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NCAAF opening line report: Auburn opens as big fave versus LSU
Almost every week, you can find a game in the Southeastern Conference worth featuring. This week is no different, with a key matchup between fifth-ranked Auburn and 15th-ranked Louisiana State – a tale of two Tigers, if you will.
Auburn is squarely in the national championship picture and open as 9-point favorites, while LSU isn’t necessarily out of it, but will need some help after a stunning home loss to Mississippi State two weekends ago.
Auburn is 4-0 SU (2-2 ATS), but has failed to cash the past two weeks, beating Louisiana Tech 45-17 Saturday as a 32.5-point favorite, a week after barely holding off host Kansas State 20-14 giving 7 points.
LSU (4-1 SU and ATS) bounced back from its lone loss with a 63-7 beatdown of New Mexico State, cashing with ease despite laying 43 points. John Lester, lines manager for bookmaker.eu, said it almost amounted to a bye week for coach Les Miles’ troops, which could be key this Saturday.
“It’s already been hairy for Auburn, but this is where the schedule really starts to thicken,” Lester said. “Les Miles always seems to have his guys prepared for the zone read, and he basically had (an extra) week to prepare for it.”
Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks (-22.5)
There’s plenty on the line here, too, with both of these Pac-12 rivals undefeated and coming off bye weeks for a Thursday night matchup in Eugene, Ore.
The No. 2 Ducks (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) have had their struggles, particularly against the line; laying 23 points at Washington State in their last game, they had to hang on for a 38-31 victory.
The Wildcats (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) are coming off a Hail Mary 49-45 home victory over California, scoring 36 points in the fourth quarter but failing to cash as 8-point chalk for their third-straight ATS setback.
“Both teams are coming off byes, and you know Eugene will be rocking for this nationally televised Thursday night tussle,” said Lester, also noting that Arizona – as a 20.5-point home underdog last season – hammered Oregon 42-16. “Perhaps there’s a little bit of revenge factor for the Ducks to consider. A shootout doesn’t begin to describe this matchup.”
Stanford Cardinal (-2.5) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Unbeaten and ninth-ranked Notre Dame (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS), which reached the national title game two years ago, might just be working its way into the championship mix again, but No. 14 Stanford (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) could prove a stern test. The Irish topped Syracuse 31-15 Saturday as a 9.5-point road fave, while the Cardinal edged Washington 20-13 but came up short as a 7.5-point road chalk.
“This feels like an NFL game,” Lester said. “A pair of pro-style offenses, two superb defenses, it’s going to be a plodding affair. This is a rivalry that’s been dominated by Stanford the last handful of years (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS last five), which favors David Shaw and his staff. It’s a really big game for both teams midway through the season.”
Alabama Crimson Tide (-4.5) at Mississippi Rebels
Another key SEC contest, with both teams unbeaten. Third-ranked Alabama (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) is coming off a bye after finally beating the spread for the first time this season, scoring the final 21 points of a 42-21 home win over Florida as a 14-point favorite.
Mississippi is perfect on the field and at the book, at 4-0 SU and 3-0-1 ATS, with the push coming in Saturday’s 24-3 home win over Memphis.
“Alabama comes off an idle week and heads to Oxford, where the Rebels just handled an underrated Memphis squad,” Lester said. “That said, the Tide will make them one-dimensional, so Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace is going to have to have a mistake-free, monster game to beat Alabama.”
Almost every week, you can find a game in the Southeastern Conference worth featuring. This week is no different, with a key matchup between fifth-ranked Auburn and 15th-ranked Louisiana State – a tale of two Tigers, if you will.
Auburn is squarely in the national championship picture and open as 9-point favorites, while LSU isn’t necessarily out of it, but will need some help after a stunning home loss to Mississippi State two weekends ago.
Auburn is 4-0 SU (2-2 ATS), but has failed to cash the past two weeks, beating Louisiana Tech 45-17 Saturday as a 32.5-point favorite, a week after barely holding off host Kansas State 20-14 giving 7 points.
LSU (4-1 SU and ATS) bounced back from its lone loss with a 63-7 beatdown of New Mexico State, cashing with ease despite laying 43 points. John Lester, lines manager for bookmaker.eu, said it almost amounted to a bye week for coach Les Miles’ troops, which could be key this Saturday.
“It’s already been hairy for Auburn, but this is where the schedule really starts to thicken,” Lester said. “Les Miles always seems to have his guys prepared for the zone read, and he basically had (an extra) week to prepare for it.”
Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks (-22.5)
There’s plenty on the line here, too, with both of these Pac-12 rivals undefeated and coming off bye weeks for a Thursday night matchup in Eugene, Ore.
The No. 2 Ducks (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) have had their struggles, particularly against the line; laying 23 points at Washington State in their last game, they had to hang on for a 38-31 victory.
The Wildcats (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) are coming off a Hail Mary 49-45 home victory over California, scoring 36 points in the fourth quarter but failing to cash as 8-point chalk for their third-straight ATS setback.
“Both teams are coming off byes, and you know Eugene will be rocking for this nationally televised Thursday night tussle,” said Lester, also noting that Arizona – as a 20.5-point home underdog last season – hammered Oregon 42-16. “Perhaps there’s a little bit of revenge factor for the Ducks to consider. A shootout doesn’t begin to describe this matchup.”
Stanford Cardinal (-2.5) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Unbeaten and ninth-ranked Notre Dame (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS), which reached the national title game two years ago, might just be working its way into the championship mix again, but No. 14 Stanford (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) could prove a stern test. The Irish topped Syracuse 31-15 Saturday as a 9.5-point road fave, while the Cardinal edged Washington 20-13 but came up short as a 7.5-point road chalk.
“This feels like an NFL game,” Lester said. “A pair of pro-style offenses, two superb defenses, it’s going to be a plodding affair. This is a rivalry that’s been dominated by Stanford the last handful of years (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS last five), which favors David Shaw and his staff. It’s a really big game for both teams midway through the season.”
Alabama Crimson Tide (-4.5) at Mississippi Rebels
Another key SEC contest, with both teams unbeaten. Third-ranked Alabama (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) is coming off a bye after finally beating the spread for the first time this season, scoring the final 21 points of a 42-21 home win over Florida as a 14-point favorite.
Mississippi is perfect on the field and at the book, at 4-0 SU and 3-0-1 ATS, with the push coming in Saturday’s 24-3 home win over Memphis.
“Alabama comes off an idle week and heads to Oxford, where the Rebels just handled an underrated Memphis squad,” Lester said. “That said, the Tide will make them one-dimensional, so Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace is going to have to have a mistake-free, monster game to beat Alabama.”
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