Witt's Wagers: Week 7
Ben Wittenstein offers insight on the Indiana's start in its Week 7 game at Oregon, as well as other games he's eyeing this week.
Some of you may remember Witt’s Wagers, featured in each BSB weekly preview during the 2024 season and produced by my good friend and respected betting expert (and IU alumnus) Ben Wittenstein. We’re bringing it back for 2025 and expanding it into its own weekly guest BSB post!
Ben will offer at least one Indiana bet that he likes each week, as well as other bets around college football that may or may not be Indiana-related.
I’m thrilled to have Ben back in the BSB fold, and I know he will make us all lots of money! The edition below is the first installment.
I feel like I’m in a rom-com right now, with my head and heart telling me different things about the love of my life: Indiana football.
My head says this follows the same script IU usually sticks to against top-tier opponents—blowouts. But my heart? My sweet, sweet heart thinks IU can pull off the upset on the road.
I’m not going to try and predict what will happen in a surely wild game, so let’s, once again, shorten our bet window.
Bet: Indiana 1Q Team Total Over 2.5 (-130, DraftKings)
Season Record: 2-3
The one thing my head and heart both agree on, though, is that IU will come out aggressive. Against No. 1 Ohio State on the road last season, IU came out hot and led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. In its first big road test this season at Iowa, IU again started strong, scoring a touchdown on the first possession.
I think we’ll see a similar script unfold in Eugene. IU’s offense ranks top-10 nationally. They have a top-5 passing offense under Fernando Mendoza, with creative play calls to boot. Plus, this’ll be the second hostile environment that the Hoosiers play in this season. After rolling through Iowa City, the energy and volume of the crowd in Eugene should be a bit less daunting.
Add in a likely aggressive scripted first possession, IU should be able to get into position for at least a field goal in the first quarter, with likely multiple chances to reach the end zone. But, luckily, all we need is 3!
OTHER GAMES I’M EYEING
Season Record: 6-5
Maryland 1H +3.5 (-110, ESPNBet) vs. Nebraska: Last week was an embarrassment for Mike Locksley and Co. Up 20-3 at home against Washington, Maryland simply forgot how to play offense and crapped their pants in the 4th quarter to lose the game. With that fresh in their minds, another home game — this time against a Nebraska team I’m not sold on offensively — could help right the ship. I think we see another strong start from the home team in an aggressive push to forget about last week’s collapse. Don’t be surprised if the Terrapins have the lead at halftime.
2-Leg: Michigan State ML + Utah ML (-103, ESPNBet): I’m high on this Spartans team coming back home after a couple tough road games. They now get lowly UCLA in a letdown spot after their improbable win over Penn State. Utah, off a bye and an embarrassing home loss, get to play Arizona State at home. The Utes will have their bounce-back game against an ASU team that’ll be out of their element in the Utah air and weather.
Alabama -3 (-110, DraftKings) @ Missouri: This is the Alabama team that was promised. This is the team we expected in Week 1 against FSU that didn’t show up. Well now, Ty Simpson looks like a force under center, and the Bama defense has shown to be lethal against the pass, ranking top 25 in opponent points per play. A road trip to Mizzou isn’t going to hurt them and I think they can win this one by two or more possessions.
Oklahoma ML (+105, BetMGM) @ Texas: Some advice: whenever someone tells you to bet on a team because it’s a “must-win,” be cautious—especially in a huge rivalry game. Oklahoma, even without QB John Mateer, has still been incredibly formidable. In fact, the Sooners lead the nation in opponent points per play over the last three games—the defense has been stupendous. And with Mateer rumored to return, I think Oklahoma can take advantage of a Texas team in free fall. Arch Manning looks like a Temu version of a Manning, and the Texas defense has holes. Gimme Boomer Sooner in the Red River Rivalry!
Ben Wittenstein has created sports betting content during the last six years for various media outlets, including CBS Sports, Stadium, Bleav Network, BetMGM, and Bet QL. He graduated from IU with a journalism degree in 2017 and spent four years broadcasting IUFB games on top of Memorial Stadium’s press box (shoutout WIUX). You can find Ben on Twitter at @BenWittenstein, where you can ask betting questions about IU and beyond.