Best bets for Week 10 college football games from Phil Steele
Every Thursday during the season, Bill Connelly, Doug Kezirian, Preston Johnson and Phil Steele will provide their top plays across the college football landscape.
Here is Phil Steele's best bets for the ninth full week of the college football season:
Season ATS record:
Phil Steele record: 18-30 (2-3 last week)
Note: Picks from Caesars Sportsbook lines as of Wednesday night.
Saturday's games
Boston College Eagles at Syracuse Orange (-3)
Phil Steele: Boston College is tough on the road, going 12-3-1 ATS the past six seasons as an away underdog. Syracuse came into the season with big expectations off a 10-win season but is now 0-4 in ACC play and is getting outgained by 160 yards per game in those four conference losses.
The Eagles have the game's best offensive player in running back AJ Dillon, but the most significant edge for Boston College is on the offensive line. The Eagles rush for 5.1 yards per rush and have allowed four sacks, and Syracuse's offensive line has opened holes for only 3.0 yards per rush while allowing 42 sacks. Steve Addazio is 12-1-1 ATS the past 14 games in the underdog role.
ATS pick: Boston College +3
Virginia Cavaliers at North Carolina Tar Heels (-2)
Phil Steele: The winner of this game takes sole possession of first place in the mosh pit they call the ACC Coastal Division. Virginia is allowing just 284 YPG on defense, and North Carolina is yielding 384, but the Tar Heels have faced a much tougher schedule. On offense, the Tar Heels average 89 YPG more than what their opponents typically allow, and Virginia is gaining 49 YPG fewer than what opponents typically allow. UNC QB Sam Howell has 22 TDs and just five interceptions, and Cavaliers QB Bryce Perkins has a 9-8 ratio despite facing a softer schedule.
My computer has North Carolina with a 386-283 yard edge, and the Heels are laying less than a field goal in a night game at home.
ATS pick: North Carolina -2
Pittsburgh Panthers (-7.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Phil Steele: No one expected Pitt to win the Coastal division last season, but the Panthers did. Last week Pitt lost to Miami despite having a 322-208 yardage edge, but it still has a great shot at another Coastal crown with just two ACC losses. Pitt has one of the nation's most underrated defenses, allowing only 291 YPG and holding foes to 100 yards fewer than their season average. That is bad news for a Georgia Tech offense averaging just 315 yards per game.
Pitt is 11-2 ATS the past 13 regular-season games against FBS foes, and the Yellow Jackets are on a 1-9 ATS run their past 10 games.
ATS pick: Pittsburgh -7.5
Northern Illinois Huskies (-1) at Central Michigan Chippewas
Phil Steele: Central Michigan has two MAC road losses despite a 48-46 first-down edge in those games (-6 in turnovers). The Chippewas are plus-138 YPG in MAC play and have covered the past five meetings overall, including three outright upsets. Central's running back duo of Jonathan Ward and Kobe Lewis is tough to stop, and NIU allows 4.5 yards per rush. This is not the same NIU team of the past few seasons. Central Michigan also has a significant edge in my special-teams rankings.
ATS pick: Central Michigan +1
No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (-21) at Maryland Terrapins
Phil Steele: The Wolverines' offense emerged in the second half against a tough Penn State defense on the road a couple weeks ago and should continue to roll the rest of the season. Last week, they dominated Notre Dame, leading 45-7 with a 409-105 yard edge until a late Notre Dame scoring drive. When Maryland has faced a strong rush defense recently, it has struggled. The past two seasons, Maryland is 0-8 ATS and loses by 28 PPG when rushing for fewer than 165 yards in a game. Michigan is allowing 53 YPG rushing the past four weeks, despite facing Iowa, Penn State and Notre Dame in that span.
After some early-season struggles, the Wolverines should keep their offense rolling, as they have put up 59 points the past six quarters versus a pair of top-10 defenses. Next they take on a Terrapins defense that is allowing 500 YPG in Big Ten play.
ATS pick: Michigan -21
Every Thursday during the season, Bill Connelly, Doug Kezirian, Preston Johnson and Phil Steele will provide their top plays across the college football landscape.
Here is Phil Steele's best bets for the ninth full week of the college football season:
Season ATS record:
Phil Steele record: 18-30 (2-3 last week)
Note: Picks from Caesars Sportsbook lines as of Wednesday night.
Saturday's games
Boston College Eagles at Syracuse Orange (-3)
Phil Steele: Boston College is tough on the road, going 12-3-1 ATS the past six seasons as an away underdog. Syracuse came into the season with big expectations off a 10-win season but is now 0-4 in ACC play and is getting outgained by 160 yards per game in those four conference losses.
The Eagles have the game's best offensive player in running back AJ Dillon, but the most significant edge for Boston College is on the offensive line. The Eagles rush for 5.1 yards per rush and have allowed four sacks, and Syracuse's offensive line has opened holes for only 3.0 yards per rush while allowing 42 sacks. Steve Addazio is 12-1-1 ATS the past 14 games in the underdog role.
ATS pick: Boston College +3
Virginia Cavaliers at North Carolina Tar Heels (-2)
Phil Steele: The winner of this game takes sole possession of first place in the mosh pit they call the ACC Coastal Division. Virginia is allowing just 284 YPG on defense, and North Carolina is yielding 384, but the Tar Heels have faced a much tougher schedule. On offense, the Tar Heels average 89 YPG more than what their opponents typically allow, and Virginia is gaining 49 YPG fewer than what opponents typically allow. UNC QB Sam Howell has 22 TDs and just five interceptions, and Cavaliers QB Bryce Perkins has a 9-8 ratio despite facing a softer schedule.
My computer has North Carolina with a 386-283 yard edge, and the Heels are laying less than a field goal in a night game at home.
ATS pick: North Carolina -2
Pittsburgh Panthers (-7.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Phil Steele: No one expected Pitt to win the Coastal division last season, but the Panthers did. Last week Pitt lost to Miami despite having a 322-208 yardage edge, but it still has a great shot at another Coastal crown with just two ACC losses. Pitt has one of the nation's most underrated defenses, allowing only 291 YPG and holding foes to 100 yards fewer than their season average. That is bad news for a Georgia Tech offense averaging just 315 yards per game.
Pitt is 11-2 ATS the past 13 regular-season games against FBS foes, and the Yellow Jackets are on a 1-9 ATS run their past 10 games.
ATS pick: Pittsburgh -7.5
Northern Illinois Huskies (-1) at Central Michigan Chippewas
Phil Steele: Central Michigan has two MAC road losses despite a 48-46 first-down edge in those games (-6 in turnovers). The Chippewas are plus-138 YPG in MAC play and have covered the past five meetings overall, including three outright upsets. Central's running back duo of Jonathan Ward and Kobe Lewis is tough to stop, and NIU allows 4.5 yards per rush. This is not the same NIU team of the past few seasons. Central Michigan also has a significant edge in my special-teams rankings.
ATS pick: Central Michigan +1
No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (-21) at Maryland Terrapins
Phil Steele: The Wolverines' offense emerged in the second half against a tough Penn State defense on the road a couple weeks ago and should continue to roll the rest of the season. Last week, they dominated Notre Dame, leading 45-7 with a 409-105 yard edge until a late Notre Dame scoring drive. When Maryland has faced a strong rush defense recently, it has struggled. The past two seasons, Maryland is 0-8 ATS and loses by 28 PPG when rushing for fewer than 165 yards in a game. Michigan is allowing 53 YPG rushing the past four weeks, despite facing Iowa, Penn State and Notre Dame in that span.
After some early-season struggles, the Wolverines should keep their offense rolling, as they have put up 59 points the past six quarters versus a pair of top-10 defenses. Next they take on a Terrapins defense that is allowing 500 YPG in Big Ten play.
ATS pick: Michigan -21