below the school.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M has already proven it can hang with good teams. The Aggies only lost to Clemson by two points a couple weeks ago, and defensive coordinator Mike Elko came up with a plan to slow down the Tigers’ offense. He has likely spent the last two weeks preparing something to stop Alabama, and the Aggies will be able to limit the Tide.
