COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS
Friday
■ Oregon vs. Utah (-2½, 58) at Allegiant Stadium: A rematch of the Utes’ 38-7 win Nov. 20. The Ducks are 2-1 ATS as underdogs this season and 4-2 in their past six games in the role. The Utes have won eight of their past nine games, including five in a row, but are 5-4 ATS in those games. Edge: Slight to Oregon.
■ Western Kentucky (-3, 73) at Texas-san Antonio: The Hilltoppers closed with a rush, winning their final seven games and going 6-1 against the spread. The Roadrunners have dropped their past three games ATS and are 1-3 ATS in their past four games at the Alamodome. Edge: Western Kentucky.
Saturday
■ Kent State (-3½, 74) vs. Northern Illinois at Detroit: A rematch of a shootout won 52-47 by the Golden Flashes on Nov. 3. Kent State is on a 5-2 over run and is 5-1 ATS as a favorite this season. The Huskies were 3-2 ATS as underdogs in conference games this season, and five of their past six games went over the total. Edge: Over.
■ Baylor vs. Oklahoma State (-5½ ,46 ½) at Arlington, Texas: A rematch of an Oct. 2 game won and covered by Oklahoma State, 24-14. That was the only one of four Bears games as an underdog that Baylor didn’t win outright. The Cowboys are 9-0-1 ATS in their past 10 games. Edge: Oklahoma State.
■ Utah State at San Diego State (-6, 50): The Aggies are 6-0 straight up and 5-1 ATS on the road this season. They are 4-2 ATS as an underdog. San Diego State is 1-3-1 ATS in its past five games. Edge: Utah State.
■ Appalachian State (-3, 53) at Louisiana: A rematch of the Ragin’ Cajuns 41-13 win Oct. 12. The Mountaineers haven’t lost since that game, going 6-0 and 5-1 ATS in their past six games. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won 11 in a row since a loss to Texas in their opener, but have failed to cover two of their past three home games. Louisiana is 5-2 ATS in its past seven games as an underdog. Edge: Louisiana.
■ Houston at Cincinnati (-10, 52½): The Cougars won 11 consecutive games since a loss to Texas Tech in their opener. Houston is 1-0 ATS as an underdog and 4-2 ATS on the road. Cincinnati had a recent four-game spread skid, but has covered the past two and is
4-1 ATS against Football Bowl Subdivision teams at home. The Bearcats are 7-2 ATS in their past nine home games. Edge: Slight to Cincinnati.
■ Georgia (-6½, 49½) vs. Alabama at Atlanta: The Crimson Tide won and covered last season’s meeting, 41-24. Alabama hasn’t been an underdog since 2015 when it was +1 at Georgia and won 38-10. The Crimson Tide is 5-6 ATS in their past 11 games. The under is 8-4 in Alabama games this season. Georgia covered all six away games this season. Six of Georgia’s past seven games against FBS teams have gone under. Edge: Under and slight to Georgia.
■ Iowa vs. Michigan (-11, 43½) at Indianapolis: The Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their past five games as an underdog. The Wolverines are 10-2 ATS this season. Edge: Slight to Michigan.
■ Pittsburgh (-3, 71½) vs. Wake Forest at Charlotte, North Carolina: The Demon Deacons are 11-5 ATS in their past 16 regularseason games but are 1-2 ATS as an underdog this season. The over is 6-2 in the past eight Wake Forest games and 15-5 in the past 20 Pittsburgh games. The Panthers are 5-0 straight up and ATS away from home this season. Edge: Over.
■ Southern California at California (-4, 58): The Bears have beaten the Trojans only once outright since an epic tripleovertime win in 2003. USC has covered seven of the past eight games at Cal. The Trojans had dropped five in a row ATS before the Brigham Young game last week. California covered its past two home games, including one as a favorite, but had dropped the previous six ATS in the role. Edge: Slight to California.
Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall is editor of The Gold Sheet (Goldsheet.com). He provides the Review-journal with college football tech notes and trends. Follow @thegoldsheet on Twitter.