Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images
CLEVELAND – Week 4 of the college football season kicked off on Thursday night and continued into Friday with three more games, including nationally ranked teams No. 16 UCF hosting FAU and No. 10 Penn State against Illinois in Champagne. “Picks With Nick” is back with a full slate of college football selections against the spread (for entertainment purposes only, of course) and will also feature a full slate of NFL picks too here at WTAM.com.
A quick glance at our numbers on the season against the Vegas spread:
CFB: 8-8-0 (50%)
NFL: 3-3-1 (50%)
Total: 11-11-1 (50%)
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to the last two seasons, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results from both weekly with full transparency, seeing how we stack up against Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off back-to-back winning seasons in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and the NFL combined in 2016 and 56% in both combined last season in 2017. So far, in college and the NFL combined, we are hitting 50% ATS.
Throughout the season it is important to understand that we will continually update our records in both college football and the NFL, totaling them also, and additionally, that Newsradio WTAM 1100 and I do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content. Visitors reading “Picks With Nick” weekly selections need to understand that this is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering.
With Week 4 of the college football season kicking off already, let’s dive into our full slate of selections against the spread.
Below is our full slate of college football picks featuring five selections ATS for Week 4:
Matt Campbell and the Iowa State Cyclones are 0-2 on the season, but welcome in Akron to Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Zips are fresh off a stunning win at Northwestern. Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images
Game: Boston College Eagles vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Where: West Lafayette, Indiana – Ross-Ade Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Spread: Boston College -6.5
Nick’s Pick: Yes, Purdue is 0-3 on the season, but you could probably make the case they should be 3-0 following close losses to Northwestern, Eastern Michigan and Missouri. Boston College will run the ball with AJ Dillon a ton and may win this football game…but it won’t be easy against Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers. Nick’s Pick here is Purdue +6.5.
Game: Akron Zips vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Where: Ames, Iowa – Jake Trice Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: FOX Sports Network
Spread: Iowa State -19
Nick’s Pick: Fresh off a stunning victory over Northwestern in Evanston, the Zips are feeling good about themselves. Terry Bowden has done a tremendous job with the Akron program. That being said, Iowa State has lost two close games to their rival Iowa and No. 5 Oklahoma. The Cyclones are much better than their 0-2 record and will bring Akron back to reality on Saturday afternoon. Nick’s Pick here is Iowa State -19.
Game: Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Where: Lexington, Kentucky – Kroger Field
Kickoff: 7:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Spread: Mississippi State -9.5
Nick’s Pick: We’ll keep this one simple. Mississippi State is ranked No. 14 in the country, but Kentucky is playing good football under Mark Stoops. The Bulldogs may win this game, but the Wildcats find a way to keep this game close at Kroger Field. Nick’s Pick here is Kentucky +9.5.
There should be plenty of offense on Saturday night when Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech Red Raiders visiting Oklahoma State for a Big 12 Conference clash. Photo by John Weast/Getty Images
Game: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Where: Stillwater, Oklahoma – Boone Pickens Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 pm ET
TV: FS1
Spread: Oklahoma State -14
Nick’s Pick: There will be plenty of points scored in this Big 12 Conference clash and while Oklahoma State may have more talent on both sides of the football, the Red Raiders can keep up offensively. Nick’s Pick here is Texas Tech +14.
Game: Stanford Cardinal vs. Oregon Ducks
Where: Eugene, Oregon – Autzen Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Stanford -2.5
Nick’s Pick: Could there be two more opposite teams than these two PAC-12 rivals? Oregon can make a statement in front of its home crowd on Saturday night if they can topple the Cardinal. Stanford has the better defense, but the Ducks will look to turn this game into a track meet. If they do, Stanford can’t keep up. Nick’s Pick here is Oregon +2.5.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 8-8-0 (50%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 3-3-1 (50%)
Total record ATS to date: 11-11-1 (50%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.