****

As Week 6 of the college football season kicks off, bettors are paying close attention to key matchups, with smart money making its presence felt in games featuring West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State, USC vs. Minnesota, and Miami vs. California. Using VSiN CFB Betting Splits data from DraftKings, we analyze where the sharp money is leaning on these pivotal contests.

In a game that sees West Virginia (2-2) coming off a 32-28 victory over Kansas, the line initially had Oklahoma State (3-2) as a 5-point home favorite. Despite 77% of spread bets backing the Cowboys to bounce back from consecutive losses, the line has moved down to Oklahoma State -3. This shift suggests significant sharp interest in the Mountaineers, who are receiving just 23% of spread bets but 43% of spread dollars. West Virginia, benefitting from a week off, has notable contrarian value in this heavily bet game set for late afternoon on ESPN2.

Turning to the USC (3-1, ranked 11th) vs. Minnesota (2-3) matchup, USC recently covered as 14-point home favorites in a 38-21 triumph over Wisconsin. The public is favoring USC with 70% of spread bets, expecting a straightforward win. However, the line hasn't budged from its opening of USC -8.5, occasionally dipping to -8. This indicates a sharp line freeze, with Minnesota attracting sharper bets despite receiving just 30% of the spread bets but 49% of the spread dollars. As unranked home underdogs, the Gophers also stand to benefit if USC looks ahead to their next game against Penn State. Additionally, sharp money has moved the total down from 52 to 46.5, underscoring expectations for a lower-scoring affair.

In the Miami (5-0, ranked 8th) vs. California (3-1) game, the Hurricanes enter off a dramatic 38-34 win over Virginia Tech but failed to cover as 17.5-point home favorites. Here, 80% of public bets are on Miami, yet the line has dropped from -12.5 to -10. This movement indicates sharp backing for California, with the Golden Bears receiving 20% of spread bets but 47% of spread dollars. The Golden Bears have the advantage of coming off a bye week, while Miami might be fatigued after a tight contest against Virginia Tech and now face a cross-country trip. Sharp money also appears to favor the under, with the total having slipped from 55 to 54, and some books even showing 53.5.

In these matchups, the sharp money strategies provide keen insights for those tracking betting lines and trends. As the games unfold, it will be interesting to see if the smart money correctly anticipated the results.