Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Monday, January 1, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
NCAAF
Bowl Season
January 1
Michigan (-8) vs South Carolina; Outback Bowl, Tampa
South Carolina is 8-4; they were held to 17 or less points in all four losses. Gamecocks are 6-1 vs spread as an underdog this year, 6-2-1 in games with single digit spread. Michigan held 8 of 12 opponents to 17 or less points; they’re also 8-4, losing last two games to Ohio St/Wisconsin. Wolverines are 4-4-1 as favorites this year, 1-2-1 in games with single digit spread. SEC teams are 4-1 vs Big 14 in this bowl last five years, winning 30-3/45-6 last two years; favorites are 2-2-1 vs spread in this bowl last five years. Michigan lost three of last four bowls; they lost this game 33-28 (+5) to So Carolina in 2012. Gamecocks had their 4-bowl win streak snapped by South Florida in OT LY- they’re 4-0-1 vs spread in last five bowls. Harbaugh is 2-2 overall in bowls, but Michigan scored 73 points in splitting his two bowls the last two years.
Auburn (-9.5) vs Central Florida, Peach Bowl, Atlanta
You get 9.5 points with undefeated UCF whose coach quit 45 seconds after their last game, but those coaches are going to coach this game, which is odd. Knights scored 38+ points in nine of 11 games- they scored 31 in each of other two. UCF is 1-0 as an underdog this year, 4-0 in games with a single digit spread. Auburn lost SEC title game on this field Dec 2nd; Tigers are 11-2- they scored 6-7 points in losses to Clemson, Georgia, but they also beat Auburn 40-17 at home Nov 11. Tigers are 3-4-1 vs spread as a favorite this year, 3-3 in games with a single digit spread. Knights went 0-12 two years ago, so this is big deal to them- they’re 3-5 all-time in bowls, losing last two, allowing 35.7 ppg in last three. Auburn lost three of its last four bowl games. Underdogs are 3-2 vs spread in last five Peach Bowls; last three were all decided by 14 points.
LSU (-3) vs Notre Dame, Citrus Bowl, Orlando
LSU won three of last four bowls; loss was 31-28 (-8) to Notre Dame in Music City Bowl three years ago. Notre Dame is 2-3 in last five bowls (1-4 vs spread)- average total in their last four bowls is 58. LSU won six of its last seven games after a 3-2 start; they covered last six games, are 5-4 as favorites this year, 2-2 in games with single digit spread. Notre Dame lost two of last three games after an 8-1 start, losing 41-8 at Miami, 38-20 at Stanford; they were favored in every game this season. Irish are 3-3 in games with single digit spread. SEC teams are 4-1 in last five Citrus Bowls, all of which were decided by 10+ points; Tigers won this game 29-9 over Louisville LY. I’m not fond of backing bowl teams going to same place 2nd year in row, although Orlando/DisneyWorld is better than average bowl destination.
Georgia (-1.5) vs Oklahoma; Rose Bowl, Pasadena
SEC/Big X Rose Bowl is just weird. Georgia’s soph QB Fromm vs Oklahoma’s senior Mayfield. Dawgs’ only loss this year was 40-17 at Auburn- they avenged that three weeks later in SEC title game. Georgia ran ball for 238+ yards in each of their last eight wins, allowed 13 or less points in last five wins- they’ll try and run ball here and keep ball away from Sooners, who allowed 31+ points in four of their wins this year. Dawgs are 8-3 as favorites this year, 3-1 in games with single digit spreads. Oklahoma won its last eight games after Iowa State upset them; Sooners scored 38+ points in each of last seven games. Favorites won four of last five Rose Bowls (2-2-1 vs spread); average total in last five was 63.8. Georgia won its last three bowls, allowing 18 ppg; they covered four of last five bowls. Oklahoma is 2-3 in its last five bowl games.
Alabama (-3) vs Clemson; Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
Crimson Tide was 11-0 until they lost Iron Bowl, then they didn’t even win their half of SEC. Alabama is 4-7 as favorites this year, 1-1 in games with single digit spread. Clemson has a soph QB; they won last six games after October loss at Syracuse (in a dome)- they covered last four games. Tigers are 3-0 vs spread in games with single digit spread- they’re underdog for first time this season. Alabama’s soph QB Hurts is 24-2 as a starter; Tide lost 35-31 (-6) to Clemson in national title game LY, after beating Tigers 45-40 (-6.5) in title game two years ago. Bama is 6-2 in last eight bowl games, counting SEC title games, which they missed this year. Clemson is 4-1 in its last five bowls; they scored 40 points in the one loss. SEC teams are 1-4 in this bowl the last five years; favorites won/covered last two years, after the underdogs won SU previous three years. Clemson coach Swinney is 5th Clemson head football coach who was an Alabama grad.
NCAAF
Long Sheet
Monday, January 1
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S CAROLINA (8 - 4) vs. MICHIGAN (8 - 4) - 1/1/2018, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MICHIGAN is 28-47 ATS (-23.7 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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UCF (12 - 0) vs. AUBURN (10 - 3) - 1/1/2018, 12:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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LSU (9 - 3) vs. NOTRE DAME (9 - 3) - 1/1/2018, 1:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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GEORGIA (12 - 1) vs. OKLAHOMA (12 - 1) - 1/1/2018, 5:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGIA is 66-42 ATS (+19.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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ALABAMA (11 - 1) vs. CLEMSON (12 - 1) - 1/1/2018, 8:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEMSON is 60-35 ATS (+21.5 Units) as an underdog since 1992.
CLEMSON is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CLEMSON is 2-0 against the spread versus ALABAMA over the last 3 seasons
CLEMSON is 1-1 straight up against ALABAMA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NCAAF
Bowl Season
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Trend Report
Monday, January 1
MICHIGAN @ SOUTH CAROLINA
Michigan is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Michigan's last 7 games
South Carolina is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
CENTRAL FLORIDA @ AUBURN
Central Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Central Florida's last 5 games
Auburn is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Auburn's last 10 games
LOUISIANA STATE @ NOTRE DAME
Louisiana State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Louisiana State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Notre Dame is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
Notre Dame is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
GEORGIA @ OKLAHOMA
Georgia is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games
Georgia is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games
Oklahoma is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Oklahoma is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
ALABAMA @ CLEMSON
Alabama is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games
Alabama is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Clemson is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Clemson is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games