The college football regular season rolls on with another loaded slate of games. October has only just begun, yet we’ve already seen our fair share of shocking upsets. As injuries begin to pile up for some of the nation’s top teams, the time is now for an underdog to shock the world.
Let’s break down two plus money picks on DraftKings Sportsbook that could pull off an upset on Saturday.
Best CFB Upset Picks for Week 5
Minnesota ML (+180) vs. Michigan
Through four weeks of play, it’s safe to say Michigan is a flawed football team. They were incredibly fortunate to avoid a season-opening loss vs. Western Michigan, only to get beaten at home last weekend vs. #14 Iowa. As things stand right now, Kyle Whittingham’s crew looks like a middle of the pack Big Ten squad. That’s especially true on offense, where quarterback Bryce Underwood has looked pedestrian at best. Through four games, the sophomore has thrown for 720 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, the Wolverines are averaging a mediocre 4.03 yards per rush attempt.
Offensive success could prove difficult once again on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota is no pushover, allowing the Big Ten’s sixth-fewest yards per game (272.3). Even more impressive, P.J. Fleck’s group is tied with Indiana for the conference lead in tackles for loss (33.0). As previously mentioned, UM has had its troubles moving the ball against elite defenses. Both Oklahoma and Iowa have held their own against this group on the road. It’s difficult to envision Underwood and company suddenly lighting it up today in Minneapolis.
Still, Minnesota will need to put up points of its own to take home the Little Brown Jug. Fortunately, quarterback Drake Lindsey is a true talent at the position. The potential NFL prospect has been solid this season, recording 951 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Granted, the Golden Gophers are only averaging a mediocre 7.3 yards per pass attempt. That may not cut it against an elite secondary. Still, Minnesota has shown it can hang around with tough opponents. Look no further than last week’s 27-24 road win against Washington. In a matchup between two evenly-matched teams, I’d rather back the underdogs at +180.
TCU ML (+190) vs. BYU
A 2-2 team going up against the tenth-ranked squad in college football? On paper, there isn’t much reason to back TCU. Still, this is college football; throw the records out the window during conference play. Besides, this isn’t your typical .500 group. The Horned Frogs have been their own worst enemy this season, turning the ball over seven times in just four games. In spite of that offensive ineptitude, those two losses were both one-possession nail biters. It’s taken some truly awful luck for TCU to lose a pair of winnable matchups.
Granted, Saturday’s game marks a significant step up in competition. BYU deserves its ranking for a reason, steamrolling through its first three games of the year. Regardless, this will be the first road game against a Power 4 school for the Cougars. Still, there’s one major flaw for Kalani Sitake’s defense: pressure. BYU ranks last in sacks (4.0) and 15th in tackles for loss (17.0) in the 16-team Big 12 conference. An inability to get TCU quarterback Jaden Craig out of the pocket hinders this defense’s ability to force mistakes. A capable Horned Frogs rushing attack, led by Jeremy Payne, could make things difficult as well.
Things will be more difficult for TCU on the other side of the ball. The Cougars wield a physical, hard-nosed offense led by star running back LJ Martin. With that being said, this spot could prove difficult for the senior. The Horned Frogs are allowing 2.87 yards per rush attempt. That’s good enough for fourth-best in the Big 12 this season. If (big if) TCU can avoid self-inflicted wounds, there’s strong upset potential on Saturday night.
