Under-the-Radar College Football Bets: Week 12 (2019)
This week’s college football action will be highlighted by a number of big top-25 matchups like Georgia-Auburn and Baylor-Oklahoma. We’ve looked beyond the big games, though, to see if we can find some winners from a few games that are under the radar. Here’s what we like this week.
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Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Odds: Virginia Tech -5.5 at PointsBet
The Virginia Tech Hokies were 0-2 in the ACC and staring at a disastrous 2019 ACC season. Then coach Justin Fuente substituted Hendon Hooker at quarterback for the previously ineffective Ryan Willis, and, instantly, the Hokies’ season changed course as their offense came alive. Virginia Tech scored 42 points in a win at Miami, then 43 points in a win over North Carolina, and 36 points this past weekend in a win over Wake Forest. Heading into that game, Wake Forest had lost only once this season. Virginia Tech is a transformed team.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has won only two games this season in a predictably difficult first season for coach Geoff Collins. Georgia Tech had a 2018 roster which was built to play triple-option football under former coach Paul Johnson, but, now that he’s gone, there is a huge transition that needs to take place. Virginia Tech is on a roll and should be able to take care of business in this game.
Syracuse at Duke
Odds: Duke -10.5 at PointsBet
The Duke Blue Devils have completely collapsed. They were once in very good position to make a bowl game but have since lost four out of their last five games. Now they’re somehow favored by double-digits against Syracuse, which doesn’t exactly make sense…or does it? It actually does because Syracuse’s offense has failed to score more than 20 points in three of its last four games, and its defense is showing signs of collapse, having allowed 58 points in barely more than three quarters to Boston College two weeks ago. Syracuse also gave up 35 points to a Florida State offense which has struggled for most of the season. If there is a team against which Duke can and should get healthy, this is it. Duke’s weaknesses won’t show up against a Syracuse team which has not been able to figure anything out all year long.
Texas at Iowa State
Odds: Iowa State -7 at PointsBet
The Iowa State Cyclones might beat the Texas Longhorns, but will they cover? It is well known that when he has been an underdog, Texas head coach Tom Herman has covered the spread a majority of the time, and has won outright several times as an underdog. This team is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 as a dog, and they’ve actually won four of their last six as a road dog of 3.5 to seven points. This is the kind of situation in which he thrives.
Moreover, Texas will be powerfully motivated by the chance to get a rematch with Oklahoma, its archrival, in the Big 12 Championship Game. Texas needs a win here to earn that rematch. Expect Texas to come out angry and focused. Iowa State might win, but it won’t be easy at all. Take Texas plus the points, in what is a surprisingly large line.
Overall 11-16 record on the season
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Dave Golokhov is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Dave, check out his archive and follow him @davegolokhov.