College football's most underrated home-field advantages
By DAVID PAYNE
Is the Big House really that intimidating these days?
No.
From 1995 through 2006, Michigan was a home dog once. The Wolverines have been an underdog four times in the last two seasons. They went 1-6 against the spread in Ann Arbor last year.
LSU, surprisingly, also has been a bust at home in recent years. Even in that rowdy, humid atmosphere, the Tigers went 0-6 in Death Valley last season and are 8-18 ATS at home under Les Miles.
As you see, home field advantage comes and it goes. Putting too much stock on a stadium’s reputation as being a difficult place to play can cause bankroll-ruptcy.
Instead, let’s focus on programs that are peaking; schools that don’t have a storied past or a catchy stadium nickname, but are on the way to building one.
Which teams will own the biggest home-field advantages this year? Here are five candidates:
Mississippi Rebels
Do you know name of the Rebels’ stadium off the top of your head? Vaught-Hemingway Stadium may not conjure up any rousing Rebel moments, but Houston Nutt wins at home. He emphasized it early at Arkansas, where he won his first 14 home games. The Rebels went 5-2 at home in Nutt’s first season in Oxford.
Last year’ success, which included beating Florida and winning the Cotton Bowl, has generated a ton of excitement.
Three of the Rebels’ first four games are on the road. If they survive, they’ll return to a fired-up city, ready to make sure you remember Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oil tycoon Boone Pickens hooked up the Cowboys big time. He forked over $400 million, with 66 percent going to the athletics program.
The stadium, which appropriately was renamed after Pickens, has been expanded and enclosed, increasing the noise “significantly,” according to one season-ticket holder.
The overall facility upgrade has attracted a higher caliber of recruits. As many as three Cowboys are projected to be high NFL draft picks next season, with wide receiver Dez Bryant and offensive tackle Russell Okung likely being first rounders.
The on-field results are undeniable. The Cowboys are 14-5 at home the last three seasons and were 5-1 ATS at Boone Pickens Stadium last year.
Georgia better be ready for the season opener (Sept. 5) in Stillwater.
Kansas Jayhawks
Ever been to Lawrence, Kansas?
With all the cool places college football kids get to visit, it’s hard to get fired up about Lawrence.
Under coach Mark Mangino, the Jayhawks have feasted on these uninspired teams.
KU is 24-4 straight up and 16-7 ATS at home the past four years.
The Jayhawks’ struggles on the road (9-24 away under Mangino) add to their value at home.
Texas Christian Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs never get the respect they deserve as a home power.
They’re 39-7 straight up and 28-15 ATS at Amon G. Carter Stadium during Garry Patterson’s eight seasons.
They’ve dominated visiting Mountain West foes, winning their last six conference home tilts by more than 33 points per game.
Toledo Rockets
A new coach equals at least curiosity and more often excitement from a fan base eager to put the bad memories of last year behind them.
Things were ugly for the Rockets in 2008. They went 3-9 and saw coach Tom Amstutz resign.
Enter former Ohio State assistant Tim Beckman, who arrives in Toledo after a successful stint as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and with tons of in-state recruiting connections.
First-year coaches always emphasize defending their home turf, and, with 16 returning starters, Toledo has the potential to restore the Glass Bowl’s reputation.
The Rockets are 31-15 ATS at home this decade.