The 2020 college football season is in full swing and returns to a full slate of games with the return of the Pac-12 on Saturday. As you gear up for the most exciting week yet and look to place your bets, we’re here to offer you an unbelievable deal through our partners at BetMGM. New players can register their accounts with BetMGM and use the code BROBIBLE to receive a 100% deposit match up to $500.
For every dollar your deposit, BetMGM will double it. Once you’re signed up, the sportsbook is offering great value on a few key games. The year has been full of crazy results so far, so if you’re looking for the next possible upsets, look no further because I have you covered!
Here are three games that will come down to the wire and could go in favor of the underdog:
Why Michigan will win:
The Wolverines have won 24 straight games over the Hoosiers, with their last loss dating back to 1987. History is in their favor, but Jim Harbaugh’s team comes off of an embarrassing loss to its in-state rivals last weekend. Although the offense looked solid in Michigan’s Week 1 win over Minnesota and continued to move the ball against Michigan State, it had only two plays go for more than 20 yards. Quarterback Joe Milton could not find the deep ball and averaged just 5.9 yards per catch on 51 pass attempts, while the run game mustered 4.5 yards per touch.
However, the offensive line played tough against the Golden Gophers and led the way for 256 rushing yards to begin the year. That group will face a Hoosier defensive front that hasn’t been as dominant in the stopping the run, which could benefit the visitors.
Why Indiana will win:
This might be the most important three-game stretch in Indiana program history. The Hoosiers began the year 2-0 behind a defense that is second in the Big Ten with five interceptions, third in fewest passing yards allowed per game and tied for third in sacks. It will be crucial to keep the ground game in check to have a chance at success.
Johnson notices and moves in just in time for the Clifford overthrow. #iufb https://t.co/7ZLAwk2NGC pic.twitter.com/44IW14ENkF
— Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) October 25, 2020
On offense, Indiana has averaged a ninth-worst 279 yards per game and are averaging only 2.27 yards per carry. With that being said, two major components of Michigan’s front seven may be out with injury and the passing attack is where Indiana really moves the chains. Against the Spartans, the Wolverines allowed true freshman wideout Ricky White to average over 24 yards per catch for a total of 196 on the day.
Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for four touchdowns without an interception last week and will look again to receivers Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle, and tight end Peyton Hendershot— who account for 68 percent of the team’s receiving production.
Prediction:
Michigan could be without important components on both sides of the ball and is poised for another let-down loss to turn up the heat on Jim Harbaugh’s seat. Indiana’s defense might struggle containing the run, but its big-play deep ball will prevail and win the game.
Pick: Indiana Moneyline at +130 on BetMGM Sportsbook
Why San José State will win:
Graduate transfer quarterback Nick Starkel spent his first three years of eligibility at Texas A&M and Arkansas and has looked spectacular in his first two starts in Northern California. He completed 34-of-47 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns against New Mexico last week and earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honors. He found ten different receivers and developed a strong rapport with Bailey Gaither, who had 10 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown, and Tre Walker who caught nine passes for 107 yards and two scores. His running back counterparts recorded only 99 yards on the ground, so Starkel will have to keep his offensive prowess rolling to pull the upset.
📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/jGXgHgFwqY
— San José State Football (@SanJoseStateFB) November 1, 2020
Defensively, San José State kept Air Force off of the board through the first three quarters last week and has been playing well. Linebacker Kyle Harmon is quickly becoming a superstar and has 28 total tackles this season. It will be important to stop the ball at the line of scrimmage on early downs and force the Aztecs to throw.
Why San Diego State will win:
The Aztecs run the ball with great efficiency and have averaged 350 yards per game on the ground through two weeks. Greg Bell and Chance Bell are not related to one another but they have handled the majority of touches thus far and make it difficult for opposing defenses to bring them down. Quarterback Carson Baker won’t break any records this year, but he added a pair of touchdowns against Utah State last week and provides a net positive under center.
San Diego State’s defense has allowed the fewest points in the Mountain West and held its first two opponents to 401 total yards combined. Safeties Dwayne Johnson Jr. and Tariq Thompson are ballhawks in pass coverage, and if the defensive line can force poor throws, the Aztecs can win the game by controlling the clock and keeping their opponent’s offense off of the field.
Prediction:
Both teams have had strong defensive performances to begin the season and enter Friday night’s matchup with momentum. Starkel has shown flashes of the quarterback he never quite became at A&M or Arkansas against weaker competition and will need to keep that trend rolling against San Diego State. Should he get the Spartans out to an early lead with the passing attack, the Aztecs will have to abandon its dominant run game and that doesn’t bode well. This game will come down to the wire and San José State might win outright, but taking the points is the safer bet.
Pick: San Jose State +9.5 at -110 on BetMGM Sportsbook
Why Clemson will win:
The Tigers are the nation’s top team and deserve the ranking after rallying from a first-half deficit against Boston College last Saturday. Of course, they will be without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the second-straight week. In the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite’s place last week, 6-foot-4, 250-pound true freshman D.J. Uiagalelei looked better as the game went on and finished 30-of-41 for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Should he continue to keep the momentum rolling, his receiving weapons are athletic enough to expose the Irish’s secondary down the sidelines, and his legs are a complimentary asset to his game.
— Saturday Gameday (@SaturdayGameday) October 31, 2020
One of the strongest weapons comes at tailback. If Travis Etienne can continue his dominance as the nation’s top duel-threat back and get into space, he will run past a Notre Dame defense that plays extremely physical but not necessarily as fast. Stopping Etienne is a tall-task and if he and Uiagalelei are clicking, it makes a lighter day for the defense, which has been sound but not dominant.
Why Notre Dame will win:
If there was ever a time to play the Tigers, it would be without Lawrence, and that’s the case on Saturday. Boston College was able to expose a Clemson offensive line that isn’t as strong as years prior, and Notre Dame’s defense is significantly better. The Irish have held their opponents to 10.3 points per game and kept them 117 yards below their season averages. The defensive front will need to get penetration against a zone-blocking scheme and stop Etienne early to put the pressure on third down passing situations and force Uiagalelei out of rhythm.
Not only is the defensive line solid, but Notre Dame’s offensive line is a forced to be reckoned with in the run game and led the way for 227 yards rushing against Georgia Tech last weekend. Should the run game get going, it keeps the pressure off of quarterback Ian Book. Book has not been awful by any stretch, but he is not spectacular either. He will need to limit mistakes and take what the Clemson defense gives him to compliment his powerful running backs and move the chains later in drives.
Prediction:
Not only is Clemson without Lawrence, but starting linebacker James Skalski remains out and head coach Dabo Swinney announced on Thursday that the Tigers’ will be without another starting linebacker Mike Jones and starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis.
Notre Dame needs to make a statement on Saturday and are set up to do so. So long as the Irish don’t come out flat, this game will be close down the stretch and flips in favor of the home team if its defense can make a late stop. Take the points if the comfort of a field goal is something that eases your mind, but the moneyline provides great value for the No. 4 team in the nation.
Pick: Notre Dame +5 at -110 or Notre Dame Moneyline at +155 on BetMGM Sportsbook
