Our Group of 5 experts from the Big Bets on Campus podcast, Mike Calabrese and Joshua Nunn, return for another moneyline underdog parlay.
When paired together, these two Group of 5 'dogs pay out at close to 10-1.
Let's take a look at our Week 5 college football predictions and NCAAF picks in our Group of 5 moneyline underdog parlay for Week 5.
Middle Tennessee +220 vs. Kennesaw State
| Middle Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 53.5 -110o / -110u | +220 |
| Kennesaw State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 53.5 -110o / -110u | -275 |
By Joshua Nunn
Middle Tennessee is playing some competent football lately.
The Blue Raiders have looked terrible at times this season, but they put things together for a half against Wisconsin and were competitive against Marshall at home.
Kennesaw State caught Arkansas State in a dream scenario last week, but I don’t think the Owls should be laying this many points on Saturday — I project this spread closer to two or three, so we’re getting tremendous moneyline value at +235.
The Owls rank 134th nationally in Success Rate, 136th in Standard Downs Success Rate, and 120th in Finishing Drives. They are never ahead of schedule, and they’ll need to create more explosives to win again this week, something I don’t expect to happen.
Middle Tennessee quarterback Nicholas Vattiato threw for 300 yards at 9.1 yards per attempt against Marshall. While the offense isn’t quite where it needs to be, the entire operation looks sharper.
There’s a ton of value on the Blue Raiders.
Rhode Island +235 vs. Western Michigan
| Rhode Island Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -105 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | +235 |
| Western Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -115 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | -295 |
I’m backing a top 10 FCS team that I think might be better on a neutral field than this week’s opponent.
The Rhode Island Rams rank seventh nationally in the FCS coaches poll. They have an elite passing offense behind quarterback Devin Farrell and wide receiver Marquis Buchanan.
Keep Buchanan’s name in your mind, because he’s going to be at an NFL training camp next Summer. He’s 6-foot-4 and super explosive, averaging 18.5 yards per reception. He can break the game open when defenses are focused on stopping the rush attack.
While Western Michigan recently beat Toledo, I believe that’s simply Jason Candel and the Rockets playing down, rather than the Broncos playing up.
The Broncos can’t block, so the top running back, Jalen Buckley, is averaging three yards per carry. I have no faith in the passing game.
At the minimum, this game could devolve into a rock fight. If the Rams score early, they could start believing they belong in this game and can win this game.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks every college football team at every level nationally, from one to 765. Rhode Island ranks 124th, while Western Michigan ranks 139th.
Even the boost from beating Toledo isn’t enough to consider the Broncos a better team in this matchup.
Group of 5 Moneyline Underdog Parlay for Week 5
- Rhode Island ML (+235)
- Middle Tennessee ML (+220)
Parlay Odds: +972 (FanDuel)
