We’re rounding the corner and heading for home in the strange 2020 college football regular season. We’ve had plenty of cancellations again this week due to COVID-19 concerns, but there are still plenty of winners to be had in Week 14. Let’s check out which ‘dogs will be barking the loudest when the dust settles on Saturday.
College football underdog predictions: Week 14
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Michigan State +14.5 (-110) at Penn State
Sparty was drummed by Ohio State last week in East Lansing by a 52-12 count, and they’re clearly not in the same stratosphere as a national title contender. But this team is just two weeks removed from knocking Northwestern from the ranks of the unbeaten, winning outright as a 13.5-point underdog.
Yes, Penn State has cobbled together a two-game win streak, but it’s against a struggling Michigan side and a perennial doormat in Rutgers. The Nittany Lions are still just 2-5 SU/ATS on the season, and they’re 0-3 SU/ATS in Happy Valley so far, including a 35-19 loss to a mediocre Maryland side as a 27.5-point favorite on Nov. 7. Penn State has no business laying two touchdowns to anyone.
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Memphis +4.5 (-110) vs. Houston
The Tigers are short ‘dogs at home against Houston. Yes, the Cougars looked impressive last time out, dispatching South Florida 56-21. But is it that impressive? The Bulls are horrible. And Houston has been off since Nov. 14 due to COVID-19 concerns. It’s a double-edged sword. The good news is they’re well rested and the bumps and bruises are gone, but they also could show some rust.
Memphis was knocked around at Tulane by a 35-21 count last Saturday, but before that, they picked up three wins in a row over USF, Stephen F. Austin and Navy. They are 1-5 ATS across the past six, so you’ll be going against the grain there. But the Tigers have covered in five straight meetings in this series, too.
Louisiana Tech +21.5 (-115) at TCU
Some lines just jump off the page, and this one and the Michigan State line really stood out. If you’re a seasoned bettor, you know that three and a hook, seven and a hook, 14 and a hook, 21 and a hook and so on are special numbers. Why? It’s just simple football math. A team wins by an orthodox football score, and that half-point comes in handy. In this particular instance, you’re backing a good football team and getting plenty of points to boot.
The Bulldogs have rolled up 31.8 points per game this season, good for 41st in the country. They dropped 42 on North Texas last time out on Dec. 3, a season-best point total against an FBS opponent (they scored 66 vs. FCS Houston Baptist on Sept. 26). They have averaged 39.5 PPG across the past two, covering both.
TCU is coming off an impressive 29-22 win over Oklahoma State, winning as 2.5-point point ‘dogs at home. Can they bring that same kind of intensity against a non-conference foe after such an emotional win? This has letdown and trap game written all over it.
Also see:
- TCU vs Louisiana Tech Prediction, Game Preview (College Football News)
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