Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
The fifth full week of the 2021 college football season is here and things are really heating up with this schedule. It features three games between teams in the top 12 of the rankings: Alabama vs Ole Miss, Georgia vs Arkansas, and Cincinnati vs Notre Dame. The Georgia vs Arkansas showdown in the SEC provides us with one of our best underdog bets for the upcoming slate. Let’s take a look at all three.
Virginia Cavaliers +4 over Miami Hurricanes
Week 5 kicks off on Thursday night with an ACC battle between Miami and Virginia. Both teams have experienced some early struggles this season, going into Thursday with records of 2-2. Miami eased past Central Connecticut State 69-0 this past Saturday, but quarterback D’Eriq King missed that contest because of a shoulder injury and it doesn’t sound like he will be ready for this one. A short week doesn’t help in terms of recovery, so the Hurricanes will have to plan for another QB platoon of Jake Garcia and Tyler Van Dyke. Garcia and Van Dyke fared well enough against Central Connecticut State, but CCSU certainly isn’t Virginia.
UVA signal-caller Brennan Armstrong leads the nation with 426.3 passing yards per game. He also has 13 touchdowns compared to only 3 interceptions. The ‘Canes are surrendering the second-most passing yards per game in the ACC (245.8), so this does not appear to be a good matchup for the home team. Miami is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven at home dating back to last season and 2-6 ATS in its last eight against the Cavaliers.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Virginia Cavaliers vs Miami Hurricanes
Arkansas Razorbacks +18.5 over Georgia Bulldogs
Giving 18.5 points is simply a lot in a meeting between top-10 teams (Georgia is No. 2, Arkansas is eighth). The Razorbacks are totally deserving of their current ranking, too, as they are 4-0 with a quartet of double-digit victories. Included in their results are a 40-21 beatdown of then-No. 15 Texas and last weekend’s 20-10 upset of then-No. 7 Texas A&M.
Georgia is a great team, but can it really cover by more than two touchdowns and a field goal? Given that defense is the strength of the Bulldogs, I’m not sure this contest will produce enough points for a -18.5 spread to be covered. As good as the Dawgs’ defense is, Arkansas should be able to put up some points. KJ Jefferson has thrown for 844 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions to go along with 230 rushing yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Don’t disrespect this Razorbacks squad by picking them to lose by more than 18 points.
Liberty Flames +2 over UAB Blazers
Speaking of dynamic quarterbacks, Malik Willis (40/1) is well ahead of Jefferson (100/1) and not too far behind UGA’s JT Daniels (25/1) in the Heisman Trophy race. Liberty’s junior signal-caller has completed 63 of 88 passes for 810 yards with 10 TDs and no INTs while rushing for 274 yards and 2 TDs. It’s nothing new for the Atlanta, Ga. native. Last season he passed for 2,260 yards, rushed for 944, and accounted for 34 total touchdowns.
Despite Willis’ best efforts, the Flames suffered their first loss of the season to Syracuse last weekend. That’s what they are getting 2 points against UAB. The Blazers are also 3-1 with wins over Jacksonville State, North Texas, and Tulane plus a 56-7 loss to Georgia. They are dealing with a QB controversy involving former starter Tyler Johnston III and apparent new starter Dylan Hopkins. Take the Flames and don’t bother with the 2 points; grab them on the +105 money line.
Jared Smith is going Back to the Futures, with his best betting strategy for Ole Miss vs Alabama!
At Pickswise we offer free expert College Football Picks and College Football Predictions for all games in the Power Five conferences and the top 25 teams outside of Power five, including our College Football Parlay picks each week.
