Big Ten Week 5 Best Bets: Corum to Shred Nebraska Run Defense

Michigan and Penn State are both listed by our college football score predictions as heavy favorites in Week 5.

Michigan’s odds of winning the national title moved from +400 to +500 in the last week. Ohio State’s championship odds have gone from +1000 to +850 and Penn State’s odds went from +1600 to +1400.

When it comes to college football news, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State remain ranked in the Top 10 in both national polls.

Here’s a look at some prop bets to consider in Week 5.

Ready to Hit the Ground Running

Michigan‘s Blake Corum rushed for 162 yards in last year’s win against Nebraska on 28 carries. He figures to be rather busy once again on Saturday.

Nebraska managed to throw for just 107 yards against Louisiana Tech last week, so will the Cornhuskers be able to sustain drives against Michigan with a struggling passing attack?

Corum has scored at least twice in the last three games, and six of his 11 games with multiple touchdowns have come against Big Ten competition.

Statistically, Nebraska has the best-rushing defense in the Big Ten. Still, we like Corum to reach the end zone more than once on Saturday.

College Football Pick: Michigan’s Blake Corum to score at least two touchdowns +150

Ready to Give Wildcats the Boot

In each of the last two weeks, the first score in a game involving Penn State was a field goal from the reliable Alex Felkins.

Penn State didn’t allow a point in last week’s shellacking of Iowa, so the first points figure to be scored by the Nittany Lions even though Northwestern is tied for second in the Big Ten West Division with 96 points scored.

Penn State has only allowed four drives to reach the red zone this season, while three of the 16 possessions into the red zone by Northwestern opponents have resulted in a field goal. Keep that in mind when making Big Ten prop bets.

College Football Pick: First score of the game is a touchdown – NO (+181)

Time to Play the Waiting Game

With all the talent on the Maryland offense, it might be surprising to those who bet online to discover that the Terrapins haven’t scored in the first half of the opening quarter in each of the last two games.

They will be facing an Indiana team that has 17 points in two games this season versus teams from Power-5 conferences.

Indiana didn’t score in the first quarter against either Ohio State or Louisville.

Indiana will try to slow things down in this game and that could result in the first score taking some time.

College Football Pick: Time of first score O/U 6 minutes – Over (+114)

Cool Hand Luke to Heat Up

Luke Altmyer was one of two Big Ten quarterbacks to throw for more than 300 yards during Week 4, finishing with 303 yards in a win over Florida Atlantic.

Now he gets to face a Purdue defense that ranks only ahead of Wisconsin in passing yards allowed per game and has given up 17 pass plays of at least 20 yards, four more than any other team in the conference.

Illinois isn’t exactly the best pass defense in the Big Ten either, so there could be some big plays in this matchup.

College Football Pick: Illinois Quarterback Luke Altmyer to go over 244 passing yards (+154)