Massive College Football Betting Weekend
A famous American folk singer once said, “you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.”
Nothing could be truer when it comes to college football betting, so make sure to soak it all in during the final full slate of games this weekend. Even by its own high standards, rarely have there been so many pivotal matchups on the board on Thanksgiving weekend that also featured so much value at the betting window (for the latest lines, go to sports.bodog.com).
Don’t think No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 8-3 ATS) is going to get up enough to cover the 14.5-point spread at home against rival Auburn (5-6, 2-8 ATS) on Saturday? The Tigers are actually the big brother in the rivalry, having won six straight SU and three in a row ATS against the Crimson Tide. Alabama hasn’t been favored in this matchup since 2002, so the Tide haven’t exactly been the bullies in this battle.
This isn’t to say the Crimson Tide are about to do anything to jeopardize their place in the BCS championship game, next week’s SEC title game showdown with Florida notwithstanding. Alabama has covered in four straight contests following its 32-7 win against Mississippi State two weeks ago, and has held opponents to 21 points or fewer in every game this season except one.
No. 2 Florida (10-1, 8-2 ATS) goes across the state to meet No. 23 Florida State (8-3, 5-3-1 ATS) on Saturday afternoon, and they bring a heavy price with them. Florida (-16.5) needs a victory to keep its BCS title game hopes alive, and will need everything rolling to get by a Seminoles team that destroyed then-No. 22 Maryland 37-3 as 2-point road faves last week.
The good news for Gators bettors is Florida is 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games against teams with winning records, although the home team is 11-3 against the number in the last 14 meetings between the teams.
Bet on college football odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.
After filling yourself with some more turkey make sure to wager on the No. 19 Oregon (8-3, 5-6 ATS) at No. 17 Oregon State (8-3, 8-2 ATS) matchup. The Beavers are giving a field goal at home to the Ducks despite the absence of standout freshman tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, who is out with a shoulder injury.
Both schools are coming off victories over Arizona, but Oregon has the benefit of an extra week’s rest after its bye week. Oregon State pulled off a 38-31 upset in the Civil War last season, as the Beavers covered as 1-point road pups. The game played well over the 41.5-point total listed earlier in the day, while the Pac-10 rivals pushed past the number for the sixth consecutive season.
Saturday’s evening slate features two games with serious BCS Bowl implications, as No. 3 Oklahoma (10-1, 8-2 ATS) takes on No. 11 Oklahoma State (9-2, 8-2 ATS) and Notre Dame (6-5, 6-5 ATS) renews its annual engagement with No. 5 USC (9-1, 5-5 ATS).
Oddsmakers like the Sooners (-7) to win and cover on the road against the Cowboys, who have postseason aspirations of their own. Oklahoma heads into the matchup after destroying Texas Tech 65-21 last week, as the Sooners put up at least 58 points for the fourth straight game. Expect this one to play over the 72-point total on the board – Oklahoma has scored at least 35 points in every game it has played so far – and Oklahoma State isn’t exactly the type of team to slow the game down.
Linesmakers also like the Trojans (-31.5) on Saturday, although the extent to which they do is almost embarrassing for Irish backers. It looked like it couldn’t get any worse for Notre Dame after its fourth quarter collapse against lowly Syracuse last week, but here we are with the Irish facing the biggest spread in the history of its rivalry with USC.
If the gaudy number is too hard to stomach or handicap, the under looks like a promising wager for bettors. Notre Dame is 1-10 O/U in its last 11 games away from South Bend, while Southern Cal is 3-15-1 O/U in its last 19 home contests.
