BEST BETS: WEEK 10

Finnelytics
Oct 28, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Oct 30, 2021

YTD: 17-15 (53%)

ALL-TIME 68-45 (60%)

2020 29-22 (57%)

2019 22-8 (73%)

MINNESOTA (-7.5) @ NORTHWESTERN

SATURDAY 3:30 EST | BTN

Outside of a brutal loss to Bowling Green, Minnesota has had a pretty solid year thus far. Their run game continues to roll on despite being down to their third-string running back. Tanner Morgan and the passing game have struggled a bit after back-to-back years of losing their top receiving threat to the NFL. Fortunately, the Gophers may not need the passing attack this weekend. They should have a very good matchup on the ground against a Northwestern team that has really struggled to stop the run this year. Normally a very strong defensive unit, Northwestern is currently giving up over 5 YPC and has given up over 200 yards rushing in 4 of their 7 games this year. (4 of 5 games against Power5 opponents). As mentioned, Minnesota is down their top 2 running backs already, however, Ky Thomas and Mar'Keise Irving had over 100 yards each last week against Maryland.

As usual, Northwestern's offense continues to be a sore point. With subpar matchups this week on the ground and through the air it is tough to see Northwestern keeping things close if Minnesota's offense plays as expected.

SYRACUSE (-6.5) vs BOSTON COLLEGE

SATURDAY 3:30 EST | CHSS

Syracuse has featured one of the best units in all of college football week after week this year. They continued their run game dominance last week with over 300 yards on the ground en route to a Best Bets cover against Virginia Tech. That same day, Louisville ran all over Boston College to a tune of 331 yards on the ground. Which marks the 2nd time 3 games where Boston College has allowed over 200 yards on the ground, with the other game coming against Clemson who has struggled to do anything offensively this year. Expect another huge day for Sean Tucker and Garrett Shrader on the ground for the Orangemen.

Defensively, Syracuse has struggled to defend the pass this year, securing a GameScore over 70 just 1 time all year. Luckily, ever since Dennis Grosel took over after Phil Jurkovec went down with an injury BC has been pretty putrid through the air.

UNDER (47.5) FLORIDA STATE / CLEMSON

SATURDAY 3:30 EST | ESPN

Clemson has probably (maybe not even probably) the most disappointing team of 2021. Their offense has been so uncharacteristically bad. They have still yet to reach 20 points in regulation against an FBS team this year and their passing game has been bad enough that even preseason top3 Heisman favorite, DJ Uiagalelei, was benched last week in their loss to Pitt.

Defensively, Clemson continues to be fine especially against the run. Florida State is still a pretty one-dimensional team with Jordan Travis at the helm. A run-heavy team will be tough to find success against this Clemson defense.