Betting Recap - Week 1
By Daniel Dobish
VegasInsider.com
Overall Notes
College Football Week 1 Results
Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 68-15
Against the Spread 38-43-2
Home-Away
Straight Up 61-16
Against the Spread 33-43-1
Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 27-42-3
Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up (neutral site) 4-2
Against the Spread (neutral site) 2-3-1
Over-Under (neutral site) 2-4
The largest underdogs to win straight up
South Alabama (+28, ML +3000) at Mississippi State, 21-20
Eastern Washington (+27.5, ML +2750) at Washington State, 45-42
Albany (+21, ML +1125) at Buffalo, 22-16
The largest favorites to cover
Miami-Florida (-52) vs. Florida A&M, 70-3
Oklahoma State (-49) vs. SE Louisiana, 61-7
Middle Tennessee (-47.5) vs. Alabama A&M, 55-0
Top 25 Notes
The first full weekend of college football was tremendously exciting, as the marquee games mostly lived up to their billing. Top-ranked Alabama was expected to get a much bigger test from Southern California, but that game turned out to be a laugher. The Trojans outscored the Crimson Tide 3-0 after the first quarter, but then the Tide took over and blasted USC 52-6. ... No. 2 Clemson ended up getting a much bigger challenge than expected at Auburn, winning 19-13. See the 'bad beat' section for more on how this one played out. ... At Lambeau Field in Green Bay it was defensive slog and great game between Louisiana State and Wisconsin, although the result was overshadowed by an ugly cheap shot by LSU's Josh Boutte. The Badgers weren't ranked in the Top 25, but after toppling the No. 6 team in the nation it appears Wisconsin is headed for the rankings. ... Top 25 teams went 17-5 SU through Saturday's action, but finished 9-13 ATS with two of the games featuring ranked teams on each side.
In Thursday's action, Appalachian State came over the Great Smoky Mountains to face Tennessee, losing 20-13 in overtime. The Volunteers have high expectations, but they started the season on a sour note with a near upset.
Houston was invited to the party last season, upending Florida State in the Peach Bowl. This season, they're the favorite from the Group of Five to crash the New Year's Day bowls again. Their bid got off to a great start with a 33-23 win over Oklahoma at NRG Field in Houston, which was technically a neutral-site game.
North Carolina and Georgia had a classic battle in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It appeared the ACC underdog was going to win, but then a strange safety seemed to turn the tide and get the Bulldogs rolling. Speaking of rolling, Nick Chubb showed why he is in the early Heisman conversation with a stellar perhaps to trample the Tar Heels and help the Dawgs cover.
Big Five Conference Report
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is off to an impressive start, as Clemson won 19-13 at Auburn, and Louisville looked the part of Top 25 team with a 70-14 thrashing and cover against Charlotte. ... Wake Forest's offense appeared to be stuck in neutral yet again, mustering just seven points in Thursday's game against Tulane. The good news is that they had a suffocating defense on display in a 7-3 win. ... North Carolina State picked up a win over William & Mary, and fellow Triangle team Duke pushed North Carolina Central aside in the Bull City Battle, covering a big number in the process. ... It wasn't all good, as Virginia tasted defeat at home against Richmond of the FCS, a team which led 30-7 at hone point before a couple of late scores made it look semi-respectable.
Ohio State and Michigan looked strong in the opening weekend, pushing aside inferior opponents while racking up plenty of points in the process. The Buckeyes (-27.5) easily covered against Bowling Green of the MAC, 77-10. Ohio State is 32-1 against the MAC all-time, losing to Akron back in 1894. The Wolverines spanked Hawaii 63-3, as the Rainbow Warriors slipped to 0-2 SU and 1-1 ATS. ... Michigan State was rather sluggish, beating FCS Furman by a 28-13 count, never comin close to cover as 37 1/2-point favorites. ... Northwestern had high hopes entering the season, but P.J. Fleck's Western Michigan squad had other ideas in a 22-21 victory in Evanston.
Kansas State was on the short end of a 26-13 loss at Stanford Friday night. Depending on the time of your wager, you either covered, lost or pushed, with the line fluctuating from 12 to 15 during the week. ... Disaster struck in Houston for the Sooners, and to make matters worse they have to share the state with Oklahoma State, who pounded FCS Southeast Louisiana 61-7 to look mighty impressive in their opener. ... One Big 12 team which did not have good luck against an FCS squad was Iowa State, as they were shocked at home by Northern Iowa, 25-20. ... Texas Christian had their hands full with South Dakota State, as they were tied 24-24 at halftime, and they were tied 31-31 midway through the third quarter before the light went off for the Horned Frogs.
USC's loss was a black eye for the Pac-12, and UCLA was unable to come away from Texas A&M with a victory, although they certainly were scrappy. The Bruins erased a 24-9 Aggies' lead in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. However, UCLA ended up losing 31-24 for the non-cover. ... Oregon usually starts off slow in these cupcake games against FCS teams, and Saturday was no different. UC-Davis easily covered a 48-point number in their 53-28 loss in Eugene. ... For the second straight season, Washington State was dumped by an FCS team in the opening weekend. Last year it was Portland State, this time it was Eastern Washington doing the honors.
The SEC had a difficult time this weekend, as LSU lost its marquee battle, while Mississippi State started off the post-Dak Prescott Era with a 21-20 setback to South Alabama of the Sun Belt. ... Arkansas didn't look particularly sharp, slipping by Louisiana Tech by a 21-20 score. ... Kentucky held a 35-10 lead at one point, but they were outscored 34-0 since the end of the second quarter against Southern Mississippi in a 44-35 stunner at Commonwealth Stadium. ... Missouri opened with a loss and non-cover at West Virginia, slipping 26-11. The offensive woes which plagued the Tigers last season reared their ugly head in Morgantown.
Mid-Major Report
Temple didn't get off to a very impressive start, falling 28-13 to Army. The Owls lost just three games all season before their bowl loss, and they only suffered one setback at home all of last year. ... Tulsa was favored by just four points, but they thrashed San Jose State by a 45-10 score thanks to Dane Evans, Keevan Lucas and friends. ... Cincinnati was sluggish in a 28-7 win against Tennessee-Martin of the FCS. The Bearcats will look for better results at Purdue next Saturday. ... Southern Methodist looked sharp, winning 34-21 at North Texas as touchdown favorites.
Outside of the Southern Mississippi comeback, Conference USA didn't have a whole lot to crow about in the opening stanza. Louisiana Tech also had a signature win at Arkansas, but the Razorbacks fought back for a 21-20 win thanks to a touchdown with 6:37 remaining. ... App State also scored a big upset in Knoxville against a Top 10 team, but they came up just short in overtime against the Vols.
The Mid-America Conference went 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS against the Big Ten. Western Michigan stunned Northwestern 22-21 to cover a 3 1/2-point spread, while Kent State held on for the cover as a 24-point underdog. ... The game of the day might have been in Athens, as Ohio slipped against visiting Texas State in triple-overtime, 56-54. ... Akron was a bit rusty to start, leading just 26-24 through three quarters against VMI. The Zips outscored the Keydets 21-0 in the final quarter to score a 47-24 victory.
It was ugly in Denver for the Mountain West, as Colorado State was spanked 44-7 by rival Colorado at Mile High. The underdog had been 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings, but this one wasn't close. ... Boise State looks ready to return to prominence, and they kicked off their sseason with a 45-10 shellacking of Louisiana-Lafayette on the road. ... Nevada got all it could handle against Cal Poly SLO, winning 30-27 in double-overtime. ... UNLV covered a 40-point number against FCS Jackson State, treating Walter Payton's alma mater rather rudely.
Bad Beats
Clemson was covering 19-6 midway through the fourth quarter at Auburn. On 3rd and 10, Auburn threw incomplete for what should have been a fourth down play. However, senior Ben Boulware had a roughing the passer call to give Auburn a chance. They cashed in on the very next play to go up 19-13. After a failed onside kick attempt and favorable situation with timeouts, it appeared Clemson would cover with a field goal in the final minute. But head coach Dabo Swinney elected to go for it on fourth down, stunning bettors of Clemson everywhere.
If you were laying the 3 1/2 points with Kentucky, then you need a drink. They were up 35-10 and there looked like no way Southern Mississippi could get back into the game. But they closed to 35-17 by halftime, and outscored the Wildcats 27-0 in the second half for the amazing 44-35 victory.
It was like losing twice for UCLA side bettors. The Bruins fought back from a 24-9 deficit in the final 4:19 to force overtime at 24. But A&M scored a touchdown, and the Bruins were unable to answer. If you had the 'under' (55), it was also a bad beat. Therew were just 33 points in the first 55:41 of regulation, and 22 points in the final 4:19 of regulation and overtime.