Only a few weeks remain in the 2017 season, and we’ve already seen plenty of Group of Five upsets. Which mid-majors are upset threats in Week 12?
One of the most fun parts of watching college football is getting to see upsets happen in real time. While the NFL prides itself on parity, the FBS makes no pretense about trying to level the playing field. That doesn’t mean that the only fun football to watch takes place among Power Five schools, however.
The Group of Five is notorious for playing David to various Goliaths, whether against major-conference opponents or against higher-rated conference foes. We have the opportunity this weekend to see more upsets take place, thanks to some eyebrow-raising lines coming from the oddsmakers.
Before we dive in too deeply, it is always instructive to remember that part of the purpose of betting lines is to generate equivalent amounts of betting on both sides. Bookmakers hate unbalanced betting, after all, as it risks a costly payout. So odds aren’t always the most instructive way of judging the relative quality of two teams matched up against one another.
Still, they are more often than not reliable judges of how a game will transpire. That isn’t always the case, though, and part of the fun is when a team takes down a highly-favored opponent not just against the spread but in outright victory. Which Group of Five underdogs could walk away victors this week? Read ahead for five upset threats that could emerge victorious in Week 12 action. (All point spreads courtesy of Sportsbook Review.)