Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites.
Thursday
Kent State @ Central Florida
Kent State
— Kent State’s head coach quit to be the OC at Colorado.
— Golden Flashes are 22-21 SU the last four years.
— 0 starters back on offense, 4 on defense
— They might be the least experienced team in the country.
— 5 starts back on offensive line.
— they added transfer QB’s from Purdue, Kansas State
— Last six years, Kent is 13-18 ATS as a road underdog.
— New coach Burns has never been a HC; he was an assistant at Minnesota.
— Kent played in two bowls the last four years, their 3rd/4th all-time.
Central Florida
— UCF is 18-9 in two years under Malzahn.
— The four years before he got there, UCF was 41-8.
— 8 starters back on offense, 7 on defense
— 126 starts back on offensive line.
— senior QB Plumlee started 22 games, mostly at Ole Miss
— Last three years, Knights are 6-10 ATS as a home favorite.
— In his career, Malzahn is 28-33-1 ATS as a home favorite.
— UCF was minus-5 in turnovers LY (+54 the previous five years)
— UCF has a high profile game at Boise State next week.
— These teams haven’t met since 2004.
NC State @ UConn
NC State
— Last three years, State is 25-12 SU, 19-18 ATS
— Last four years, Wolfpack is 2-6 ATS as a road favorite.
— 7 starters back on offense, 5 on defense
— 63 starts back on offensive line.
— senior QB Armstrong started 30 games at Virginia; he’s good.
— Last four years, Wolfpack is 6-9 ATS out of conference.
— State hasn’t won a bowl game since 2017 (0-3 since)
— Wolfpack has Notre Dame visiting Raleigh next week.
UConn
— Jim Mora Jr is in his 2nd year here; they were 6-7 last year.
— From 2016-21, Huskies were 10-50 SU (no games in 2020)
— 9 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 102 starts back on offensive line.
— soph QB has 12 starts LY; they added a grad transfer from Maine.
— Since 2019, UConn is 9-5 ATS as a home underdog.
— In his college career, Mora is 16-17 ATS as an underdog.
— Last year was UConn’s first bowl since 2015.
— NC State (-38) whacked UConn 41-10 last year.
Nebraska @ Minnesota
Nebraska
— Last six years, Nebraska is 23-45 SU, 30-36-2 ATS
— Matt Rhule is the new coach; he was good at Temple/Baylor.
— As a college coach, Rhule is 31-13 ATS as an underdog.
— 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 120 starts back on offensive line.
— new QB started 23 games at Georgia Tech.
— since 2017, Nebraska is 14-5-1 ATS as a road underdog.
— Nebraska’s last bowl game was 2016.
— Huskers haven’t had a positive turnover ratio since 2016.
Minnesota
— Gophers went 9-4/9-4 the last two seasons.
— In his career, Fleck is 20-15-1 ATS as a favorite.
— 7 starters back on offense, 6 on defense
— 49 starts back on offensive line.
— soph QB started five games last year.
— Last five years, Minnesota is 11-8 ATS as a home favorite.
— Last four years, Minnesota is 21-12-1 ATS in Big 14 games.
— Gophers played in a bowl four of last five years.
— Minnesota won last four series games (3-1 ATS)
— Home team is 5-2 SU/6-1 ATS in this series.
— Three of last four meetings stayed under the total.
Florida @ Utah
Florida
— Last two years, Gators went 6-7/6-7; the natives are restless.
— 6 starters back on offense, 5 on defense
— 74 starts back on offensive line
— junior QB started 32 games at Wisconsin
— Gators were 3-0 ATS as a road dog LY (2-5 from 2016-21)
— Gators are 5-10-1 ATS in last 16 non-conference games.
— Florida was +8 in turnovers LY (minus-12 in 2020-21)
— Florida lost its last three bowls, outscored 114-40.
Utah
— Utah QB Rising is ??? (knee)
— Last four years, Utah is 34-13 SU, 27-20 ATS
— In his career, Whittingham is 48-39-2 ATS as a home favorite.
— 7 starters back on offense, 9 on defense
— 84 starts back on offensive line.
— senior QB has 24 career starts
— Since 2017, Utes are 21-9 ATS as a home favorite.
— Since 2018, Utes are 5-10-1 ATS in non-conference games.
— Utah lost its last four bowl games, giving up 38 ppg.
— Utah (-2.5) lost 29-26 at Florida last year.
— Florida ran ball for 283 yards, Utah 230.