How SEC teams are smashing best of the rest
Reality has an SEC bias! Though many college football fans across the nation decry the respect given the Southeastern Conference in polls and from the playoff committee, we may have just started a new season of SEC dominance.
SEC sizzling already
13-1 straight up 11-3 against the spread 4-1 both ways within the Power 5
It is worth noting that many of last week’s blowouts and point-spread covers came at the expense of relative cupcakes. Beating the market against the likes of Austin Peay, TennesseeMartin, Charleston Southern, and Stephen F. Austin may be more about bullies “running up the score” rather than talent being “underrated” by investors. But you can’t argue with the success enjoyed by the SEC last week in “challenge” games vs. Power 5 quality opposition.
SEC vs. the Power 5
Alabama (-22¹/2) beat Louisville, 51-14 Ole Miss (-2) beat Texas Tech, 47-27 Auburn (-1¹/2) beat Washington, 21-16 LSU (+3) beat Miami, 33-17 Tennessee (+10) lost to W. Virginia, 40-14
Tennessee was outclassed by a Big 12 contender. Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU all covered by double digits, while Auburn defeated the projected Pac-12 champion. Most importantly for football purists, those SEC winners owned the point of attack. Alabama outrushed Louisville 222-16, Ole Miss outrushed Texas Tech 210-164 (with 7.5 yards-per-carry!), Auburn outrushed Washington 147-102, and LSU outrushed Miami 156-83.
The “S” in SEC stands for smashmouth!
Of course, if the SEC is “underrated” by betting markets, you can take advantage of that only in nonconference games and the bowls. VSiN will keep an eye on that through September. This week’s “SEC vs. the Power 5” slate is limited to Mississippi State (-8) at Kansas State Saturday at noon, and Texas A&M (+12) vs. national power Clemson at 7 p.m. (both on ESPN). Several other SEC teams are large favorites vs. less dangerous opponents. An important test within the SEC occurs when Georgia (-10) visits South Carolina at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
Key lessons to take from last week: respect the SEC … and bet on teams likely to own the point of attack. Doublecheck rush offense and rush defense skill sets in the college games you’re looking to bet. You might find reasons to back off, or bet more.
Back Saturday to look at Penn State/Pitt, a prime-time rivalry game on ABC. Over to the NFL Sunday and Monday for the Giants and Jets openers as you enjoy your first full football weekend of legalized sports betting.