We've complied the top betting news, trends and picks we could find to help you crack the college football Week 4 odds. That includes a potentional change at quarterback for the Golden Domers, will Texas A&M have enough weapons to cover the huge number at Alabama and much, much more. **video
TRIPLE TROUBLE FOR SMU
Navy's triple option has confounded a fair number of opposing defenses – but to Southern Methodist, it has been downright nasty. The Mustangs look to figure out how to slow down the galloping Midshipmen as the teams meet Saturday in Dallas. SMU has allowed a whopping 173 points in its last three games against Navy, who have won eight consecutive meetings between the teams and have covered in five straight. Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry is the one to watch; he had 282 yards on the ground and four TDs against SMU last season, and already has six scores on the ground through three games in 2018.
SMU is a 6.5-point underdog in this one, but the more interesting number is the total, which has plummeted from a 66 opener all the way down to 60.5 in some spots. The teams have gone over in each of their past three meetings, averaging a combined 86 points in those outings.
WKU TURNS TO SHANLEY
After impressing in relief last week, quarterback Davis Shanley will make his first collegiate start Saturday as Western Kentucky visits Ball State. Shanley looked good in last Saturday's 20-17 loss at Louisville, completing 22 of 33 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score as WKU nearly pulled off the upset. Regular starter Drew Eckels is unavailable after taking big hits in each of the Hilltoppers' first two games of the season. Steven Duncan, who was replaced by Shanley after just two series against the Cardinals, is listed second on this week's depth chart.
While the odds for this one have held steady at Ball State -3, the total has risen from 52 to 55. Shanley's presence not only puts the over in play (the Hilltoppers are 7-3 O/U in their past 10), it also enhances WKU's chances of winning outright (+125) and going over its team total, which sits at 25.5.
BRO, DO YOU EVEN KICK?
Looking for the least involved players in collegiate football through three weeks? It has to be the Boston College placekickers. Colton Lichtenberg and John Tessitore have played the role of cheerleaders for the first 180 minutes of Eagles football, as BC has put up a stunning 23 touchdowns without even one field goal through the first three games (Tessitore has at least been able to kick extra points, and he's 20-for-23 there.) The Eagles are expected to put up another bushel of points Saturday against Purdue, which has surrendered 10 touchdowns and seven field goals (30.3 ppg) in its first three games.
Can Purdue succeed where the others have failed? It might be worth investing to find out, as bettors are getting +350 on Boston College's first score coming via field goal (a touchdown is worth -550 if you'd rather play it safe.)
DRIVE EXTENSION MATTERS
If Mississippi State and Kentucky keep doing what they've done so well in the early going, we could see plenty of long drives when these teams face off Saturday at Kroger Field in Lexington. The Bulldogs have been one of the best third-down teams in the nation so far, converting 22 of 36 opportunities for a 61.1-percent success rate – second only to Central Florida. The Wildcats aren't far behind, having gone 22-of-38 on third down for a 57.9-percent success rate. Not surprisingly, both teams rank above the Division I average in time of possession per game.
The total for this one has shifted from 54 to 56 – but longer drives on both sides would ultimately mean fewer overall possessions, which would almost certainly result in fewer points. Betters should consider both the full-time and first-half Unders (28), which are paying out at -110.
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CHANGES COMING TO NOTRE DAME?
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish might have a new man under center for Saturday's encounter with host Wake Forest. ESPN is reporting that the Irish are prepared to go with redshirt sophomore Ian Book as the starting quarterback against the Demon Deacons; he would replace Brandon Wimbush, who has completed just over 55 percent of his passes with one touchdown and four interceptions on the season. The Irish have succeeded despite Wimbush's struggles, but their three wins have come by a combined 20 points and they fell well short of covering in each of their previous two victories.
The Irish are a one-touchdown road favorite against Wake Forest but given how Book fared in his Citrus Bowl stint vs. LSU last season (14-for-19, 164 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT), Notre Dame might see a little more action than normal. That said, the team total of 34.5 seems high given that the Irish have averaged just 23.3 points through their first three games.
HIGDON RETURNS FOR MICHIGAN
The Michigan Wolverines will have their top running back in the lineup for Saturday's showdown with visiting Nebraska. Running backs coach Jay Harbaugh says Karan Higdon will be available this weekend after missing last weekend's win over Southern Methodist with an undisclosed injury. And the Wolverines are also expected to have No. 2 running back Chris Evans in the fold; he's also dealing with an undisclosed ailment. Michigan enters the weekend averaging a robust 5.2 yards per carry, with Higdon and Evans combining for 400 rushing yards and four TDs through three games.
The Wolverines are favored by 17.5 points against the Huskers; they're 6-0 SU and 3-2-1 ATS when Higdon rushes for at least 100 yards, with five of those victories coming by 20 or more points.
ROGERS READY TO GO
The Texas A&M Aggies have a tall task ahead of them in Alabama this weekend, but at least they'll have one of their top wide receivers back. Sophomore wideout Kendrick Rogers sat out last week's victory over Louisiana-Monroe with a foot injury, but head coach Jimbo Fisher says he expects Rogers to be available Saturday. Rogers has already featured prominently against a marquee opponent this season, hauling in seven catches for 120 yards and a pair of scores in the Aggies' heart-wrenching 28-26 loss to the Clemson Tigers back on Sept. 8.
Rogers' return could give the Aggies the boost they need to challenge their team total, which comes in at around 17.5 points as of Thursday. But bettors beware: Texas A&M, presently a 26-point underdog with a total of 61, has been outscored 92-14 in its previous two visits to Tuscaloosa.
NO BOSA FOR BUCKEYES
How much of an impact can the absence of one defensive player have on the opposing team's offensive fortunes? Bettors will find that out for themselves this weekend, as the Tulane Green Wave take on a host Ohio State Buckeyes team that will be without defensive end and top NFL draft prospect Nick Bosa. The junior superstar is dealing with a lower abdomen injury that knocked him out in the third quarter of last weekend's 40-28 victory over TCU. Bosa is having an incredible season to date, having racked up four sacks, six tackles for loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The line has moved 1.5 points in the Buckeyes' favor, from -34 to -35.5, while the total has dipped to 65. That leaves Tulane with an implied team total of ~15 points; the Green Wave have surpassed that number in seven of their past nine road games, going 5-4 ATS in that span.
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MARTINEZ A GAME-TIME DECISION - AGAIN
Nebraska continues to troll the world with its quarterback situation. After announcing Adrian Martinez as the starter last week against Troy before replacing him with Andrew Bunch just prior to kickoff, Huskers head coach Scott Frost says Martinez remains a game-time decision for this weekend's encounter with Michigan. Frost said Martinez was close to returning from a knee injury against the Trojans but wasn't 100 percent ready. Frost and Nebraska are reeling after dropping their first two games of the season, both at home.
The Huskers are in tough this week, sitting at +18.5 against the host Wolverines; the total sits at 49. That said, Nebraska has gone 8-3 ATS in its last 11 road games and could make things interesting if Martinez plays Saturday.
WILL AHNMON BE AVAILABLE?
The Miami Hurricanes are holding their breath about the availability of Ahmmon Richards. The talented wide receiver hasn't yet returned to practice since suffering a knee injury in the Hurricanes' season-opening 33-17 loss to LSU, and he's still considered day-to-day. Richards is, however, listed as a starter on Miami's Week 4 depth chart, a sign that he might be ready to return. Richards has battled injuries since putting up 934 receiving yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2016; he had just one catch for nine yards against the Tigers before departing.
Richards' return to full health could mean a boon for a Miami team that hasn't had any problem scoring without him, racking up 126 points in wins over Savannah State and Toledo. Yet, with a team total of -41 points against visiting Florida International (Miami is -26.5 with an O/U of 56.5), Richards' presence certainly makes the over a much stronger option.
BRYCE IS BACK
The Stanford Cardinal will have their sensational running back in the lineup for Saturday's road showdown with Oregon. Bryce Love sat out last week's win over UC Davis with an undisclosed injury but is fit to return against the Pac-12-rival Ducks. Head coach David Shaw said Love took some hard hits in the Cardinal's Week 2 win over USC and was held out of last week's game as a precaution. Stanford couldn't do much of anything on the ground in Love's absence, settling for 137 rushing yards on 33 carries. Love has 40 totes for 165 yards and a touchdown on the season.
The line for this game has quickly swung from Stanford +1.5 in some spots all the way to Stanford -2, with the total at 57. That puts the Cardinal's team total at around 30 points; they've scored 30+ points in eight of the last 15 games Love has played dating back to the start of last season.
REINFORCEMENTS FOR IOWA
A pair of Iowa Hawkeyes offensive players are set to make their return for this weekend's home encounter with Wisconsin. Running back Ivory Kelly-Martin and wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette both missed last week's victory over Northern Iowa but are expected to be back in the lineup Saturday. The returns of Kelly-Martin and Smith-Marsette will provide some much-needed depth for a Hawkeyes team that has averaged 28 points through its first three games but has scored more than 20 points in just one of its previous five games vs. the Badgers.
Iowa is listed at +3 against Wisconsin, a slight bump from a +3.5-opening line; the total sits at 43.5. Iowa is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games as a home underdog and should be buoyed by the returns of Kelly-Martin and Smith-Marsette.
RED ZONE RED ALERT
Two teams in desperate need of a red-zone makeover will face off at Doak Campbell Stadium this Saturday as Florida State hosts Northern Illinois. The visiting Huskies have been somewhat ineffective inside their opponents' 20-yard line, having made eight trips and recording just four touchdowns – all through the air – and two field goals. But the Seminoles have been even worse in the red zone this season, managing just four TDs and a field goal on their nine trips inside the 20. That 55.6-percent scoring success rate is second-worst among Division I teams, ahead of only Western Kentucky (50 percent).
The Seminoles are 10-point favorites as they look to return to the .500 mark – but bettors should be wary about that total of 45. With both teams struggling mightily in the red zone, the under looks like the more appealing option here.
STOREY'S THE ONE
It might not be entirely accurate to suggest that Ty Storey has "won" the Arkansas Razorbacks' starting quarterback job – but he'll be under center for Saturday's marquee showdown at Auburn. Storey was named the No. 1 QB by Razorbacks head coach Chad Morris, ending a duel that saw neither Storey nor Cole Kelley run away with the role. The two combined for six touchdowns and six interceptions over Arkansas' first thee games, with Storey (56.7 percent) posting a slightly better completion rate than Kelley (55.4). Arkansas is averaging 233.7 passing yards per game, good for 70th nationally.
The Razorbacks' QB struggles, combined with the Tigers looking for a rebound at home following last week's stunning loss to LSU, make Auburn a strong pick at -29.5. And with Arkansas' team total presently sitting at around 13 points, it's worth noting that Auburn has held road foes to 13 or fewer points in eight of their past 14 home games.
LOUISVILLE PASSING ON PASS
So much for being the next Lamar Jackson. Sophomore quarterback Juwon Pass has been benched by Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino for this weekend's game against Virginia. Pass will watch from the sidelines this weekend after opening the season with a 50 percent completion rate, two touchdown passes and four interceptions in parts of three games with the Cardinals. Pass he has been dealing with a turf toe injury that has limited him in the running game, resulting in him totaling just seven rushing yards on 15 attempts. Cunningham is 16-for-25 for 163 yards and a score to date.
The Cavaliers opened at -3.5, but the Cardinals' QB problems have played a role in that line being bet up to -5. But Virginia is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine as a home favorite, while Louisville is a red-hot 15-2 ATS in its past 17 as a true road 'dog.
