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Saturday's college football action rolls on into the afternoon slate.
Including a top-15 matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers, our NCAAF writers came through with four picks for Saturday afternoon's games.
So, read below for college football best bets today and NCAAF picks for Saturday, November 7.
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!
College Football Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from Saturday's slate of afternoon games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Texas A&M vs. South Carolina Pick
By Jourdan Case
I can't believe I'm wagering my hard-earned money on Marcel Reed, but here we are, as I just can't get to this number.
The run game is the strength of the South Carolina offense, entering this week at 13th in EPA/Rush, but the Texas A&M run defense has been strong this season, sitting at 22nd in EPA/Rush allowed.
Offensively, I think Texas A&M will be fine. The South Carolina pass rush hasn't been great, and if Reed isn't under pressure, he can be a somewhat competent quarterback.
With Texas A&M coming off a bye and South Carolina looking a little banged up, I think the Aggies can keep this within a touchdown.
Pick: Texas A&M +7
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Alabama vs. LSU Pick
Alabama has struggled to protect Keelon Russell all season, as nearly every opponent has generated double-digit pressures. An alarming number of 20 came against the Tennessee defense, a game where Russell was sacked at least four times.
Tide tackles Jayvin James and Jackson Lloyd have allowed 16 pressures this season, so Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross will likely be successful in harassing Russell.
The Crimson Tide have been led by Russell's pass explosives this season, a tall task against an LSU defense that ranks second in Pass EPA allowed.
The Alabama defense should be a wash in stopping the LSU ground attack led by Dilin Jones, but red-zone opportunities should fall to quarterback Sam Leavitt's legs.
The Arizona State transfer has had no trouble reaching the end zone, rushing for eight touchdowns this season.
Leavitt has nearly three times as many rush attempts behind man-assignment blocking, an area where the Alabama defense allows an explosive play on 15% of attempts.
Action Network's Betting Power Ratings make LSU a favorite of -6, but with defensive advantages in creating Havoc, there's a clear signal on the Tigers.
More worrisome is the Crimson Tide defense in the red zone, allowing 26-of-27 opponent attempts to end in a score.
Look for Leavitt to have a successful day through the air and on the ground, while Baker's defense does enough to limit Russell's explosiveness.
Check out Wilson's full Week 10 betting card below:
Pick: LSU -5 or Better
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Temple vs. Navy Pick
By Stuckey
Navy is pretty immune to falling prey to situational spots, but the Mids find themselves in a fairly tricky spot on Saturday in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
This will mark their seventh straight game without a bye, with the previous three coming against UTSA, North Texas and Notre Dame. That's an exhausting stretch.
On the other side, Temple had its bye two weeks ago and continues to get healthier — although losing stud tight end Peter Clarke to injury last week could hurt moving forward.
Despite that loss, the Temple offense, which has been excellent on the ground (top-15 EPA), should find plenty of explosives through the air (where it ranks top-30 nationally) against a Navy defense that ranks 136th nationally in that department.
While Temple's defense has a plethora of issues, the Owls did look more connected on the back end last week following widespread staff changes during the bye week.
The Owls struggle to defend both the run and pass but have been a bit better overall against the run, which is obviously most important against Navy's offense.
I'm not counting on Temple shutting down quarterback Jackson Gutierrez and the Navy offense, but it doesn't hurt that it already faced Army earlier this season in a game it dominated statistically.
Even if they can't generate many stops, the Owls have enough favorable matchups when on offense to match Navy score-for-score in a game that might not have many possessions in a battle of two slow-paced squads.
Temple burned me last week in a close loss but was done in by a couple of tough-luck turnovers, including one interception where the ball was tipped into a defender's hands and another when the officials picked up a clear pass interference flag for some reason.
That performance didn't scare me off going back to the well with head coach K.C. Keeler, who has historically fared very well in the underdog role.
Since 2005, Navy has gone just 14-24 ATS (36.8%) as a home favorite of more than a touchdown against FBS foes, including 0-4 last season. Meanwhile, Temple head coach KC Keeler has gone 16-8 ATS (66.7%) as a 'dog of more than a touchdown vs. FBS competition. That includes a one-point loss vs. Navy last season as a nine-point pup.
Check out all 13 of Stuckey's Week 10 situational spots below:
Pick: Temple +7.5 (Play to +7)
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Oregon vs. Ohio State Pick
By Doug Ziefel
Isaiah West has moved into a bigger role at the right time. With Ja’Kobi Jackson sidelined by a Lisfranc injury and not expected back until the Michigan game, the sophomore has become Ohio State’s primary change-of-pace back behind Bo Jackson.
His workload has grown with it. West carried six times for 45 yards at Indiana and then a season-high 13 times for 65 yards at USC, which adds up to 110 yards on 19 carries over the last two games, or 5.8 per carry.
He needs only about eight or nine touches at his season rate of 4.6 yards per carry to get to 40.
The matchup and game script are favorable. Ohio State is a touchdown-plus favorite at home, and Oregon’s defense gave up 456 yards and 26 points to Northwestern last week, plus 123 rushing yards to Illinois’s Aidan Laughery the week before.
With a freshman quarterback in Luke Fahey making his second start, Ohio State’s plan is to lean on the ground game, and the Buckeyes’ offense is built to keep the ball and shorten the game.
A lead late means more carries for the backups, and Oregon will also be without leading rusher Jordon Davison, which should put more pressure on Raiola and the passing game and give Ohio State’s defense a clearer read.
At +110, you’re getting plus-money on a number West cleared in each of his last two games.
He has a limited role as the No. 2 back, but with USC’s physical run game showing how to attack Oregon’s front and Ohio State committed to the run, a double-digit carry total is realistic.
Pick: Isaiah West Over 39.5 Rushing Yards (+110)Â
