Saturday College Football Bets To Get You Back In The Win Column

Some weeks you just get all wrong. Last weekend was a beatdown on the betting front for me. This weekend we will get back on the horse and turn this thing around.

There are a few attractive top 25 matchups including an unexpected SEC showdown. Ohio State and Iowa tussle in the Big Ten and a team is on upset watch out west. Odds courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook.

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Last week: 0-5, I’m not too proud.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 12: Micah Gilbert #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium on September 12, 2026 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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Notre Dame (-21.5) at North Carolina
Saturday, Noon

Notre Dame finally gets a (small) challenge Saturday when they travel to Chapel Hill. The Irish are 3-1 against the spread so far in 2026 and are a big favorite. The step up in competition really isn’t of any consequence. Wisconsin is on the same level as North Carolina in my opinion. The Tar Heels are 1-2 ATS, one of the two losses against a Power 4 school.

There is a huge talent difference here, the Irish offense has been unstoppable to date. Bill Belichick needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat to keep this one close. Look for C. J. Carr to carve his defense up however.

The play: Lay the points and take the Irish. Also the 48.5 over/under is the second lowest total the Irish have had this year. Take the over.

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - SEPTEMBER 26: Kamario Taylor #1 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks to pass during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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Alabama (-5.5) at Mississippi State
Saturday, Noon

If you’re a fan of the SEC you can probably count on one hand the number of important games Mississippi State has played in in the last decade or so. Here is one of them. The Bulldogs are 4-0 and have looked impressive doing it. The best quarterback you should probably have heard of by now is under center in Starkville. Kamario Taylor should be getting some Heisman love. If he beats Alabama he will get all the love he wants. State is 4-0 ATS because they have an offense that doesn’t stop. Alabama better not bring the defense that gave up 36 to Florida State. That kind of effort will get them run out of the stadium.

Alabama counters with a pretty impressive young QB of their own. Keelon Russell deserves a lions share of the credit for Alabama’s start this year as well as the comeback win over Florida State. He’s poised and is a steadying influence on the field. This is going to be a video game played in real life. Do the Bulldogs step out of the shadows and get a big time win? In short, yes.

The play: Mississippi State money line (+188). Let’s go for the upset. I love the home dog. The point total is currently 60.5. I like the over.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 26: Reece Vander Zee #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates his second half touchdown with Kamari Moulton #28 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Ohio State (-14.5) at Iowa
Saturday 3:30 p.m.

Things that make you scratch your head. Ohio State was always going to be a favorite. But on the road against a good Iowa team coming off a huge comeback win at Michigan, you’d think the Hawkeyes would get a little more respect. The odds say otherwise which may be more of an indictment of Michigan than anything. The Buckeyes are just so darn good and if Iowa has any hangover from the win last week they’re going to get bulldozed. Ohio State likes to start fast – good teams smell blood early and deliver the knockout. By the time Iowa wakes up it might be too late. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith continue their Heisman campaigns in big fashion Saturday.

They play: First half winning margin Ohio State 13-18 (+625). Lay the 14.5 also.

Parlay special:

Texas Tech (-13) at Colorado
Miami at Clemson (+16.5)
BYU (6.5) at TCU
Indiana (-24.5) at Rutgers

Three favorites and a cover from Clemson gets you +1314. I like this one.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Trevion Cooley #22 of the Washington Huskies evades a tackle by Maverick Baranowski #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first half at Husky Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images)

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Upset special

Washington (+8.5) at USC
Saturday 7:30 p.m.

The upset special out west as promised. USC has a little drama after the Oregon game. This is a gut pick. Washington has been very pedestrian so far this year, and losing to Minnesota last week doesn’t inspire confidence. USC was off to a good start. We’ve seen them implode before and now this the time it could happen again.

The play: Washington (+8.5) to win the game outright.

You know the saying mo’ money mo’ problems? What about less money? We get off the floor this weekend. Happy hunting.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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