College Football Picks: Against-the-Spread Teams to Wager on in October

The 2011 college football calendar is turning to October, and some programs really start hitting their stride while others simply go in the tank when it comes to sports betting.

Much of the success can be attributed to the coaching staff getting the team to perform at a higher level during the start of conference play.

Let's take a closer look at nine teams that will likely line your pockets with cash over the next four weeks.

Oregon State Beavers

When making your way to the betting window this weekend and placing a bet on the 0-3 Oregon State Beavers, don't let the ticket writer laugh in your face.

Instead, quote to that ticket writer that the Beavers are 13-1 ATS during the month of October since the 2007 campaign.

Oregon State is arguably the worst-performing team against the number in college football this year, going 0-3 ATS, failing to cover the spread by an average of 18.7 points a game.

The question you should be asking yourself is:  Does Arizona State really want to play this week as 18-point home favorites after snapping a long losing streak against the USC Trojans?

I'm going to answer emphatically—no.

Oregon Ducks

Everyone jumped off the Oregon Ducks-Nike bandwagon after dropping a 40-27 contest to the LSU Tigers as three-point neutral-site favorites inside Cowboys Stadium.

That loss doesn't look to bad now that the Tigers sit atop the AP Top 25 poll.

The program is 11-3 ATS in October.

Bettors will need to wait a week in order to back the Ducks, as they are enjoying a bye week, but will host California on Oct. 6.

Oregon has covered three of the last four meetings inside Autzen Stadium.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden is a legitimate Heisman candidate and goes into a bye week with a 4-0 straight-up record, which has panned out to a 3-1 ATS mark.

The results in Las Vegas should only improve, as the program is 11-3 ATS during October since the beginning of the 2007 season.

Bettors should be ready to load up on the Cowboys on Oct. 8, hosting the Kansas Jayhawks at Boone Pickens Stadium, covering eight of the last nine games in the series.

"Score early, score often" is the motto in Stillwater.

Pittsburgh Panthers

I'm always skeptical of betting trends once a coaching staff leaves, which is the case with the Pittsburgh Panthers no longer having "The Mustache" on the sidelines.

The program's 11-3 ATS record during October needs to be respected, but the calendar isn't turning fast enough to help them Thursday night against the South Florida Bulls.

Luckily for the Panthers' faithful, the team is 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings in that series.

The first chance to cash next month is on the road in Rutgers, a series that has seen Pitt come away with the cash in three of four.

Looks like a money-making opportunity this fall.

Penn State Nittany Lions

It's October and everyone is already wondering if Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno is going to retire at the end of the year.

Bettors will never want him to go during the month of October, as the program has tallied a 12-4 ATS record.

The Nittany Lions have beaten the number in four of the last five meetings in Indiana, which is the next scheduled game this Saturday.

Keep the ATM machine going this fall Joe!

Temple Owls

Opposing teams better hide the Halloween candy from this team, as the Temple Owls are 4-0 ATS already this year and are ready to improve upon their 11-4 ATS mark in October.

The program is also under the direction of a first-year coach, but Steve Addazio seems to be doing just find for bettors.

Value might be leaving this team in being placed as a 7.5-point home favorite against Toledo, coming off back-to-back underdog covers against Penn State and Maryland.

It will be an interesting month—that's for sure.

Central Florida

What in the world has happened to the Central Florida Knights the last two weeks?

A bye week couldn't have come at a better time and the calendar turning to October is also a plus.

Head coach George O'Leary has guided the squad to a 10-4 ATS mark during the month, which will fit nicely with the team's 6-1 ATS record versus Marshall.

Bounce-back time on Oct. 8.

Connecticut Huskies

Former head coach Randy Edsall is now at Maryland, which could put a damper on the program's 10-4 ATS record during the month.

Connecticut is also 1-3 ATS during the 2011 campaign, but its two losses have come by a combined total of seven points.

Tread carefully until possibly seeing some value in Pittsburgh on Oct. 26, as the team has covered four of five in the series.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

If you've missed cashing in on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets first four games—don't miss this week's contest against the NC State Wolfpack.

Head coach Paul Johnson has led the program to a 10-4 ATS record in October.

The even better news—the nation's No. 1 offense is 11-4 ATS in this series.

Bombs away.