“Between Bets” is an article series revealing our staff’s best wagers across the NFL, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Tour. This edition’s bets feature our favorite 2024 Week 4 College Football picks for ATS and totals.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2024 College Football Week 4 Picks (ATS & Totals)
#24 Illinois @ #22 Nebraska | Friday, 7:30 ย p.m. ET
We start our weekend under the lights in Lincoln, Neb., where the Cornhuskers, ranked No. 22, host No. 24 Illinois in a Big Ten battle. Freshman QB Dylan Raiola has been as good as advertised, leading Nebraska to a 3-0 start with a clean 5:1 TD-to-INT ratio. The Cornhuskers are not far removed from a Week 2 commanding 28-10 win over Colorado, and their defense looks rock solid.
On the flip side, Illinois isnโt backing down. QB Luke Altmyer is off to a scorching start, with six TDs and zero picks. Theyโre 3-0 straight up and ATS, including an impressive win over a previously ranked Kansas team. However, this will be their first game away from Champaign, Ill., this season.
Nebraskaโs 20-7 win last season against the Fighting Illini speaks volumes to what we can expect scoring-wise. Historically, the under has been the play in this series, hitting in their last three matchups. Both teams have also been trending to the under so far this season. With Nebraskaโs defense holding firm and Illinois yet to face an atmosphere like this on the road, the 43.5-point total feels just a touch too high.
Pick: Under 43.0 (-110)
Marshall @ #3 Ohio State | Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET
Next, we head to Columbus, Ohio, where the third-ranked Buckeyes play host to the Marshall Thundering Herd as a massive 39.5-point favorite. Ohio State is not just winning games but dominating them, outscoring opponents 108-6 in two games. With Will Howard under center, the one-two punch of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield, and two elite receivers in Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, OSUโs offense is a well-oiled machine.
While Marshall comes from a blue-collar program in West Virginia, theyโve struggled, especially in a 31-14 loss to Virginia Tech. Theyโve played Ohio State twice before, with the last meeting ending in a 45-7 blowout in 2011. The Herd may keep it close early, but Ohio Stateโs offensive firepower is likely too much for them to handle.
Despite the big spread, we’re more focused on the total here. Ohio State is capable of putting up points in bunches, and with the Buckeyes firing on all cylinders offensively, I expect this game to go over the 52-point total.
Pick: Over 52.0 (-112)
#6 Tennessee @ #15 Oklahoma | Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
We wrap up our slate with a blockbuster showdown in Norman, Okla., where the No. 15 Sooners host the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers. With “College Gameday” in town, all eyes will be on this matchup. Tennessee, behind QB Nico Iamaleava and RB Dylan Sampson, has been a money-printing machine, covering the spread in all three games and hitting the over each time. Add in their defense ranked second in total defense, and this team is looking like a serious contender.
On the other side, Oklahoma has been inconsistent. While dual-threat QB Jackson Arnold is an exciting talent, the Sooners have failed to cover the spread in back-to-back weeks. Plus, their 27th-ranked total defense might not be enough to slow down this high-powered Tennessee offense. Tennesseeโs been too hot to fade, and with only a 7.0-point spread, we’re rolling with the Vols to continue their dominant run.
Pick: Tennessee -7 (-115)
Thanks for reading our 2024 College Football Week 4 picks! Check out more of our College Football betting articles and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch โ USA TODAY Sports*
