As we look at our best afternoon college football bets, UTEP and Frank Harris are in a position to make big moves in what should be a fun Saturday of games.
Best Afternoon College Football Bet: UTEP Bet (Frank Harris Special)
3 p.m.-6 p.m.: UTEP +17.5 (-114, FanDuel)
A road win by the UTEP Miners against the UTSA Roadrunners would send them to a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05.
The Roadrunners don’t have that much to play for Saturday. They locked up the Conference USA regular-season title last weekend and will host the championship game. The Roadrunners (9-2, 7-0 C-USA) rank 51st in the Fremeau Efficiency Index (FEI) behind their 29th-ranked offense and quarterback Frank Harris, who ranks 16th in passing efficiency in the FBS.
But bettors should back the Miners (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) to cover precisely because the Roadrunners have played so well. The books are overrating them relative to what little they have to gain by beating up on the Miners. When UTSA had the regular-season conference title locked up after 11 games last season, it fumbled the unblemished record and pulled Harris early in a 22-point loss to the North Texas Mean Green. The Miners may not win Saturday, but the Roadrunners don’t have any reason to cover a three-score spread.
Nonetheless, that’s our look at the best afternoon college football bet you can make. Our best UTEP bet does feature Frank Harris heavy. How the young and talented gunslinger goes is how his team will go. Time will tell just how well it works out.
