Week 4 College Football Best Bets: Conferences Get Real

By Bill Speros Sep 17th, 2025 12:01 PM EST

The Sooner Schooner rolls into the SEC schedule this week against Auburn. (USA TODAY)

Our Week 4 College Football Best Bets offer a full schedule of Power 5 conference showdowns.

In the SEC, Auburn visits Oklahoma as both teams seek to break through to the conference championship ranks. The same storyline holds in the “Battle Of Columbia” in South Carolina between the (Columbia) Missouri Tigers and the reeling host Gamecocks. In the Big Ten, Illinois visits Indiana. In the ACC, Clemson plays host to Syracuse in a battle for orange supremacy.

State of Florida bragging rights are on the line at Hard Rock Stadium. There, the Florida Gators stumble home after throwing 5 picks in a loss to LSU at “Death Valley”. The hometown Hurricanes tore up South Florida. Fans following the action can explore the latest odds and insights through sports betting platforms this season.

Notre Dame and Purdue tussle for the Shillelagh Trophy.

Other Week 4 College Football Best Bets include:

• Multiple Big 12 Conference Games
• Oregon and Oregon State fight for the Platypus Trophy
• Meanwhile, No. 1 ranked Ohio State and & No. Penn State are off

Tap for Promo Visit site

Bet $10, Get $150 If You Win
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150

Used 59 Times Today

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Week 4 College Football Best Bets

Here are our Week 4 College Football Best Bets to back on the best sports betting sites. 

Date	Matchup	Week 4 Best Bets	Odds	Book
Fri., Sept. 19	Iowa at Rutgers	Iowa ATS	-110	FanDuel
Fri., Sept. 19	Tulsa at Oklahoma State	Oklahoms State -12.5	-110	FanDuel
Sat. Sept. 20	Syracuse at Clemson	Over 55.5 Points	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	SMU at TCU	TCU -5.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Texas Tech at Utah	Texas Tech +4	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Oregon at Oregon State	Oregon -35.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Florida at Miami	Florida +8.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	West Virginia at Kansas	WVU +11.5	-110	ESPN BET
Sat. Sept. 20	Arizona State at Baylor	ASU +2.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Illinois at Indiana	Illinois +3	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Michigan at Nebraska	Nebraska +2.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Auburn at Oklahoma	Auburn +4.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Purdue at Notre Dame	Notre Dame -28.5	-110	DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 20	Michigan State at USC	USC -14.5	-110	DraftKings

Week 4 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis

Friday, September 19

Iowa at Rutgers, 7:30 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Hawkeyes leave the plains of the Midwest and head for the Big Apple, but have to settle for SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers performed well in sweeping its MAC opponents. Iowa beats up on UMass this week before squeezing out a road win in the Garden State.

Best Bet: Iowa ATS DraftKings via OddsJam  

Tulsa at Oklahoma State, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: The Cowboys save Mike Gundy's job for one more week here with a win over their in-state rival. Navy sunk Tulsa last week and are 5-16 ATS on the line since the start of the 2024 season in back-to-back weeks.

Best Bet: Oklahoma State -12.5 (-115) DraftKings via OddsJam  

Saturday, September 20

Syracuse at Clemson, Noon (ESPN)

BUZZ: The Other Orange Bowl marks the start of the ACC schedule for Syracuse. Clemson walked in to a hornets' nest in Week 3. The Tigers got stung by the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets thanks to a field goal at the gun. Can't see any team coached by Dabo Swinney falling to 0-3. QB Cade Klubnik needs to eliminate the turnovers (he has 3 INTs to go with his 3 TDs) in order for Clemson to right the ship and pull off this cover. Steve Angeli has 8 TD passes for SU.

Best Bet: Over 55.5 Points (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

SMU at TCU, Noon (ESPN2)

Buzz: Another intrastate battle that is stuffed early into the season in the Power 5 expansion era. The Mustangs ran wild as rookies in the ACC last season. TCU earned a national following for dismantling Bill Belichick and the UNC Tar Heels in Week 1. SMU will be outclassed here on both sides of the line. This number moved a point after TCU beat Abilene Christian 42-21 Saturday.

Best Bet: TCU -5.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Texas Tech at Utah, Noon (FOX)

Buzz: A pair of ranked and undefeated Big 12 teams take the field at 10 a.m. local time to share the Big Noon Kickoff stage. The Red Raiders tuned up against Oregon State Saturday in a 45-14 snoozer. Utah needed a second-half boost from Devon Dampier to corral the Wyoming Cowboy 31-6. The winner gets the early inside track to Big 12 bragging rights. The Raiders were ranked 10 spots above Utah in the preseason ESPN power rankings. And 5 spots above Utah in the Big 12 preseason power poll. A neutral site pick 'em with Utah giving up an extra point due to altitude. Texas Tech & Joey McGuire are primed for the road win (or at least cover).

Best Bet: Texas Tech +4 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Tap for Promo Visit site

Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 20 Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES20X

Used 6 Times Today

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. This promotional offer is not available in Mississippi, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Oregon State at Oregon , 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Buzz: Oregon more than doubled a 28-point line in beating Oklahoma State 69-3 in Week 2. The Ducks let up on a wet track and whiffed on the 27.5-point line at Evanston Saturday. That won't happen this week. Especially with the Platypus Trophy on the line.  

Best Bet: Oregon -35.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam  

Purdue at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Buzz: This number has moved 2 points since Texas A&M upended Notre Dame at home Saturday in a 41-40 thriller. The Irish are 0-2 this season and have lost 3 straight going back to the national championship game. But you can throw out the records when the Shillelagh Trophy is up for grabs. ND nabs its first win of the season here and won't let up in front of the home crowd. ND beat Purdue 66-7 last season in West Lafayette. The Echoes get a wake-up call.

Best Bet: Notre Dame -28.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Michigan at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: This is the sort of game that screams “college football Saturday.” The Wolverines got run over by the Sooner Schooner in Week 2 and get Central Michigan this week to find their footing. The Cornhuskers get to flex their defense at home against Michigan freshman QB Bryce Underwood. That’s where the edge lies here. Nebraska’s veteran roster and defense wins the turnover battle and carries the day as home underdogs.  

Best Bet: Nebraska +2.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Auburn at Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: It didn’t take long for a game like this to have all the earmarks of a potential SEC classic. The Sooners hold the early edge, especially coming off that win over Michigan. Both teams will be undefeated as they open their conference schedule. OU coach Brent Venables, new QB John Mateer and new OC Ben Arbuckle won’t have much space to make a splash. QB Jackson Arnold and RB Jeremiah Cobb Tiger hold onto the ball or the Tigers leave Norman without wagon wheel tracks on their back.

Best Bet: Auburn +4.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam

Tap for Promo Visit site

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets and 10 Golden Chips, Win or Lose

Used 70 Times Today

Must be 21+ to participate (18+ in KY). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, IA, KY, KS, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply.

West Virginia at Kansas, 6 p.m. (FS1)

Buzz: A pair of Big 12 Charlie Browns hope Lucy doesn’t pull away the football. Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers pulled off a nifty Backyard Brawl upset Saturday over Pitt. The Jayhawks spend their off-week absorbing a 42-31 loss they suffered at Missouri. This one will tell us if the Mountaineers are for real.

Best Bet: West Virginia +11.5 (-115) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Florida at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: The Gators and Hurricanes take their intrastate rivalry to South Beach – well, 20 miles away from South Beach. Gators QB AJ Lagway threw 5 picks in Florida's 20-10 loss at LSU. Meanwhile, Miami and Carson Beck skewered South Florida and easily covered a 17-point line in a 49-12 rout. (South Florida beat UF in Week 2). This number moved 2 points Sunday. Florida enters this game in complete disarray. Its defense keeps things close and flusters Beck just enough to snag the backdoor cover.

Best Bet: Florida +8.5 (-105) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Arizona State at Baylor, 7:30 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Big 12 remains the most competitive conference in college football top to bottom. These early-season matchups matter. The Sun Devils need to right the ship after a disastrous loss in Starkville. And no, we don’t mean Texas State. Kenny Dillingham gets it done,

Best Bet: Arizona State +2.5 (-105) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Illinois at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)

Buzz: With both Ohio State and Penn State off this week, these two wanna-bes get to hog the Midwest Big Ten spotlight. Indiana owned one of the top records ATS in all of FBS last season. The Illini have yet to earn any respect from oddsmakers this year. And this is their best chance to make an impression in the Big Ten given that they don’t play Oregon, Michigan and Penn State this season. (They play host Ohio State on Oct. 11.) Illinois had a -2 number before beating Duke 45-19. Given the likelihood of a very close outcome here, take Illinois and the 3 points.

Best Bet: Illinois +3 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Michigan State at USC, 11 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: Once upon a time, a game with these teams would conjure up visions of a Rose Bowl showdown. This time, we get just another lower-tier Big Ten matchup. USC combined for 132 points in its first two games. Rob Ryan’s defense further tunes-up against Purdue in Week 3. Another Thermopylae for the Spartans.

Best Bet: USC -14.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Tap for Promo Visit site

Bet And Get Up to $2,000 in No Sweat Bets FanCash

Used 18 Times Today

21+. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, or WY: wager $10+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer to be eligible to receive $50 in FanCash each day for your first five (5) days. Terms, including FanCash terms apply - see Fanatics Sportsbook app. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER, 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-888-532-3500 (VA).