College Football Betting News and Notes Friday, September 18

Florida State at Boston College
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com

Florida State hasn't lost an ACC game since Oct. 6 of 2012, winning 24 in a row in league play. Jimbo Fisher's team will put that streak on the line when it ventures to Chestnut Hill on a short week to face Boston College on Friday night.

As of Tuesday afternoon, most betting shops had FSU (2-0 straight up, 1-1 against the spread) installed as an 8.5-point road favorite. The total for 'over/under' wagers was 49.5 after several offshores had it at 51 on the send-out. Gamblers can take the Eagles on the money line for a +260 return (risk $100 to win $260).

FSU hosted South Florida this past Saturday for an early 11:30 a.m. Eastern kickoff. It took the Seminoles some time to get going, as they went to intermission in a 7-7 tie with the Bulls.

In the third quarter, however, sophomore RB Dalvin Cook revived his teammates and sparked his team on a 17-0 run. FSU would eventually collect a 34-14 win, but it failed to cover the number as a 28.5-point home 'chalk.' The 48 combined points stayed 'under' the 53.5-point total.

Cook was nothing short of sensational, rushing 30 times for 266 yards and three touchdowns. His 74-yard TD scamper in the first quarter was basically the only FSU offense generated in the first half. Cook also scored on runs of 37 and 24 yards in the second half.

Everett Golson completed 14-of-26 passes for 163 yards and one TD without an interception. For the season thus far, Golson has connected on 64.7 percent of his throws for 465 yards with a 5/0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Cook has entered the early discussion for the Heisman Trophy by rushing for 422 yards and five TDs while averaging an eye-opening 8.6 yards per carry. Cook leads the SEC and ranks second in the nation in rushing yards.

Travis Rudolph has been Golson's favorite target to date, hauling in 10 catches for 99 yards and one TD. Jesus Wilson has six receptions for 107 yards and two TDs.

FSU opened the season with a 59-16 thrashing of Dennis Franchione's Texas St. team from out of the Sun Belt Conference.

Boston College (2-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) has beaten a pair of cupcake opponents. In its lid-lifter at home, BC knocked off Maine by a 24-3 count as a 26.5-point favorite. The defense was dynamite, limiting the Black Bears to only eight first downs and 91 yards of total offense. Tyler Rouse ran for a team-best 81 yards and two TDs on just eight carries. Darius Wade, a true sophomore signal caller making his first career start, completed 14-of-25 passes for 155 yards and one TD without an interception.

Steve Addazio's squad rolled to a 76-0 win over Howard last weekend as a 44-point home 'chalk.' However, since both coaches agree at halftime to play 10-minute quarters in the second half, all wagers on the side and total were ruled no-plays because the game didn't go the 55 minutes required for bets to be declared official.

The Eagles raced out to a 41-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and the score was 62-0 by intermission. (This clearly left backers of 'over' 58.5 extremely disappointed!) Rouse rushed six times for 36 yards and three TDs, while freshman QB Jeff Smith ran for 89 yards and three scored on only five carries.

The BC defense limited Howard to a grand total of 11 yards and two first downs. This unit hasn't faced any FBS competition yet, but we'll nonetheless note that it currently ranks No. 1 in the country in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense. This group returned six starters from last year's defense that gave up 21.3 points per game.

When these teams met at this venue in 2013, eighth-ranked and unbeaten FSU saw BC jump out to a 17-3 lead. But the 'Noles would respond with 21 unanswered points, including a 55-yard Hail Mary TD pass from Jameis Winston to Kenny Shaw to put them ahead for good on the final play of the first half.

Fisher's team would go on to capture a 48-34 win, but the Eagles easily covered the number as 23-point home underdogs. The 82 combined points obliterated the 53.5-point total.

In the ACC finale for both teams last November in Tallahassee, an unranked 6-5 Boston College team went to Doak Campbell Stadium with plans of placing a blemish on the resume of the nation's top-ranked and unbeaten 'Noles. Those plans nearly came to fruition, but FSU's Robert Aguayo buried a 26-yard field goal with three ticks remaining to lift his team to a 20-17 win. The Eagles took the cash as 17-point 'dogs, while the 37 combined points stayed 'under' the 57.5-point tally.

FSU has won five in a row over BC, but the Eagles are 5-2 ATS in the last seven head-to-head meetings between these ACC adversaries. BC won the 2009 game 28-21 in what turned out to be the loss that turned even Bobby Bowden's most ardent of supporters against him in his final season at the helm.

As a road favorite during Fisher's six-year tenure, FSU owns an 11-10 spread record in 21 such spots. BC has compiled a 4-2 spread record with a pair of outright victories in six games as a home underdog on Addazio's watch.

ESPN will have Friday's telecast at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets

In Friday's late game on the Pac-12 Network, Arizona State will take on New Mexico at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. As of early Tuesday afternoon, most books had the Sun Devils listed as 28-point home favorites. During Todd Graham's tenure, ASU has posted an 11-7 spread record in 18 games as a home 'chalk.' Meanwhile, New Mexico has gone 10-7 ATS in 17 games as a road 'dog on Bob Davie's watch.

New Mexico blasted Mississippi Valley St. 66-0 in its opener, but it lost a 40-21 decision to Tulsa as a six-point home favorite in Week 2. ASU wasn't impressive last week, either, slipping past Cal Poly by a 35-21 score as a 34.5-point home favorite.

Ole Miss owns a 5-2 spread record in seven games as a road underdog under Hugh Freeze. The Rebels will travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama at 9:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. As of Tuesday, most spots had the Crimson Tide favored by 6.5 points.

South Carolina has a 17-11-1 ATS record in 29 games as a road underdog during Steve Spurrier's tenure. The Gamecocks are 8-2 ATS in 10 games as double-digit 'dogs. They are catching 16.5 points Saturday at Georgia.

Kentucky has limped to a 1-5-2 ATS record in seven games as a home underdog on Mark Stoops's watch. The 'Cats are three-point 'dogs vs. Florida this weekend. The SEC Network will have the telecast at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

ACC Report - Week 3
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

Florida State at Boston College

Florida State started off sluggish against South Florida before pulling away for a 34-14 victory. Perhaps the 11:30am ET kickoff did not agree with them, as it was 7-7 at halftime and took a while for the Seminoles to wake up. Boston College had no trouble getting started against FCS Howard, posting 41 points in the first quarter alone, 62 at halftime and ending with a 76-0 victory. It was graded a 'no play' because the teams agreed to 10 minute quarters in both the third and fourth, so at least 55 minutes is required for action. Florida State is favored by just 7 1/2 points in this one, and the underdog is 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings. The Seminoles are also 2-5 ATS in the past seven in this series. Still, is BC ready for prime time yet? They snuck by FCS Maine 24-3, and romped Howard, but can they hang with the No. 6 team in the nation? FSU's schedule hasn't been full of killers, but at least they have faced two FBS teams. The line appears to be a little low, especially given the fact the road team is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.

Pac-12 Report - Week 3
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

New Mexico at Arizona State

It has been a very trying season for Arizona State already, as they have disappointed early on. They had their doors blown off in a neutral-site game against Texas A&M, and they barely squeaked by FCS Cal Poly last week, tied 21-21 into the fourth quarter. These teams faced each other last season at UNM, with the Sun Devils leaving with a 58-23 win. But this is a different ASU team that isn't hitting on all cylinders - yet. New Mexico is 4-1 ATS in their past five road games, but just 8-18 ATS in the past 26 non-conference tilts. That includes a home loss last weekend to Tulsa. ASU is 0-4 ATS in their past four, and 2-7 ATS in the past nine non-conference games. Arizona State has the offensive firepower to cover a 28-point number against the Lobos, they just haven't shown it yet.

College Football Week 3

Underdogs covered seven of last nine Florida State-Boston College tilts; Seminoles won last five meetings, with three of last four by 14+ points. FSU won four of last five visits here, last two 48-34/38-7- they're 6-3 in last nine games as road favorite. BC just beat couple of I-AA stiffs; hard to tell much from that; Eagles are 4-2 as home dog under Addazio, have run ball for 440 yards in last two games against Florida State. Soph QB is playing his first game against a bigtime opponent.

Arizona State struggled with I-AA Cal Poly last week after losing week before to Texas A&M; Sun Devils play USC next week, are 11-6 as a home favorite under Graham. ASU ran ball for 423 yards in 58-23 win at New Mexico LY (-23). Pac-12 home favorites are 7-2 vs spread out of conference; MW road underdogs are 3-2. Lobos are 1-6 as home dogs the last 2+ years; they gave up 600 yards in home loss to Tulsa last week.

Armadillosports.com

Game of the Day: Florida State at Boston College
By Covers.com

Florida State Seminoles at Boston College Eagles (+9, 46.5)

Florida State sophomore running back Dalvin Cook looks to continue shredding defenses while taking pressure off quarterback Everett Golson as the No. 6 Seminoles visit Boston College on Friday in the ACC opener for both teams. Cook rushed for 422 yards and five touchdowns in his first two games - including 266 yards and three scores on 30 carries in Florida State's 34-14 victory over USF last week - and is well on his way to surpassing his freshman totals of 1,008 and eight.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said he wasn't planning to have Cook run 30 times but told reporters "if he’s hot like that and he can finish, we’re going to continue to give it to him.” Florida State tries for its sixth straight victory over the Eagles but must figure out a way to start quicker on offense - a point of emphasis in Monday's practice - as it's scored 28 of its 93 points in the first half. Golson, who transferred after graduating from Notre Dame, is 33-of-51 for 465 yards without an interception, and his five touchdowns all have come in the second half. Boston College outscored FCS members Maine and Howard 100-3 and has allowed only 102 yards of total offense in its first two games as it tries to upset a ranked opponent at home in its third game for the second straight season after defeating No. 10 USC 37-31.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened FSU as 8-point road faves, but that is currently FSU --9. The total is down to 46.5 after opening 51.

INJURY REPORT: Florida State - OL Cole Minshew (Out, ankle), DE Chris Casher (Out, knee), DE Lorenzo Featherston (Out indefinitely, knee). Boston College - LB Tim Joy (Questionable, knee).

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with wind blowing from the south at around six miles per our.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Boston College comes into this game with a 2-0 SU record, but the Eagles have played a pair of weak FCS teams. They beat Maine and Howard by a combined score of 100-3, but the Eagles are now taking a monumental step-up in class versus Florida State. Boston College is expected to have a down season, and their first two big wins will not be indicative of how their season will turn out going forward." Covers Expert Steve Merril.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened FSU as 9-point faves in this matchup and it has bounced -9 and -8 through the week finally settling in our current number of FSU -8.5 with good two-way action with BC getting 48 percent of that action to cover the spread." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U): While the offense has scored on all 11 second-half possessions this season, the defense has held its first two opponents to fewer than 300 yards - an achievement accomplished only three times in 2014. Sophomore defensive back and All-America candidate Jalen Ramsey already has broken up four passes this season - most among ACC players - and allowed only one completion while being targeted 12 times. Sophomore linebacker Ro'Derrick Hoskins recorded seven tackles against USF, and his 10 this season give him a share of the team lead with sophomore linebacker Jacob Pugh.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U): The Eagles tried to simulate the Seminoles' speed by pitting their top units against each other at Monday's practice. "There can’t be a bunch of mistakes, a bunch of penalties. You can’t get shocked by the speed of the game,” coach Steve Addazio said at his weekly press conference. Boston College didn't get the feel of a big-time game in its 76-0 victory Howard last week in a contest shortened to 10-minute quarters in the second half by mutual agreement.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Boston College.
* Seminoles are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last seven conference games.
* Over is 6-1 in Seminoles' last seven road games.

CONSENSUS: Fifty-three percent of Covers users are backing Florida State.