Can Florida State get into the win column after an overtime loss to Notre Dame and a stunning last-second defeat vs Jacksonville State? We take a look at the Seminoles as well as a pair of other potential upsets on Saturday.
Florida State +170 over Wake Forest
The Florida State Seminoles have managed to defy the college football odds by losing their first two games. The second loss was especially shocking, as the Seminoles lost on a throw and catch as time expired by FCS opponent Jacksonville State. Despite all of that adversity, Florida State still has a real shot at beating Wake Forest to claim its first win.
A loss like the one Florida State suffered against Jacksonville State never feels good for a team, but it could be just the wake-up call that the Seminoles needed to get moving in the right direction. According to head coach Mike Norvell, the Seminoles don’t plan on packing it in for the year despite the setback. “This football team’s not going to quit,” said Norvell after the loss. “We have to build and get better, and we’re going to.”
Teams that have suffered back-to-back losses aren’t as bad a bet as those making college football picks might think. The odds for those teams are more favorable than they would be had the Seminoles won both games. Expect a Florida State team that has seen its own blood to respond with passion in Week 3.
Auburn +170 over Penn State
Penn State, unlike the Florida State Seminoles, have had a dream start to their season. The No. 10 Nittany Lions are 2-0, beating Big Ten Conference rival Wisconsin before picking up an easy victory over Ball State last week in non-conference action. But Penn State should be mindful that the Auburn Tigers are more than capable of producing an upset on Saturday, as should those who are betting online this weekend in college football.
No. 22 Auburn has faced two straightforward opponents to start their season, outsourcing Akron and Alabama State by a combined 122-10. While things will surely not be as easy for the Tigers this week, they have quickly built momentum under new head coach Bryan Harsin and should put up a fight in Happy Valley.
The fate of the game could rest in the hands of quarterback Bo Nix, who has been near-perfect during Auburn’s guarantee games. Nix has completed 74 percent of his passes in Auburn’s opening two games, throwing five touchdown passes and zero interceptions. He will face more scrutiny from the Penn State defense than he did against Akron or Alabama State, but Nix has proven in the past that he can deliver in big non-conference tilts.
BYU +165 over Arizona State
BYU has gone two-for-two this season against Pac-12 competition, bringing bettors back to their sportsbook for moneyline payouts against Arizona and Utah. Now the No. 23 Cougars face No. 19 Arizona State with a chance to get a second straight win against a ranked opponent. With a win here, BYU could be mentioned as one of the top teams in the country in a hurry.
With Zach Wilson leaving the program after last season to become the starting quarterback of the New York Jets, many wondered how BYU would continue to perform without him. The answer to that question has been it defense, which has held both Pac-12 opponents under 20 points. Another fine defensive performance will be required for the Cougars to move to 3-0 against Power Five opposition.
Arizona State, meanwhile, has yet to be tested this. The Sun Devils opened the season by beating Southern Utah, which was blown out by San Jose State to kick off their season. And the Sun Devils beat a UNLV program that has seen better days in their second victory. This week will be Arizona State’s first real test, which could mean an upset is in the cards.
