NCAAF Betting Recap - Week 2
September 11, 2016
By Daniel Dobish
VegasInsider.com
Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 64-10
Against the Spread 39-33-1
Home-Away
Straight Up 61-12
Against the Spread 36-35-1
Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 37-34
Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up (neutral site) 1-0
Against the Spread (neutral site) 1-0
Over-Under (neutral site) 1-0
The largest underdogs to win straight up
Central Michigan (+18, +650 ML) at Oklahoma State, 30-27
Illinois State (+12, +400 ML) at Northwestern, 9-7
North Carolina A&T (+11.5, +350 ML) at Kent State, 39-36 (OT)
The largest favorites to cover
Texas A&M (-49) vs. Prairie View A&M, 67-0
Colorado (-45.5) vs. Idaho State, 56-7
Marshall (-42.5) vs. Morgan State, 62-0
Top 25 Notes
The second full weekend of college football still left a lot of questions and not many answers for some of the top teams in the nation. Clemson was in the national title game last season, but so far they have looked anything but championship caliber through two games. The Tigers barely topped Troy despite entering as 34 1/2-point favorites. While the Tigers are 2-0 SU, they are 0-2 ATS and have won each of their games by an average of 6.0 points per contest. ... Ranked teams managed a 22-2 SU and 14-10 ATS mark in Week 2, with Oklahoma State and Texas Christian suffering defeats. The Cowboys lost in controversial fashion, as referees incorrectly gave Central Michigan the ball for an untimed down after OK State was called for intentional grounding on fourth down. The game should have been over, but the Chippewas had a Hail Mary and while falling to the ground, the receiver lateraled to another player who took it in for the winning score. Miraculous, yes, especially if you took the Chips on the moneyline (+650), but tremendously controversial. ... Georgia nearly joined OK State and TCU in the loser's lounge, narrowly escaping a monumental upset at the hands of FCS Nicholls State. The Bulldogs entered as a 52 1/2-point favorite, but they ended up winning just 26-24.
Ohio State and Michigan have a long way to go until their season-ending battle, but they have each looked like playoff-caliber teams during the early going. The Buckeyes thrashed a high-octane Tulsa team by a 48-3 score even after a sluggish start. Through two games the Buckeyes have outscored a pair of FBS opponents by a total of 125-13. The Wolverines took care of UCF rather handily, 51-14, covering a big number for the second consecutive week. Michigan is averaging 57.0 points per game while allowing just 8.5. They figure to get a much bigger test next week at home against Colorado, while Ohio State will have its hands full in a marquee road game at Oklahoma.
Houston and Texas had huge wins last week, and they had no letdown falling those big victories. The Cougars punished FCS Lamar by a 42-0 count, just narrowly missing the cover as a 42 1/2-point favorite. The Longhorns posted a 41-7 win over Texas-El Paso to move to 2-0 SU/ATS on the season. Texas has another big game at California, the start of a three-game road trip which also includes stops at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Another team on the rise, Louisville looks for real, and QB Lamar Jackson has thrown his name into the early Heisman talk following his two giant games to start. The Cardinals punished Syracuse in a 62-28 road win, using a 20-0 fourth quarter to pull away for the cover. The Cardinals are 2-0 SU/ATS heading into their clash next week against Florida State.
Big Five Conference Report
The ACC did not have a good day. North Carolina State kicked off the day with a loss at East Carolina, as the Pirates improved to 7-0 in their past seven against the ACC, and 6-0 ATS in their past six. As mentioned, Clemson almost suffered a catastrophic loss, but managed to survive. ... The same cannot be said for Virginia Tech, as they slipped up at Tennessee in the Battle at Bristol Motor Speedway. ... Virginia continues to look lost, slipped to 0-2 SU, falling at Oregon, 44-26. ... The biggest surprise might be out of Winston-Salem, as head coach Dave Clawson has Wake Forest at 2-0 SU/1-1 ATS after their road win at Duke.
Like the ACC, it was a difficult weekend for the Big Ten, too. Illinois and Purdue suffered home losses against non-conference foes, while Penn State was dumped at Pittsburgh in a renewal of that rivalry after a 16-year hiatus. There was also a bad beat in that game (see below). ... But the most embarrassing loss for the conference came in Evanston, Ill., as Northwestern was stunned at home against FCS Illinois State, losing 9-7. The Wildcats are now 0-2 SU/ATS with both losses at home. They'll look to get things right next weekend in the Brain Bowl against Duke.
Iowa State is off to a horrific start, slipping to 0-2 SU/ATS following a second straight loss to an in-state rival. Last week it was a setback against FCS Northern Iowa, and this week they were annihilated by Iowa by a 42-3 count. Next week, they travel to face an angry TCU in their conference opener. ... Kansas felt good last weekend following a win, but Saturday showed they have plenty of work left to be done. They fell 37-21 against Ohio to slip to 1-1 SU/ATS.
The most insane game of the day came from a Big 12-Pac-12 battle, as Arizona State topped Texas Tech by 68-55 score in regulation, easily going 'over' the 80-point total. Sun Devills RB Kalen Ballage tied an NCAA record with eight total touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving), matching an FBS record for touchdowns against a major college opponent. The Sun Devils are now 2-0 SU/ATS, averaging 56.0 points per game through two outings. ... Colorado looks to be rather dangerous this season, moving to 2-0 SU/ATS with a 56-7 win over FCS Idaho State. The Buffaloes are averaging 50.0 PPG while allowing just 7.0 PPG. Those averages figure to change dramatically with a big measuring-stick game at Michigan next weekend followed by a trip to Oregon.
Mississippi State bounced back from an embarrassing home loss last weekend by throttling South Carolina to kick off conference play. Vanderbilt moved to 1-1 SU/ATS with an impressive win over Middle Tennessee by a 47-24 score. ... Florida was awfully sluggish in its opener, but offense wasn't a problem in a thrashing of Kentucky, 45-7. Kentucky has allowed 44.5 points per game in two losses, both 'over' results. ... Auburn rebounded for its disappointing narrow loss to Clemson last week by pounding Arkansas State by a 51-14 margin. The Tigers are 1-1 SU/2-0 ATS on the season. They will host Texas A&M next weekend. The Aggies paddled FCS Prairie View A&M 67-0, improving to 2-0 SU/ATS.
Mid-Major Report
Cincinnati won its first road game against a current Big Ten opponent since 1957, toppling Purdue by a 38-20 count. The Bearcats were much more impressive than they were a week ago against FCS Tennessee-Martin. ... Connecticut caught a break with Navy forced to use a backup quarterback. However the Middies still got it done, winning 28-24. The Huskies fell to 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS. They'll host equally disappointing Virginia next weekend. Tulane rebounded from a road loss to spank FCS Southern University by a 66-21 score. The Green Wave improved to 2-0 ATS on the season with the whitewash.
Conference USA had a rough week, as its league members posted just five wins in 13 games. Rice is off to an ugly start, slipping to 0-2 SU/ATS with a road loss at Army. The Black Knights won just two games a season ago, but they're now 2-0 SU/ATS. ... Appalachian State roughed up Old Dominion 31-7, as the Monarchs struggled in the mountains after polishing off an FCS team last week. The Mountaineers of the Sun Belt are now 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS. ... Texas-San Antonio narrowly missed out on a cover in a 23-14 setback at Colorado State. The Roadeunners are now 1-1 SU/0-2 ATS heading into next week's tilt with high-octane Arizona State.
The MAC had a banner week. Not only did Central Michigan make highlight reels on every national sports show while also setting Twitter ablaze, but Ohio made the MAC 2-0 SU/ATS against the Big 12 with their win at Kansas. ... It wasn't all great for the MAC, as Kent State slipped up at home to FCS North Carolina A&T, as the Golden Flashes slipped to 0-2 SU/1-1 ATS. ... Northern Illinois is off to an uncharacteristically poor start, as they lost in Wyoming in Week 1 and were slaughtered 48-17 in the heat at South Florida this week. NIU has allowed 44.0 points per game through two outings, and it's no surprise the 'over' is 2-0 in two games for the Huskies.
San Diego State posted a 45-40 win over California, moving to 2-0 SU but 0-1-1 ATS. ... Boise State held off Washington State, 31-28, improving to 2-0 SU but falling to 1-1 ATS. The Cougars slipped to 0-2 SU, but they were able to earn their first cover of the season. ... Hawaii scored its first win of the season, polishing off Tennessee-Martin 41-36. The Warriors are just 1-2 ATS on the season and the 'over' is a perfect 3-0. The Warriors defense has been terrible, allowing at least 36 points in each game, averaging 50.0 PPG allowed this season.
Bad Beats
Oregon bettors thought they caught a break with :40 remaining against Virginia. The Ducks ripped off a long touchdown run for what looked to be a miraculous cover, but a late flag came in for holding to wipe out the good feeling. The Ducks are now 0-2 ATS on the season.
If you were holding an 'under' (57.5) ticket in the Arkansas-TCU game, things were looking good at halftime with just 13 total points. There was a total of just 27 points through thee quarters, too. Arkansas scored a touchdown in the final minute to close to within 28-26. They ended up going for two, and converted on a trick play to force overtime. While 'over' bettors could not believe their good fortune, 'under' bettors were left shaking their heads.
If you were laying 3 1/2 points with Pittsburgh, things were looking good when it was 28-7 near the end of the first half. Things were loooking good midway through the fourth quarter, too, at 42-31. However, with 5:00 to go, Penn State found the end zone and they converted the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to three and end up with the backdoor cover.
Florida Atlantic did a good job covering a 25-point number for the entire game at Miami-Florida. With exactly 1:00 remaining, rather than going into victory formation, the Hurricanes punched a late score in to take a 38-10 lead and send FAU side bettors into an expletive-filled rant. The Owls slipped to 0-2 ATS on the season.
'Over' (43) bettors thought they were in good shape in Brigham Young-Utah, but the Cougars elected to go for two rather than send the Holy War to overtime.