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A couple of Top 10 teams fell by the wayside after getting beaten this past weekend. Yet they weren’t as big of an upset since other top shelf programs handed them their defeats…well, everyone except for Missouri.
As far as the favorites from Week 7 go, it was a solid week as they went 39-12 straight up. Bettors backing that “chalk” walked away with a 23-27-1 record against the spread. A couple more weeks at that rate and we’ll be living at the bus station, fighting with people to load our cheese steak.
Four teams came away with huge wins last Saturday. And that means we’ve got tailor made traps to look at for this weekend.
Let Down in the Lone Star State…
The Longhorns weren’t given too much of a chance to win last week against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry as seven-point underdogs. Texas was able to come through with Colt McCoy connected on 81.5 percent of his passes to upset the Sooners, 45-35.
Texas received a ton of well deserved recognition in being named No. 1 in the Associated Press poll this week. Yet that won’t do a whole heck of a lot of good when the Tigers come to Austin. Missouri is coming off of its 28-23 loss to the Cowboys as a 14 ½-point home “chalk” last week. Chase Daniel got picked off three times and didn’t look like his efficient self at all. That means Mizzou will be out to prove that it is still among the best teams in the nation, while the ‘Horns could be emotionally spent after such a big win.
Rockets Spiral Back to Earth…
Michigan has won 24 straight tilts against clubs that are currently in the Mid-American Conference as it welcomed the Rockets to Ann Arbor as 16-point road ‘dogs. But Toledo didn’t succumb to the tradition in Michigan Stadium, as evidenced by holding the Wolverines to just three conversions on 13 third downs. It also doesn’t hurt to get a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown from Tyrrell Herbert to win 13-10.
That huge win is primed to work against the Rockets this weekend as nine-point road pups versus Northern Illinois. Casual fans might be thinking this is the same Huskies’ side that won twice in Joe Novak’s final season. Nothing could be further from the truth as NIU is playing much better under Jerry Kill. The Huskies have gone 3-1 SU and 2-1 ATS in their past four games…including 13-9 loss at Tennessee.
It also doesn’t hurt that Northern Illinois is averaging 27.3 points per game on offense, while the Rockets give up 31.5 PPG this season. Seems like an easy win for us and the Huskies.
He’s too Sly for His Own Good…
It almost seemed like too easy of a win for us gamblers to take last week as Vanderbilt went to Starkville as a 1 ½-point road favorite against the Bulldogs. After all, the Commodores were in a let down spot of their own, having just beaten Auburn the previous week. Vandy got caught by the gameplan that’s worked well for itself this season: solid defense that pulled off some late turnovers. In the end, Mississippi State walked away with a 17-14 victory.
This week sets up for a let down as Sly Croom’s program heads to Knoxville for a battle with the Volunteers as an eight-point road ‘dog. Tennessee is looking to bounce back after getting embarrassed at Georgia, 26-14. It also hurts the Bulldogs’ chances when you realize that the Vols have won the last five matches SU and covered the number four times.
Bruised Heels…
North Carolina seemed done for when T.J. Yates went down for the season. But Cam Sexton stayed calm, cool and collected when guiding the Tar Heels to a 29-24 win over Notre Dame. A great win to be sure, but UNC failed to cover the 7 ½-point spread. North Carolina first win over the Fighting Irish didn’t come without a cost as lead receiver Brandon Tate is out with torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.
Tate’s absence from the lineup this week not withstanding, the Heels are set up for a trap when they go to Virginia as five-point road favorites. While the Cavaliers have looked lost for much of the year, they have won their last two games by a combined score of 66-20. Al Groh’s club is 5-1 SU and ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings with North Carolina. While those teams were better than the 2008 edition of the Cavs, it could make Butch Davis’ collar feel a bit tighter.
You can reach Judd Hall via e-mail at judd@vegasinsider.com
