Friday October 11 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions for College Football & NHL

It’s over-stimulation in the best way possible as we venture into mid-October. 

The NFL is entering Week 6, the college football season hits Week 7, baseball is in the postseason, the NHL season just started, and the NBA isn’t too far behind. 

There are ample betting opportunities on a nightly basis. 

Here, I’ll examine two college football and one NHL matchup. 

Utah vs. Arizona State

Utah is on the road to take on Arizona State, and with that comes the return of quarterback Cam Rising. 

Before getting hurt in Week 2 against Baylor, Rising completed 18 of 29 passes for 346 yards, seven touchdown passes, and zero interceptions. 

He had just 14 attempts in Week 2 before getting hurt, and in that game, he had 92 passing yards and two touchdowns. 

The Sun Devils allow 215 passing yards per game (70th) and have allowed 11 passing touchdowns in five games. 

The Sun Devils are solid against the run, allowing just 96 yards per game, but they’ll need to contend with Micah Bernard, who has 118 yards or more in three of his last four games. 

Also, remember that Arizona State has played Wyoming, Mississippi State, Texas State, Texas Tech, and Kansas this season. Their loss came against Texas Tech, and the other teams have a collective record of 6-13. Texas State is the only team currently with a winning record at 3-2.

With Rising back in the fold and Arizona State playing fairly easy competition most of this season, I’ll take Utah at -5.5. 

Best Bet: Utah -5.5 (-112) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Utah State vs. UNLV

If you would like to see a high-scoring matchup in college football, click over to CBS Sports at 9 p.m. ET and watch this Mountain West Conference shootout. 

Utah State allowed 62 points last week to Boise State; UNLV allowed 44 in overtime to Syracuse. 

Neither team has a penchant for making stops, and defenses tend to tire out at this frenetic pace. 

Utah State allows 216.6 rushing yards per game (122nd) and 266.6 passing yards (119th). UNLV has 12 passing touchdowns this season and ranks eighth in the country in rushing yards with 251.8 per game. 

UNLV’s defense isn’t bulletproof. The Rebels allow 251.8 passing yards per game. Aggies quarterback Spencer Petras threw for 372 and three touchdowns last week. Yes, that Spencer Petras. The one Iowa felt wasn’t a passing threat and decided to make him the Master of Handoffs instead. It’s not a one-game blip. The week before that, Petras went for nearly 300 and two touchdowns.

But he’s not the only big producing passer in this one. Hajj-Malik Williams has had four touchdowns in back-to-back games for UNLV since the NIL controversy that led to him gaining the starting role.

Who wins is hard to say, but we can be confident in expecting a lot of points. Take the over.

Best Bet: Over 66.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets came out hot in their first game of the season, beating Edmonton 6-0. 

The Blackhawks lost to Utah 5-2 and goaltender Petr Mrazek allowed four goals, with the fifth coming on an empty net. 

The Jets received goals from six different players and goalie Connor Hellebuyck had 30 saves. 

While I’d like to see the defense step up more and not allow that many shots on goal, he showed he’s one of the best goalies in the NHL when he plays to his potential.

We project the Jets to win this game 4-1. 

Best Bet: Jets -1.5 (+108) at FanDuel Sportsbook