College Football betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Friday, December 29, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
2017-18 bowl games
December 29
Texas A&M vs Wake Forest (-3); Belk Bowl, Charlotte
Texas A&M lost its first game this year 45-44 at UCLA, after leading 44-10, which led to eventual ouster of HC Sumlin. Aggies went 3-4 in last seven games after a 4-1 start; they’re 3-2-1 as an underdog this year, 4-2 in games with single digit spread. New A&M coach Jimbo Fisher isn’t coaching this game; interim coach Jeff Banks will coach. Wake Forest went 3-5 in its last eight games after a 4-0 start; they’re 2-2 as favorites this year, 5-2 in games with single digit spread. This is an unusual bowl, in that favorites won/covered last five Belk Bowls, with average total of 65.4. Aggies lost last two bowls 27-21/33-28 after winning three n row before that. This is essentially a home game for Deacons, who won their bowl 34-26 (+12) LY, their first bowl since 2011. Wake is 7-4 all-time in bowls, so getting in a bowl is a big deal for them.
NC State (-6.5) vs Arizona State; Sun Bowl, El Paso
Sun Devils in Sun Bowl? Arizona State fired its coach, kept both coordinators, but they both quit anyway; WRs coach was moved up to OC. ASU won three of last four games, scoring 37+ points in all four games; they’re 5-2-1 as an underdog this year, 3-3-1 in games with single digit spread. NC State went 2-3 in its last five games after a 6-1 start; State is 1-4-1 as favorites this year, 1-3-1 in games with single digit spread. Wolfpack is 3-2 in their last five bowls, with average total 63. Favorites covered four of the five games. Sun Devils are 2-3 in last five bowls, winning Sun Bowl 36-31 (-7) vs Duke three years ago- dogs covered their last three bowls. Average total in their last five bowls, 76.4. Favorites won this bowl the last four years (2-1-1 vs spread); average total in the last five Sun Bowls is 46.2.
Northwestern (-7.5) vs Kentucky; Music City Bowl, Nashville
Northwestern won its last seven games after a 2-3 start, including three OT wins in a row; they are 6-2 as favorites this year, 6-1 in games wth single digit spread. Wildcats won their last two games by combined scored of 81-7. Kentucky lost four of last six games after a 5-1 start; they’re 3-3 as underdogs this year, 3-3 in games with single digit spread. Wildcats lost last two games, 42-13/44-17. Kentucky lost its last three bowls by 8-17-15 points, scoring 13.7 ppg; LY was their first bowl since ’10- they lost this bowl 21-13 in ’10, won it 35-28 in ’07. Wildcats won two of last three bowls after Fitzgerald lost his first four bowls- this is first time in 20+ years that Northwestern is favored in a bowl. Favorites won four of last five Music City Bowls (4-1 vs spread); SEC teams are 3-2 in this game the last five years.
Utah State (-4) vs New Mexico State; Arizona Bowl, Tucson
New Mexico State is in its first bowl since 1960- they’ve got to be excited. NMS won three of last four games to become bowl eligible; they’re 4-2 vs spread as an underdog this year, 4-2 in games with single digit spread- they upset New Mexico 30-28 (+7.5) of Mountain West early in season. USU is 3-4 in its last seven games; they’re 2-0 as favorites this year, 4-3 vs spread in games with single digit spread. NMS lost 41-7 at Utah State in teams’ last meeting, five years ago. USU won three of its last four bowls, scoring exactly 21 points in last three- they didn’t go bowling LY. Favorites split first two Arizona Bowls; average total was 58.5. Last three years, Mountain West teams are 6-4-1 vs spread when facing a Sun Belt opponent. Over is 8-3 in USU games this year, 5-3 in NMS’s last eight games.
USC vs Ohio State (-7.5), Cotton Bowl, Arlington, TX
USC won its last five games, last two by total of 8 points; they didn’t have an off-week during season until week before ac-12 title game, so they will be lot fresher here. Trojans are 0-1 as an underdog, 3-3 in games with single digit spread. Ohio State won three of last four bowls, losing 31-0 to Clemson LY; fair to question Buckeyes’ state of mind since they weren’t voted into playoff. Buckeyes won their last four games; they’re 6-7 as a favorite this year, 1-2 in games with single digit spread. USC won three of last four bowls, beating Penn State 52-49 in wild Rose Bowl LY; Trojans are 1-4 vs spread in last five bowls- this is first time they’ve been bowl underdog since since ’06 Rose Bowl, which they won. Favorites are 3-2 vs spread in last five Cotton Bowls, with average total of 57.4.
NCAAF
Long Sheet
Friday, December 29
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TEXAS A&M (7 - 5) vs. WAKE FOREST (7 - 5) - 12/29/2017, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS A&M is 5-17 ATS (-13.7 Units) after playing a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS A&M is 20-37 ATS (-20.7 Units) after a bye week since 1992.
TEXAS A&M is 63-93 ATS (-39.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
WAKE FOREST is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest since 1992.
WAKE FOREST is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in road games after a bye week since 1992.
WAKE FOREST is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in games played on a neutral field since 1992.
WAKE FOREST is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in December games since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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NC STATE (8 - 4) vs. ARIZONA ST (7 - 5) - 12/29/2017, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NC STATE is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games after a bye week since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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KENTUCKY (7 - 5) vs. NORTHWESTERN (9 - 3) - 12/29/2017, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENTUCKY is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
NORTHWESTERN is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NORTHWESTERN is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
NORTHWESTERN is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) after playing a conference game this season.
NORTHWESTERN is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) off a win against a conference rival this season.
NORTHWESTERN is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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UTAH ST (6 - 6) vs. NEW MEXICO ST (6 - 6) - 12/29/2017, 5:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW MEXICO ST is 43-72 ATS (-36.2 Units) after playing a conference game since 1992.
NEW MEXICO ST is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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USC (11 - 2) vs. OHIO ST (11 - 2) - 12/29/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
USC is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in road games in December games since 1992.
USC is 33-53 ATS (-25.3 Units) in road games after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins since 1992.
OHIO ST is 183-140 ATS (+29.0 Units) in all games since 1992.
OHIO ST is 183-140 ATS (+29.0 Units) in all lined games since 1992.
OHIO ST is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) against Pac Twelve conference opponents since 1992.
NCAAF
Bowl Season
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Trend Report
Friday, December 29
WAKE FOREST @ TEXAS A&M
Wake Forest is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Wake Forest's last 6 games
Texas A&M is 6-14-1 ATS in its last 21 games
NORTH CAROLINA STATE @ ARIZONA STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of North Carolina State's last 9 games
North Carolina State is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona State's last 5 games
Arizona State is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
KENTUCKY @ NORTHWESTERN
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kentucky's last 5 games
Kentucky is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Northwestern is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Northwestern is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
UTAH STATE @ NEW MEXICO STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah State's last 5 games when playing New Mexico State
Utah State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Mexico State
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Mexico State's last 5 games when playing Utah State
New Mexico State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA @ OHIO STATE
Southern California is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Southern California's last 7 games
Ohio State is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Ohio State's last 10 games