College football enters Week 10 with a string of upsets that has seen a top-two team fall four weeks in a row. The schedule features several high-profile matchups, including a key SEC clash between LSU and Alabama. Veteran sportswriter Mike Tierney has analyzed the card and constructed two three-team money-line parlays — one built entirely of favorites, the other of underdogs.
Tierney's Track Record
Tierney, whose work has appeared in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. Over the past four NFL seasons he is 320-271-16, returning $1,867 per $100 wagered, including a 130-101 against-the-spread mark (56.3%) over the last two seasons. In college football, he is 121-103 over the past two seasons.
Favorites Parlay
The favorites parlay includes Oklahoma State over Kansas State, LSU over Alabama, and San Jose State over Northern Illinois. Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker faces a Kansas State team starting its fourth quarterback, Blake Barnett, with starter Avery Johnson injured. The Cowboys rank third in FBS offensive yards per snap, while the Wildcats' defense sits 81st. LSU boasts the nation's fourth-ranked defense and sixth-ranked offense, is unbeaten at home with a 36.2-point average margin, and Alabama suffered a 16-point road loss at Tennessee. San Jose State, with four wins, meets a winless Northern Illinois squad that just lost by seven at UNLV.
Underdogs Parlay
The underdog parlay backs Illinois over Nebraska, Boston College over Florida State, and Air Force over Army. Nebraska has lost its last three games by a combined 13 points, while Illinois has dropped three straight by 15 points; Illinois quarterback Katin Houser has returned from injury. Florida State fired coach Mike Norvell and lost standout receiver Duce Robinson, with running backs also depleted. Boston College had won two straight before a loss at Duke and is 3-1 at home. Air Force's run-heavy attack faces an Army defense allowing 5.1 yards per carry, ninth-worst in FBS, and the Black Knights were routed by Memphis by 27 points.
