Ole Miss vs Georgia, Utah vs BYU predictions: College football odds, predictions

Lane Kiffin finally built a defense in Oxford.

All transfers have been made.

Princely Umanmielen, JJ Pegues, Walter Nolen and Jared Ivey form the best defensive line in college football, while linebacker Chris Paul Jr. He plays elite second-level football in coverage and against the run.

The Rebels’ front seven ranks first in the nation in Havoc, second in sack rate and fourth in passes defended.

Six players have generated at least 20 pressures this season, and five have had more than one pass interception.

Can’t make a run against the top 10 Rebels FBS Rush Success Rate and defenses at EPA per Rush are allowed.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s offense looked shaky; The Bulldogs fell outside the top 50 in the national rankings per EPA Play.

Part of the problem is a mediocre rushing attack, and part of it is a receiving corps that is sorely missing Brock Bowers.

The biggest problem, though, may be quarterback Carson Beck, who regressed from last season. He finds it difficult to cope with the pressure; He completed just 36 percent of his passes in 66 broken pockets and had four interceptions on seven turnover-worthy throws.

Ole Miss will create a lot of pressure, and I’m confident Beck and the Bulldogs will weather it.

I’m also hoping to get the “good” Jaxson Dart at some desperate point; The Rebels need a win on Saturday to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs could probably lose one more game and sneak into the 12-team field.

Pick: Ole Miss +2.5.

BOSTON COLLEGE (-2.5) over Syracuse

I enjoyed watching and betting on the Orange this season.

I like their pro-style offense led by quarterback Kyle McCord and tight end Oronde Gadsen, and I like running back LeQuint Allen.

But now it’s time for the Orange bubble to burst.

They won six of eight games this year despite giving up -0.16 net yards per game.

They lead 4-1 in one-possession games and 2-0 in overtime; That includes last week’s 38-31 overtime victory over Virginia Tech in a game the Orange trailed by 45 yards.

Some of this close game luck is bound to turn around.

Saturday is a good point considering the Orange need to pump up after last week’s overtime struggle, while Boston College is enjoying its bye week while the Eagles haven’t played in 15 days.

The Eagles had an up-and-down year, but some of that was down to the health of quarterback Thomas Castellanos.

When he’s at 100 percent, he’s among the most explosive quarterbacks in football, especially on pass action.

Syracuse’s defensive line is mediocre at best, which should allow Boston College to establish the run and then burn Syracuse’s hapless, lackluster secondary on Castellanos’ play-action darts.

UTAH (+3) vs. Byu

BYU is 3-0 in one-possession games, +7 on net turnovers and 15-for-18 on fourth-down conversions.

The Cougars are good. There is no way they can be 8-0. And eventually they have to lose a game.

Why not against Utah on Saturday?

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Betting on College Football?

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Of course, the Utes’ offense is severely limited without quarterback Cam Rising.

But they can still run the ball somewhat, which will give the Rush a play against a BYU defense that ranks 106th nationally in EPA allowed.

First, I’m counting on Utah’s elite defense (ninth nationally in EPA per Play allowed, seventh in EPA per Pass allowed) to keep it close at home against an overrated, pass-happy BYU team.

Regardless, Kyle Whittingham’s Utes are 37-26 ATS as the underdog since 2005.

Last week: 2-0. SMU (K). Minnesota (W)
2024 season: 16-12.

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Why Should You Trust New York Post Betting?

Tanner McGrath has been a professional sports hurdler since 2018. Specializing in college sports and baseball, he is an avid fan of the Vermont Catamounts, Miami Marlins and home underdogs. He found himself on the wrong side of the 2018 Miami Miracle, but he made up for it four years later by winning the NL Cy Young with a 40/1 long shot off Sandy Alcantara.