Ahead of college football's Week 8 slate, here's a look ahead at what bets The Action Network's CFB experts Mike Calabrese and Mike Ianniello like for this week — and how they did last week.
Each week on the Big Bets on Campus podcast, Calabrese and Ianniello take over for the Wednesday "Group of 5 Deep Dive". No one covers the G5 better as the duo goes through best bets, heroes of the week, moneyline underdog parlays and the G5 Hi-Five Round Robin.
Here's what they have this week.
College Football Week 7 Recap — How Did They Do?
Calabrese and Ianniello went with the over on two different matchups in Week 7 — Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan (55.5) and Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion (67).
Their underdog moneyline parlay also went 1-1. Air Force (+170) hit with a win at Boise State 24-17. But, Kent State (+210) lost in a blowout to Western Michigan. That parlay had a prospective +737 payout.
The Ball State v. Eastern Michigan over cleared by 13.5 points. The Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion over missed by just four points.
For their Group of Five round robin, the pair went 4-0-1.
Their picks were:
- San Diego State -350 @ San Jose State
- Yale +7.5 @ UConn (this one was a push because Calabrese said to bet down to Yale +6 — WynnBet opened at Yale -3.5)
- Akron +19.5 @ Miami Ohio
- UTEP +7 vs. Louisiana Tech
- Fresno State -155 @ Wyoming
College Football Week 8 Best Bets
Florida State -35.5 hosting UMass and Central Michigan -4 over Northern Illinois are their two best bets this week.
The thesis on Florida State is predicated on its offensive line. The Seminoles were missing three starters on the line at the beginning of the season during their embarrassing 0-4 start — the team's worst since 1974.
Those starters have since returned and the Seminoles have ripped off two straight wins against decent ACC competition since.
For the Central Michigan pick, Ianniello thinks the Chippewas are better on both sides of the ball. Northern Illinois' strength is running the ball, but Central Michigan has one of the country's best run defenses.
The Chippewas are 22nd in the country at defending the run and sixth in the country at Stuff Rate.
And he thinks Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi "still stinks."
He's all-in on Central Michigan laying the points here.
Underdog Moneyline Parlay
San Diego State (+160) vs. Air Force with Toledo (+110) vs. Western Michigan for a +445 total payout.
The thesis for San Diego State relies on the squads' special teams disparity. Long story short: San Diego State's kicker is one of the best in the nation. Air Force's sucks.
Same goes with their punters. This game will be dependent on field position, Calabrese said, and the punting disparity between the two will be hard to overcome.
They also love Toledo against Western Michigan's shaky defense, which ranks 72nd in rushing success, 120th at preventing big plays and 74th in tackling.
Toledo's defense is also solid. They're second in tackling and sixth in defending the run this season.
G5 Hi-Five Round Robin
Below are their five round robin picks:
- Ball State -5.5 vs. Miami Ohio
- Coastal Carolina -200 @ Appalachian State
- Lousiana Tech +7 v. UTSA
- Fresno State -3 vs. Nevada
- Eastern Michigan -3 @ Bowling Green
To subscribe to the Big Bets on Campus Podcast and get the Group of Five, plus Stuckey and Collin Wilson's picks each week, click here.
