Welcome to the latest edition of the Newsweek Sports Betting newsletter, which you can start receiving in your inbox by subscribing here. Right now, you’ll hear from us three times a week:
- NFL weekend preview (every Friday morning at 8 a.m. ET)
- College Football ATS picks (every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET)
- NFL ATS picks (every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. ET)
Below is the Saturday, October 4 edition, which is available to subscribers only.
There’s no denying that Week 6 of the 2025 college football season is (probably) going to pale in comparison to what we saw last Saturday.
That’s not to say there aren’t any games worth your time today, though — not by a long shot.
In addition to our three favorite ATS picks of the day, here is the TL;DR version of our in-depth take on the three biggest games in college football:
We’re on Vanderbilt (+12.5) to cover vs. Alabama; Florida (+5.5) to cover vs. Texas (and Under 42.5); and Miami (-4.5) to notch yet another early-season statement victory. Read more on those games at the link below:
– NCAA Football Week 6 Betting Picks: Odds, Best Bets
Washington (-6) at Maryland — 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
The 4-0 Terps remain a bit of a mystery after four comfortable wins to start the season, including last week’s 27-10 beatdown of Wisconsin.
But I’m high on QB Malik Washington. The 6-foot-5 freshman has put up big numbers as a true freshman. Crucially, he’s also done an impressive job avoiding mistakes (just 1 interception and 1 sack in 135 dropbacks).
Washington’s Big Ten debut against the Badgers went well last Saturday (18-of-34 for 265 yards, 2 TDs, 0 interceptions), and he has the benefit of playing on one of the top defensive teams in the country so far this season. Maryland is allowing just under 11 points per game, and it boasts the No. 10 defense in the nation, per ESPN’s SP+.
Washington played well for most of last week’s home loss to No. 1 Ohio State, and it boasts by far the best QB (Demond Williams Jr.) and RB (Jonah Coleman) that Maryland has seen. Still, traveling to the East Coast after a tough game like last week’s makes me worried about the Huskies in this spot.
I love Maryland to cover at +6, and I think an outright win by the Terps is a legitimate possibility. They’re well worth a half-unit play on the moneyline at +190, IMO.
Pick: Maryland +6 (best odds: -110 at bet365)
No. 11 Texas Tech (-11.5) at Houston — 7 p.m.
There’s certainly some risk involved in taking a heavy road favorite against an in-state rival, but the Red Raiders should be able to win big thanks to their loaded D-line. David Bailey and the Texas Tech DL were excellent against a physical Utah team two weeks ago, breaking open a close game late to win 34-10 on the road.
Houston QB Conner Weigman has been sacked nine times this season, and he is yet to see a pass rush like Texas Tech’s. I expect the Red Raiders to get after Weigman early and often, and win comfortably. At No. 11 in the nation, coach Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech squad is not exactly flying under the radar, but tonight will serve as this team’s coming out party.
The other reason to like the road favorites is the fact that while Houston is coming off a draining win over Oregon State on the road in overtime last week, Texas Tech was idle. TT will also have veteran QB Behren Morton back under center after he was injured vs. Utah two weeks ago.
Pick: Texas Tech -11.5 (best odds: -115 at FanDuel)
No. 3 Miami (-4) at No. 18 Florida State — 7 p.m.
Taking road dogs (mostly) paid off last week, and I’m going with two of them again today.
Florida State is admittedly a dangerous team to bet against given how good it looked against Alabama back in Week 1. But Miami should have a clear upper hand on both lines of scrimmage, and the Canes are fresh off a bye. FSU, on the other hand, is coming off an overtime loss on the road at Virginia.
Given how well the Canes have played against the run, including against Notre Dame’s outstanding ground game in the season opener, I think this is going to be a long night for Noles QB Tommy Castellanos and the FSU offense.
Anyone who has fallen for impressive Septembers by Miami in recent years (myself included) has been burnt, but DE Rueben Bain Jr., veteran QB Carson Beck and the U look like the real deal this year after beating Notre Dame, South Florida and Florida. So, let’s go with Miami to win, and cover, in a tough atmosphere tonight.
Pick: Miami -4 (best odds: -110 at bet365)
Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through any links in this article. See the sportsbook operator’s terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Read the full article here
