College Football Lines 2011 Week 4: If you happened to record Monday's College Football Odds and compare them with Wednesday's lines you'll see where odds makers made a few adjustments. That can be a good thing or bad thing; depending on what side you are backing.
The first line to jump off the SBGglobal college football lines page at me on Monday was LSU, a 6 1/2-chalk road favorite at West Virginia. What was -6 1/2 on Monday has been bet down favoring the Tigers by -5 1/2 on Wednesday. This adjustment is good news to LSU backers, like myself, who think the Tigers will win by seven to 10 points.
It took less than 24 hours for sports shops to drop the Alabama/Arkansas line to -11 1/2 after opening Alabama as favorite by -12 1/2. It's my guess folks jumped on the Hogs early knowing their explosive offense will put a few points on the board. If the side makes you uncomfortable either way, perhaps a total play on the posted 50 1/2 will do. Alabama is living on its defense right now and Arkansas' group is pretty good too. I don't see a track meet here. I predict a final score like 28-24 and not really sure of the winner. Alabama is good but my jury's still out on both teams until they've played a serious game. This one's serious.
Speaking of defense; has anyone seen what Kansas State is doing? After two games, they had a bye in Week-2, the Wildcats lead the nation in total defense. How that translates this weekend at Miami (Fla.) as -12 point underdogs is a mystery. The Cat's first two games came against questionable competiton Eastern Kentucky and Kent State. After narrowly nipping Eastern Kentucky 10-7; Kansas State blanked Kent State 37-0. Miami is coming off an emotional roller coaster topping Ohio State last weekend. Miami is playing with confidence after that win but giving the Wildcats 12 points is probably a bit much. This game could be a nice under play on the 49 1/2 total.
Georgia and Ole Miss get together in Oxford in what we can call "the hot seat bowl." Both Houston Nutt and Mark Richt are under fire to produce this season. The Dawgs and Black Bears -formerly Rebels- are both 1-2 but 0-2 against FBS competition. SBGglobal.com has Ole Miss as +9 1/2-point underdogs at home to a questionable Georgia team. Makes one think huh? The total opened at 54 1/2.
Playing Marshall at your place and playing them at their place are completely different when betting. Odds makers lined the Hokies -20 1/2 point favorites with a 46 1/2 total. I remember a ranked West Virginia team lucky to get a SU win in 2010 while visiting Huntington as a 21-point favorite. The Hokies have not exactly been overwhelming FBS competiton either; failing to cover ATS against East Carolina in Week-2 (-17 1/2) and Arkansas State (-24) last week. So you better think twice before giving 20 1/2 playing another mid-major at their place. In their only home game this season the Thundering Herd got a SU upset and cover +7 1/2 versus favoite Southern Miss. The Herd also covered ATS +24 at West Virginia in Week-1. On the road its a different story as evidenced by their losing 44-7 at Ohio.
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