College Football Betting Report with Preview and Picks for Week 10 Games

A pair of chip-in winners in Week 9 on Auburn pick and Penn State opinion, as the Nittany Lions hung with Ohio State in a 3-point game through three quarters before falling 33-24 for an easy cover and overall winner for the leading online sportsbooks. Penn State QB Sean Clifford returned and completed 35 of 52 passed for 394 yards and a TD, while top Heisman Trophy top contender CJ Stroud of Ohio State was 24/32 for 305 yards and a touchdown.  

Michigan at Michigan State? Not so good, as Wolverines were in control 30-14 midway through the third quarter with a 427-218 yard edge only to blow the game and lose to rival Sparty, 37-33. The Wolverines finished with a 552-395 yard advantage, 82 plays to 66 and even turnovers. But MSU running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 197 yards and 5 touchdowns for a Heisman-like performance in victory. In fact Walker's Heisman odds went from +1600 to +600 at many online sportsbooks, and he is now challenging quarterbacks Bryce Young, CJ Young and Matt Corral. 

College Football Playoff Rankings

The first College Football Playoff rankings were released this week, and Ohio State is still in the mix among the Top 5 along with Michigan State, who still has tough games remaining at Ohio State and home versus Penn State to close the season. Despite Michigan State being undefeated, the Spartans are a 10/1 underdog to make the four-team College Football Playoff.

The favorites to reach the CFP heading into Week 10 are Georgia (-2000), Oklahoma (-174), Alabama (-164) and Ohio State (-164). 

College Football Playoff Rankings (released Nov. 2)

1. Georgia 
2. Alabama 
3. Michigan State 
4. Oregon 
5. Ohio State 
6. Cincinnati 
7. Michigan 
8. Oklahoma 
9. Wake Forest 
10. Notre Dame 
11. Oklahoma State 
12. Baylor 
13. Auburn 
14. Texas A&M 
15. BYU

As you fire away on the Week 10 college football card and Top 25 teams including just one Top 25 match-up, be sure to check out the reduced juice sportsbooks and become an OSGA VIP. 

Week 10 AP Top 25 Match-ups

Saturday, Nov. 6  

No. 12 Auburn at No. 13 Texas A&M | 3:30 p.m. | CBS

Auburn at Texas A&M 
Line: Texas A&M -4.5 and Total 49 at MyBookie 

A pair of 6-2 SEC teams, and Auburn is 4-0 playing in College Station with its last victory there in 2019. Quarterback Bo Nix was making his first road start as a college QB then, and he gives the Tigers the advantage at quarterback with a 9/2 TD-INT ratio, while A&M quarterback Zach Calzada is completing a league-low 55.2% of his passes and tied for the second most interceptions (7). Nix has passed for at least 200 yards every SEC game, and he's making more big plays in recent weeks. Texas A&M running back Devon Achane leads the league with 7.07 yards per rush, and his 608 rushing yards ranks No. 7 in the SEC behind his running mate Isaiah Spiller. who has 771 and more than 100 yards rushing in three of the Aggies last four games. Auburn RB Tank Bigsby has 666 rushing yards, but A&M will be the more aggressive team on the ground with Auburn's defense having allowed Georgia, Arkansas, and Georgia State to all rush for at least 200 yards. Neither team has a top-15 receiver in yards, and if the game is close, both teams can lean on top kickers who lead the league in field goals made with A&M's Seth Small (14) and Auburn's Anders Carlson (13). 

The Aggies do sport the better run defense allowing 130 per game to Auburn's 142, but Tigers linebacker Zakoby McClain is one of the top tacklers in the league. The situation favors Texas A&M, rested and ready off a bye week, while Auburn enters off a pair of wins, including one over Ole Miss last week. Texas A&M did beat Alabama on this field as a big underdog, but allowed more than 500 yards to the Crimson Tide. We cashed-in with Auburn last week in their win over Ole Miss. But it will be tough this week with the Aggies strong at home, time to prepare and a better defensive performance expected. 

Lean: Texas A&M minus the points.

Upset of the Week

Looking for a Top 25 underdog winner? Consider Purdue (+3 and +132 ML at BookMaker) and under the total at home to upset No. 5 Michigan State, who is in a tough spot off their huge emotional win over rival Michigan. The Spartans apply to some very negative ATS situations as a late-season undefeated road favorite off an underdog win. The Boilermakers (5-3) are still in the Big Ten West race, and they out-played division leader Minnesota on this field in defeat with a 28-12 first down advantage. The Badgers running game ran over the Boilermakers in their other division defeat, but Purdue still sports a stronger defense allowing just 17 points per game and 315 yards per game (both top 15 in nation) at just 5.1 yards per play. The Spartans will rely on Wake Forest transfer RB Kenneth Walker III, who leads the Big Ten in rushing off a huge 197 yard and 5 TD performance last week. Likely less scoring than expected as well, along with a letdown situation for Michigan State, of which many upsets are born.  

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Read more great insights from FairwayJay and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay