Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 5 picks against the spread
After a 4-6 week, we’re still making you money if you pick against us. Keep it up, win big. Overall record: 17-23
BYU (-1.5) at Utah State, 8 p.m. ET FRIDAY: BYU’s offense has to show up at some point, right? This line seems crazy, but nothing has been surprising with the Cougars this season. Utah State is 2-2. Its two wins have been blowouts over Idaho State and San Jose State while its two losses have been blowouts to Wisconsin and Wake Forest.
USC at Washington State (OVER 64), 10:30 p.m. ET FRIDAY: Pac-12 After Dark graces us with its best game of the season Friday night. Given the game is in Pullman, expect crazy things to happen. Of course, that could mean a 10-3 win with Washington State running for 300 yards and throwing for 150. But with QBs Sam Darnold and Luke Falk involved, we want this game to be a shootout.
South Florida at East Carolina (UNDER 76), Noon ET: ECU is fresh off a Sunday upset at UConn. With South Florida’s tendency to underwhelm at times so far in 2017, don’t be surprised if the lowly Pirates jump out to an early lead. USF easily wins, however.
Vanderbilt (+10) at Florida, Noon ET: What’s this line if Vanderbilt was merely uncompetitive and lost by four touchdowns to Alabama instead of getting marauded? Florida has squeaked by Kentucky and Tennessee the past two weeks and Vandy showed it’s at a comparable level to its two closest geographic rivals before the blowout. Don’t be stunned if Vandy wins outright and throws the SEC East into a bit of chaos.
Florida State (-7.5) at Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m. ET: Holy moly, this is the surprise line of the season. Wake Forest is 4-0, but the Demon Deacons needed to survive Appalachian State in Week 4. Saturday was a disaster scenario for Florida State with its first game in three weeks starting a new quarterback against a very good team. Seminoles rebound big time.
Arizona State at Stanford (-17), 4 p.m. ET: Arizona State’s rushing defense hasn’t seen anyone like Bryce Love and is giving up 4.7 yards a carry through four games. The Stanford running back has emerged as one of the best in the country — yes, he’s not far from Penn State’s Saquon Barkley at this point — and should have another big day.
Iowa at Michigan State (UNDER 43.5), 4 p.m. ET: The Hawkeyes are a good choice as a road underdog as Michigan State is favored by three. After last week’s brutal loss to Penn State, we’re not sold on an Iowa rebound but could see this game’s winner being the first one that gets to 20.
Coastal Carolina at Louisiana-Monroe (-7.5), 7 p.m. ET: ULM beat Louisiana-Lafayette in overtime in Week 4 while Coastal Carolina was drubbed by FCS team Western Illinois. Matt Viator’s Warhawks improved two games in 2016 and another two-game improvement in 2017 means a potential bowl game.
Clemson (-7.5) at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. ET: All Clemson has to do is take away WR Cam Phillips from Virginia Tech’s offense. That’s a simplistic recipe for the Tigers and harder than it sounds, because Virginia Tech’s opponents haven’t done that yet. Phillips has 34 catches while second-leading receiver Sean Savoy has 14 catches and no one else has more than seven. Clemson’s defensive front could cause nightmares for Hokies’ quarterback Josh Jackson.
Northern Illinois at San Diego State (UNDER 46), 10:30 p.m. ET: San Diego State has hit the under in four of its last six games and, according to Odds Shark, the under in 15 of its last 21 home games. Northern Illinois, meanwhile, has covered the spread in every game this season, so we’re not too comfortable taking the Aztecs to cover. San Diego State wins, but with RB Rashaad Penny and Northern Illinois’ lack of offensive explosiveness, this game is low-scoring.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
