Baseball is back, with Opening Day scheduled for April 7, and MLB division odds are on betting boards from coast to coast.

There’s hope in the air as each club starts on level footing with a 0-0 record. Some fanbases have more optimism than others, as any Orioles or A’s fan can attest.

People are overreacting to home runs (or a lack thereof) in spring training. Every team’s coaching staff and front office is excited about their young prospects making progress. Blah, blah, blah. We’re throwing the fandom and soundbites out the window and looking at MLB division odds with an objective lens. More specifically, we’ll try to spot value opportunities on teams with a legitimate chance to vie for a divisional crown.

On top of that, we’ll shop around to find the best price on these recommendations and deliver them straight to your doorstep. (That’s an analogy, of course. We won’t actually show up at your house.)

With that, Props.com continues its 2022 MLB betting preview with a breakdown of odds for all six divisions.

All odds are updated as of 5 p.m. ET on March 31.

MLB Division Odds: AL East

• Toronto Blue Jays +175
• New York Yankees +195
• Tampa Bay Rays +320
• Boston Red Sox +550
• Baltimore Orioles +15,000

The odds tell the story: This is an extremely competitive division, with no clear-cut favorite expected to run away from the pack.

Investing in the Toronto Blue Jays as the slight favorite to win the AL East is somewhat intriguing. Led by AL MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero, the bluebirds have arguably the most powerful lineup in baseball. They also bolstered their rotation with the additions of Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, offsetting the loss of Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (signed with Seattle). On top of that, the Jays will get a full season out of last year’s mid-season acquisition, right-hander Jose Berrios, who is one of MLB’s most durable and consistent starting pitchers.

So what’s the catch? Well, Toronto is still a young team that will have to deal with a full season of high expectations in a brutal division. Yes, the Blue Jays have talent across the board, but you can’t crown them kings of the AL East on paper alone. If they stumble, then there are plenty of candidates ready and able to knock the Jays off their preseason betting-odds perch.

What about the second choice on the odds board? Can the Bronx Bombers climb the AL East mountain by the end of September? Certainly. However, there’s not a ton of value at this +195 price tag. (New York is too cheap? Who would’ve thought?)

So where is the value? How about with the team that won the AL East by eight games last season …

AL East Value Bet

The bet: Tampa Bay Rays +320
Where to bet: PointsBet USA & DraftKings Sportsbook

This isn’t a flashy bet, but it represents some good ol’ fashioned bang for the buck.

Why is everyone sleeping on the Rays? They have claimed the AL East in back-to-back seasons, and there’s no glaring reason to expect a drop-off. Barring injuries, Tampa Bay should be fighting for the division with Toronto and New York every step of the way.

It’s conceivable that the Rays have as good a chance as the Jays and Yanks to claim the division crown, but their +320 payout yields a much healthier return. After all, Tampa Bay’s projected win total stands at 91.5 heading into the season. That’s tied with the Yankees (91.5 at DraftKings) and marginally behind Toronto at 92.5.

Go ahead and give me that warm, fuzzy value in the form of Tampa Bay to win the AL East. Depending on where you shop, the Rays are anywhere from +240 to +320 to win the division, so make sure you snag the best possible price (which we found for you at PointsBet USA and DraftKings).

MLB Division Odds: AL Central

• Chicago White Sox -200
• Minnesota Twins +525
• Detroit Tigers +750
• Cleveland Guardians +1,100
• Kansas City Royals +1,400

The White Sox are overwhelming favorites to win the AL Central. That makes plenty of sense considering they are fresh off a 93-win season, boast a top-10 lineup, and a top-five pitching staff. The talent level isn’t the question with this club. The pieces are there. It mostly comes down to price. Are you comfortable laying -200 juice and holding your breath for six months that the White Sox don’t get bitten by the injury bug (or simply underperform)?

If the answer is “Uh, no”, then take your pick on a usurper. But good luck with that, as every other AL Central clubhouse has its fair share of blemishes that aren’t present in Chicago’s. Consider:

• The Twins will score a bunch of runs (especially after adding Carlos Correa), but their pitching rotation has plenty of questions.
• The Tigers made several nice offseason moves and should be improved. But they still seem a few pieces away — especially on the mound — from seriously competing for a division crown.
• The Guardians are playing it conservative. The pitching is there, but Cleveland didn’t do much to improve a bottom-10 offense from 2021.
• The Royals are in rebuild mode while trying to bridge the gap to a brighter future — not exactly a recipe for winning the division.

So what’s the move here? Is it Chicago or pass in the AL Central? Well, we have a potential value contender that’s at least worth a look.

AL Central Value Bet

The bet: Minnesota Twins +525
Where to bet: Caesars Sportsbook

Yes, everything sets up for the White Sox to win the AL Central. But check the headline of this article. We are talking “value bets” and not “obvious bets with extreme juice”. Baseball is a long season that brings plenty of variables. I’m embracing that variability and taking a shot with the Twins to contend for the division crown.

This Minnesota team won back-to-back AL Central titles in 2019 and 2020. Then 2021 happened. The Twins’ first two months of last season can be summed up in two words: Murphy’s Law — anything that could go wrong did, especially when it came to the bullpen and the team’s injured star player. Buried in the standings by mid-May, Minnesota decided to trade away some of its assets with an eye to the future.

Well, the future very well could be now. The Twins made a splash by signing shortstop Carlos Correa, making a statement that they indeed intend to contend for the divisional crown. Minnesota’s lineup has the appearance of a top-10 offense. Unfortunately, the pitching staff is riddled with question marks.

New acquisition Sonny Gray could be a stabilizing force, but relying on past-their-prime Chris Archer and Dylan Bundy for respectable, bounce-back seasons might be asking a bit much. On the bright side, two high-upside prospects — Jhoan Duran and Josh Winder — could factor into the mix at some point in the season.

If the Twins can post an average starting rotation this season and catch a couple of breaks — namely, good health for them and maybe not so much for their division colleagues — they could challenge the White Sox.

If you’re interested in a dark horse to win the AL Central, head over to Caesars Sportsbook, which has Minnesota at +525 compared with +500 at most other sportsbooks.

MLB Division Odds: AL West

• Houston Astros -160
• Los Angeles Angels +380
• Seattle Mariners +460
• Texas Rangers +1,800
• Oakland Athletics +2,500

Like the White Sox, Houston is the odds-on favorite to win its division, priced anywhere from -160 to -182. The Astros already had a high-end starting pitching rotation, and now they get Justin Verlander back after he missed almost all of last season following Tommy John surgery. And even though Houston lost star shortstop Correa to the Twins, this offense is still dangerous from the top down.

The Angels and Mariners are interesting cases. Both have been classic underachievers for several years. Is this the summer one or both finally put it all together? I’m as skeptical as a conspiracy theorist watching a moon-landing documentary.

The Angels revved up their bullpen, but they didn’t exactly fix the starting pitching situation, beyond acquiring a broken-down-and-maybe-rebuilt Noah Syndergaard.

The Mariners made some bold offseason moves, including signing Ray from Toronto to lead the pitching staff. But let’s not forget Seattle was extremely lucky to get to 90 wins last season. The regression monster could take hold. (Let’s also not forget that this franchise hasn’t reached the postseason since 2000!)

The Rangers paid a bundle to add Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to the middle of their infield. However, those additions didn’t solve all the problems for a team that lost 102 games in 2021.

As for the A’s, well, there isn’t much worth saying beyond what Props.com’s Jason Scavone said in his AL West Win Totals article. (Point your eyes to Oakland’s “Additions” and “Subtractions” sections). Not only did the A’s get rid of pretty much everyone this offseason, they’re almost certainly not done. That’s a bold strategy Cotton; let’s see if it pays off for them.

AL West Value Bet

The bet: Houston Astros -160
Where to bet: Caesars Sportsbook

When looking at the AL West division odds, it’s essentially a referendum on Houston, which has taken the crown four of the last five years.

Not only could you argue that the Astros play in the weakest of the AL’s three divisions, but Fangraphs gives them a 71 percent chance to win it again. For comparison, the White Sox have a 65 percent chance to win the AL Central. So there’s a better probability with Houston and at a cheaper price. (Looking even deeper, the Dodgers have a 72 percent chance to take the NL West, and they’re holding onto a -220 price tag. The Brewers are at 72 percent to capture the NL Central and -180 odds.)

So let’s go ahead and swallow hard and lay the number with the Astros. Just make sure you get the best price, which is currently -160 at Caesars, much better than PointsBet (-182), FanDuel (-170), and DraftKings (-175).

Remember: Friends don’t let friends lay unnecessary juice.

The post MLB Division Odds: Top American League Value Bets appeared first on Props.

Each week, BetPrep Sharp and NBC Sports Betting Analyst Brad Feinberg discusses NFL, NBA, and NHL Futures covering expected win totals, division odds, championship favorites, and potential award winners with host and BetPrep Editor Michael Salfino of The Athletic and FiveThirtyEight. It’s the official futures podcast of BetPrep, a free sports betting research site that empowers bettors with the same tools both the sharps and the sportsbooks use.

Here are some highlights from the Feb. 1, 2022 episode of the Givin’ Futures Podcast.

NHL Futures

Colorado Avalanche: To Win Central Division (-450)

Brad’s Take: I understand. People are like, “Why do you want to tell me to take the Chiefs minus-450 when they’re about to go up 28-3, Feinberg; we’re gonna be bankrupt.” I understand the thought process. Minus-450 is scary. But I bet the Chiefs before halftime when they were plus-300 and their win probability was 98%. So the process was right. Again, it’s process over results.

This Colorado team is 20-2 in the last 22 games; you heard me correct. That is almost impossible. But the Avalanche are playing at a crazy-high level. This should be minus-900, according to my projections. So minus-450 while scary actually is half of what it should be. I checked the projections sites and they are giving them a 94-95% chance to win the division. So they agree there is big value in minus-450, too.

Frederik Andersen: To Win Vezina Trophy (+1200)

Brad’s Take: I don’t pretend to be a hockey expert, but I’m a numbers expert. Andersen is playing great. He leads the league in wins. He’s second in save percentage. He’s first in goals allowed. The competition is crazy. I get it. But you’re telling me these numbers right now are a one in 13 chance to win the trophy for best goalie? No. That makes no sense.

We’re taking the goalie that is right now, today, is first in wins and second in percentage, and first in goals against. If Andersen doesn’t win, is he in the final three? Yes. So I’m getting 12/1 on a final-three finalist.  And the team has had so much success, right? The team has been great. What do I think the odds should be, on the blind? I would have to think maybe 5/1. Make a pizza bet on this one.

Jonathan Huberdeau: To Win Hart Trophy (+900)

Brad’s Take: Huberdeau leads the league in points. Florida has been great all year. He’s been the best player on the best team in the East. Now, two of the top favorites are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Both on Edmonton. And in-between them at second favorite is Alex Ovechkin (out with COVID after recording). But Edmonton hasn’t had a great year this year. And I do think hockey MVP is closer to football and basketball where your record matters. The Capitals have been disappointing even with Ovechkin being great. Huberdeau is getting 9/1. If he was 3/1 like Ovechkin and Ovechkin was 9/1, I’d be telling you to bet Ovechkin.

If things keep going as they have gone, Florida is the best team and Huberdeau is the leading scorer, I think Huberdeau has a much better than one out of 10 chance to win the MVP.

NBA Futures

Philadelphia 76ers: To Win Atlantic Division (+130)

Brad’s Take: A month ago, I got Philadelphia in this bet at 5/1. And then even four days ago, this bet was there at plus-165. Unfortunately, it’s gone down since two plus-130. As we tape this, they have a one-game lead over Brooklyn. Kevin Durant is out another month. You are giving me plus-130? Are you nuts?  And the next seven games, I expect the Nets to have a losing record. Their schedule is tough. This is going to be very scalpable. When the Nets fall behind by a few games, you can bet them at nice plus-money to win the Atlantic.

Additionally, maybe the 76ers get something for Ben Simmons would help this year. Daryl Morey really has a crush on James Harden. He wants him. He’s a smart guy. But if there is one player in the NBA I would not want it right now factoring in money, age, everything: James Harden would probably be my pick. So I think it would be an awful move, but Morey just seems like he’s got blinders on for this one particular player. If they really have been offered Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield for Ben Simmons, that would win them the title. They’d be the most talented team.

Joel Embiid is almost playing like Bill Walton back in the day. He’s healthy this year. He’s probably going to win MVP. I would not waste a prime Embiid season. He may have 10 more. He may have one more. He may have three more. No one knows. To throw one away is criminal. But that’s a postseason story. They don’t need anything to beat the Nets without Durant and with Kyrie Irving only playing on the road and Harden no longer near the top of his game.

Sacramento Kings: Under 31.5 Wins

Brad’s Take: As we tape this, they need to go 15-17 to hit this. That is a 37-win pace. They have played 28 home games and 23 road games. They’re on a 29-win pace. Who in the world is setting these numbers? I think maybe it’s going back to the preseason expectations and putting in that win rate for the remainder of the year. They may have been expected to be a 37-win team. But this is clearly NOT a 37-win team.

More NBA & NHL Futures

For more NBA and NHL futures as well as Brad’s thoughts on the NFL Conference Championship games, listen to the full Givin Futures podcast here.

The post BetPrep Givin Futures: Panthers’ Jonathan Huberdeau Tops List Of NHL Futures appeared first on Props.

As you ponder College Football Playoff National Championship prop bets today, think back to early December.

The biggest winners in the 2021 SEC Championship Game showdown between then-undefeated Georgia and one-loss Alabama back on Dec. 4? Not the Crimson Tide, who rolled to a 17-point victory as a 6-point underdog in Atlanta.

No, it was everyone in the college football betting market who hammered the Over on all the various props that oddsmakers offered. With 65 total points — 62 of which were scored after the first quarter — and nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, the Over cashed on virtually every game- and player-specific prop.

Are we headed for another Mid-American Conference-like track meet tonight when the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs run it back in Indianapolis (this time, for all the marbles)? Or will the 2021-22 turn into the defensive slugfest oddsmakers anticipated the first time around? 

We’ll find out soon enough. But one thing we already know: Those oddsmakers aren’t about to get blindsided again, as their player and game prop numbers are higher for Round 2 of Georgia-Bama than Round 1.

Here are our top five CFP National Championship prop bets.

Odds via DraftKings and The SuperBook, and updated as of 3 p.m. ET on January 10.

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Alabama Total Points Scored 

The prop: 24.5
The odds: Over +100/Under -120

For most bettors, the initial instinct here is to hammer the Over — especially with even-money juice. After all, the Crimson Tide put up 41 points on Georgia’s (supposedly) impenetrable defense just five weeks ago. 

Alabama followed that with a 27-point effort against a rock-solid Cincinnati defense in the College Football Playoff semifinal (and one gets the sense 27 could’ve easily been 37 had Bryce Young and Co. pressed things in the second half of a blowout). Also, the Crimson Tide scored at least 31 points in every game this season but three: Cincinnati, LSU (20-14 win), and Auburn (24-22 three-overtime win).

So why should you even hesitate to play Alabama Over 24.5 points in the CFP national championship prop bets market? Well, maybe because Georgia’s stunning defensive collapse in the SEC title tilt was a one-game aberration. Maybe Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has figured out how to fix what went wrong (namely, allowing Young to repeatedly play catch with wide-open receivers like it was a 7-on-7 drill).

Georgia’s defense definitely was back to its dominating ways in a 34-11 blowout of Michigan in its CFP semifinal. The Bulldogs yielded a single field goal until the Wolverines scored a meaningless touchdown and 2-point conversion with 4:25 remaining in the game. And Michigan had scored 59, 42, and 42 points in its previous three contests.

Take out the Alabama game, and Georgia didn’t allow more than 17 points all season, holding eight of 12 foes to a touchdown or less. Then again … you can’t really “take out” the Alabama game, can you? 

Georgia Total Points Scored

The prop: 27.5
The odds: Over -105/Under -115

When a team’s defense conjures up images of the ’85 Bears, it’s very easy for the offense’s contributions to get overlooked. Which in Georgia’s case is a shame, because the Dawgs’ offense has more than done its part this season.

Since a 10-3 snoozer of a victory over Clemson in the season opener, Georgia has averaged 41.2 points per game. Granted, a good chunk of those points were either directly generated by the defense (defensive scores) or set up by the defense (via turnovers). But they count, nonetheless.

The Bulldogs put up at least 30 points in 11 consecutive games from Sept. 11-Nov. 27. Of course, that streak ended against … Alabama. After tallying 10 points in the first 15:04 of the SEC title game, UGA managed just two TDs the rest of the way. 

However, the Bulldogs bounced back big time against Michigan, putting up 34 points and 521 yards against a defense that entered the game allowing just 14.6 points and 299.2 total yards per contest. Before running up against Georgia, the Wolverines had limited nine of 12 foes to 18 points or fewer.

Then again, it must be noted that Alabama’s defense has been as overlooked as Georgia’s offense. The Crimson Tide have allowed more than 24 points just three times in 13 games. And it’s happened only once in eight contests since the team’s 41-38 loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 9 (Arkansas put up 35 on Nov. 20).

First Quarter Total Points Scored

The prop: 10.5
The odds: Over +105/Under -125

 These teams combined for a whopping 41 first-half points in the SEC Championship Game. However, 38 of those points were scored in the second quarter. The only points in the opening stanza came off the foot of Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, who made a 38-yard field goal eight minutes into the contest.

While the Bulldogs did get out of the gate quickly against Michigan with 14 first-quarter points, they were a slow-starter for most of the season’s second half. Prior to the CFP semifinals, the Dawgs scored a total of 27 first-quarter points during a seven-game stretch against FBS competition. And only one of those seven contests featured more than 10 combined first-quarter points (Georgia had a 10-7 lead at Tennessee on Nov. 13).

Alabama held a 7-3 first-quarter lead against Cincinnati in its CFP semifinal. However, in their last four games versus SEC competition — Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas, and LSU — the Crimson Tide produced a grand total of … 10 first-quarter points. All four of those contests (as well as the Cincinnati game) stayed Under 10.5 first-quarter points.

Lastly, while Alabama is putting up 42.5 points per game, it has scored more than seven first-quarter points just five times this season. And three of the five opponents were cupcakes (New Mexico State, Southern Miss, and Mercer).

Bryce Young Total Passing Touchdowns

The prop: 2.5
The odds: Over +120/Under -160

This year’s runaway Heisman Trophy winner has been incredibly efficient throwing the football, completing 68 percent of his passes while posting a mind-boggling 43-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Young has tossed multiple touchdown passes in all 13 of Alabama’s games this season. What’s more, he’s notched at least three TDs in 10 of those outings, including four of the last five.

Yeah, but I bet that one recent exception was against Georgia, right? Wrong. Young shredded the Bulldogs’ tenacious D for 421 yards and three TDs in the SEC Championship Game. He tossed another three scores in the CFP semifinal against Cincinnati.

Here’s how impressive those six touchdown throws were: Georgia and Cincinnati were ranked second and third, respectively, against the pass in 2021-22. And prior to facing Young, those teams had yielded a total of 11 TD passes combined.

So why the heavy juice to the Under with this offering among CFP national championship prop bets? The answer likely lies in the very first prop listed above: Alabama is only projected to score 24.5 points. If the Crimson Tide hang around that number, that means Young’s arm would have to account for every TD to hit the Over on this prop.

Then again, that arm has been responsible for 67 percent of Alabama’s offensive touchdowns this season (43 of 64).

Zamir White Total Rushing Yards

The prop: 46.5
The odds: Over -115/Under -115

Two words best describe Georgia’s rushing attack: productive and balanced.

Five players rushed for at least 243 yards (including quarterback Stetson Bennett), and all five averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry. The best of the bunch is White, who leads the team in rushing attempts (135), rushing yards (718), and rushing touchdowns (10).

White led the Bulldogs’ ground attack against Michigan, gaining 54 yards on 12 carries (both team highs). That might not seem like a lot until you realize that prior to surrendering 190 rushing yards to Georgia, the Wolverines were yielding just 115.8 rushing yards per game. 

Probably makes you wonder why the Bulldogs’ lead back has such a low rushing prop tonight. Well, wonder no more: White gained just 27 yards on seven carries against Alabama in the SEC title game.

Obviously, White’s reduced workload in that contest was primarily the result of game script, as Bennett was forced to pass his team out of a big deficit. If Georgia’s defense fixes the problems it had against the Crimson Tide the first time around, the Bulldogs likely will lean heavily on their running game. 

Or at least that’s what Georgia would like to do. Might not be easy, though, as Alabama ranks fourth in the nation in rush defense (82.8 yards per game).

Finally, from the “for what it’s worth” department: White has eclipsed this prop number in just four of his last eight games after doing so in five of his first six.

The post CFP National Championship Prop Bets: Georgia Vs Alabama appeared first on Props.

The reconstituted Big East likely will never recapture the dominance of 1985, when three teams — Villanova, Georgetown, and St. John’s — reached the Final Four. Nor is it likely to ever duplicate the 2010-11 campaign, when the league shoehorned 11 teams into the NCAA Tournament (including national champion Connecticut).

However, the 11-team league is enjoying a bit of a resurgence, especially with UConn back in the mix. Last year, four Big East schools garnered NCAA invites; this season (presuming good health), as many as seven programs could realistically contend for The Big Dance.

One school, though, appears to stand head and shoulders above the others: Per the college basketball conference championship betting market, the Villanova Wildcats are the overwhelming favorite to take the regular-season Big East crown.

But that doesn’t mean Jay Wright’s squad won’t be challenged. In fact, one of the teams listed below in the “Dark Horses” category has already knocked out Goliath — and did so convincingly.

Props.com breaks down the regular-season-title odds of each Big East squad in our latest college basketball conference betting preview.

Big East odds via DraftKings and updated as of 3 p.m. ET Dec. 28. All SU and ATS record current as of date of publication.

Previous Conference Previews

Big Ten
ACC
SEC

Big East Basketball Odds

The Favorite

Villanova +100 (8-4 SU/6-6 ATS)

Villanova has everything bettors should want in a preseason conference favorite: a solid starting five, including an experienced playmaker handling clutch moments (fifth-year guard Collin Gillespie); an early slate of prominent opponents with contrasting styles (including UCLA, Purdue, St. Joseph’s, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Baylor, which were part of a top-ranked non-conference schedule); and an undeniable track record of recent league success (115-28 Big East record since 2013-14).

Despite all that, though, this Wildcats squad is far from flawless, which was evident in a pair of recent blowout defeats — 57-36 at No. 1 Baylor and 79-59 at Creighton in the Big East opener.

To be fair, Villanova (AP ranking: 22; KenPom ranking: 12) rebounded nicely from the Creighton setback to beat Xavier 71-58 as a 5.5-point favorite in the conference home opener. However, the ugly losses to Baylor and Creighton — along with an overtime loss at UCLA and a close neutral-site loss to Purdue — have led some to wonder just how invincible the Wildcats are.

Those questions figure to linger at least until Villanova shows it can successfully navigate a tough upcoming schedule that includes trips to Seton Hall (Jan. 1), DePaul (Jan. 8), and Xavier (Jan. 12), along with the anticipated home rematch against Creighton (Jan. 5).

Should ‘Nova come out of that stretch unscathed, bettors might feel secure in reassigning “Final Four contender” status to the Wildcats, who began the season as the AP’s No. 4 team.

The Challengers

Connecticut +450 (10-3 SU/6-7 ATS)
Xavier +750 (11-2 SU/9-4 ATS)
Seton Hall +800 (9-1 SU/6-3 ATS)

It makes sense that oddsmakers view UConn, Xavier, and Seton Hall as the most viable threats to Villanova’s pursuit of an eighth regular-season title since 2013.

For starters, the three teams are clustered in the top 30 of the KenPom rankings, which factor in strength of schedule, opponents’ strength of schedule, adjusted efficiency margin, adjusted offensive/defensive efficiency, and possessions per 40 minutes.

According another metric, Xavier (18th), UConn (19th), and Seton Hall (25th) all have played top-25 schedules to date.

Additionally, No. 15 Seton Hall owns the highest Big East ranking in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 — that’s seven slots ahead of Villanova.

Meanwhile, the schedule sets up particularly well for Xavier and UConn. The Musketeers get their rematch with Villanova in two weeks, and that’s at home. From there, Xavier wouldn’t have to deal with the Wildcats again until possibly the conference tournament.

As for UConn, it has a potentially treacherous back-to-back-to-back slate against Seton Hall, Xavier, and Villanova from Feb. 16-22. However, all three games are in Connecticut. Also, the Huskies road games against Seton Hall (Jan. 8) and Villanova (Feb. 5) are spaced a month apart (their scheduled game at Xavier today was called off due to COVID issues).

The Dark Horses

Creighton +1,300 (9-3 SU/5-7 ATS)
Providence +1,400 (11-1 SU/8-4 ATS)
St. John’s +1,800 (8-3 SU/4-7 ATS)

This year’s Creighton team isn’t built like the perimeter-oriented squads of seasons past, when the Bluejays routinely bludgeoned opponents with a barrage of three-pointers. Within Big East circles, Creighton ranks dead-last in three-pointers made (6.3 per game) and three-point proficiency (31.1 percent).

And despite their 20-point beat-down of Villanova in Omaha on Dec. 17, the Bluejays’ typically stout home-court advantage also has been demystified a bit. Creighton fell to visiting Arizona State and No. 8 Iowa State (12-0 overall) during the non-conference campaign.

Among the teams in this group, Providence might offer the best betting value. At No. 21, the Friars are currently the Big East’s second-highest-ranked team, and they possess the best conference road win to date — on Dec. 18, they upended Connecticut 57-53 in Hartford. Providence also has three other impressive victories on its ledger, knocking off Wisconsin (road), Northwestern (neutral site), and Texas Tech (home) — all as an underdog.

From a logistical standpoint, St. John’s might have drawn the proverbial short straw among Big East title hopefuls. Four of the Red Storm’s league matchups — Seton Hall, Butler, Marquette, and Georgetown — were either postponed or temporarily canceled because of COVID issues. If those games get made up, the Red Storm could be routinely operating on short rest during January and February.

Such quick turnarounds could make for a brutal closing stretch that already has St. John’s scheduled to take on Creighton (twice), Villanova (twice), Xavier (twice), Seton Hall, UConn, and Providence nine times in its final 12 regular-season outings.

The Long Shots

Butler +3,500 (7-4 SU/3-8 ATS)
Marquette +3,500 (8-5 SU/6-7 ATS)
DePaul +6,000 (9-1 SU/8-2 ATS)
Georgetown +15,000 (6-5 SU/5-6 ATS)

Butler ranks 318th in scoring offense (out of 350 schools), averaging just 63.4 points per game. That’s not going to cut it when the Bulldogs have to face seven Big East schools (St. John’s, DePaul, Seton Hall, UConn, Georgetown, and Xavier) averaging more than 75 points per game. And while Butler does own a surprising upset at Oklahoma, it also gotten trampled by the likes of Michigan State (73-52, Houston (70-52), and Purdue (77-48). Throw in a seven-point loss to Texas A&M, and the Bulldogs are 1-4 SU and ATS against top-flight competition.

Marquette warrants kudos for enduring a top-20 schedule before the new year. The Golden Eagles scored upset victories over Illinois (home), Ole Miss (road), West Virginia (road), and Kansas State (road), but fell to St. Bonaventure, No. 24 Wisconsin, No. 23 Xavier, Connecticut, and No. 5 UCLA. That’s a solid start, considering new head coach Shaka Smart has been implementing his system on the fly, while readying Marquette (8-11 in league play last year) for a run at the Big East’s upper division.

Non-conference wins over Rutgers (73-70) and Louisville (62-55) suggest DePaul’s 9-1 start may not be a fluke. However, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly the Blue Demons can reclaim their mojo after having crucial clashes with Northwestern (road) and No. 15 Seton Hall (original Big East opener) canceled or postponed due to COVID outbreaks. If the Blue Demons play Butler on Wednesday, it’ll mark a 15-day gap between games.

Georgetown’s super-long odds for winning the Big East are tough to fathom. The Hoyas boast four double-digit scorers (Aminu Mohammed, Kaiden Rice, Donald Carey, and Dante Harris). Among that quartet, Mohammed (averaging 14.6 points, 8.7 rebounds) has the capacity to carry Georgetown in bursts down the stretch. Throw in a solid non-conference schedule that includes respectable defeats to San Diego State (73-56), St. Joseph’s (77-74), South Carolina (80-67), and TCU (80-73), and one program-defining win over longtime rival Syracuse (79-75), and the Hoyas certainly don’t look like a Big East pushover.

The post College Basketball Betting: Big East Conference Preview appeared first on Props.

Is the SEC, from top to bottom, the best conference in college basketball this season? If you use national rankings as your barometer, the answer would appear to be “yes” — at least at the moment.

This week, five SEC schools appear in The Associated Press Top 20 — Alabama (10th), Auburn (12th), LSU (17th), Tennessee (19th), and Kentucky (20th). That’s more than any other league.

The SEC is also home to Jabari Smith, an Auburn freshman whose 6-foot-10 frame and deft shooting touch evokes thoughts of Kevin Durant. Smith is among those in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

On top of that, two of the SEC’s prospective have-nots (Georgia and Ole Miss) have already scored upset victories over previously ranked Memphis — the same Memphis that shocked Alabama last week.

Props.com evaluates the SEC championship odds for league’s programs. If the oddsmakers are correct, there could be a return to glory in the Bluegrass State.

SEC odds via DraftKings and updated as of 5 p.m. ET Dec. 21. All SU and ATS record current as of date of publication.

Previous Conference Previews

Big Ten
ACC

SEC Basketball Odds

The Favorites

Kentucky +260 (8-2 SU/4-6 ATS)
Alabama + 320 (9-2 SU/6-5 ATS)

Kentucky is fifth in the pecking order of SEC teams in this week’s Top 25 poll. The Wildcats also rank 13th in league in three-pointers made (6.0 per game). Yet John Calipari’s squad is the clear favorite on the SEC championship odds board.

As usual, Calipari has assembled a group of blue-chip recruits and top-notch transfers. The latter includes Oscar Tshiebwe, who’s averaging 16.3 points and 14.3 rebounds per game after posting modest numbers during his time at West Virginia.

And while the Wildcats have struggled to make shots from long range, they’re having little trouble putting the ball through the hoop otherwise. They’re averaging 82.1 points per game, which ranks second to Alabama (83.4 ppg) among SEC schools.

Kentucky’s stifling defense has been equally as impressive. Since starting the season with a 79-71 loss to Duke, the Wildcats have held nine consecutive opponents under 70 points. The team’s offensive and defensive talent was on full display Saturday in Las Vegas, where Kentucky thumped North Carolina 98-69 as a 3-point, neutral-site favorite.

Speaking of impressive victories, Alabama might have the best back-to-back triumphs of the season. On a mostly partisan floor in Seattle on Dec. 4, the Crimson Tide stunned preseason No. 1 Gonzaga, 91-82 as a 9.5-point underdog. Seven days later, Alabama eked out an 83-82 home victory over Houston, a Final Four team from last season.

Last year, Alabama made a surprising run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before bowing out to eventual Final Four entrant UCLA in overtime. The Crimson Tide appear to have the talent to make another deep March run this season — and we’ll learn about their championship makeup from Jan. 29-Feb. 5. During that weeklong stretch, Alabama will face current No. 1 Baylor in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, then meet Auburn (road) and Kentucky (home).

The Challengers

Tennessee +600 (8-2 SU/6-4 ATS)
Arkansas +650 (9-2 SU/5-6 ATS)
Auburn +800 (10-1 SU/7-4 ATS
Florida +900 (8-3 SU/6-5 ATS)
LSU +900 (11-0 SU/9-2 ATS)

Tennessee has the toughest opening road slate of any SEC team, trekking to Alabama, LSU, and Kentucky in the first 17 days of league play. The rest of the schedule breaks nicely for the Vols, who’ll get two cracks apiece at prospective bottom-feeders South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Arkansas has the SEC’s most prolific scorer in JD Notae (18.3 points per game), a solid starting five, and a strong tactician in head coach Eric Musselman. However, it’s a tough team to project, considering the Hogs raced out to a 9-0 start, then suffered back-to-back losses to Oklahoma (88-66) and Hofstra (89-81). And Arkansas is still searching for its first signature victory — unless you count Kansas State as “signature.”

The NCAA recently hit Auburn with four years of probation, but that discipline won’t impact the Tigers’ pursuit of the SEC regular-season title (and maybe even a Final Four run). Auburn’s conference championship/March Madness hope likely will hinge on the continued improvement of stud freshman Jabari Smith. Not only is Smith averaging 16.5 points and 6.9 rebounds, but he’s shooting a blistering 45.6-percent from three-point range. He’s a big reason why the Tigers rank third in the SEC in scoring offense (82.0 points per game) and first in made three-pointers (9.7 triples per game).

Florida has won nine-plus SEC games in six consecutive seasons. However, this consistency hasn’t meant much come March. (During this stretch, the Gators have gotten past Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament just once, reaching the regional final in 2017.) Will this year be any different? Recent results would suggest no, as Florida has followed a 6-0 SU/5-1 ATS start by dropping five of its last seven (1-6 ATS). That includes a stupefying 69-54 loss to Texas Southern as a 23.5-point home favorite.

Undefeated LSU ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (53.5 points per game), No. 6 in SEC scoring offense (78.5 ppg), and is 9-2 ATS through 11 games. Of course, the Tigers haven’t exactly faced a juggernaut early-season schedule (top opponents to date: Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, and Penn State). So is LSU for real? We’ll find out very quickly, as it opens the SEC campaign with consecutive games against Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee (twice), Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama.

The Dark Horses

Mississippi State +2,000 (8-3 SU/5-6 ATS)
Ole Miss +3,000 (8-3 SU/5-6 ATS)

Don’t fall asleep on Mississippi State making a push for the SEC crown. Five Bulldogs starters average double-digit scoring; Michigan State transfer Rocket Watts adds explosive depth to the bench; and MSU fell to Minnesota (81-76) and Colorado State (66-63) — two of college basketball’s biggest early surprises — by a grand total of eight points.

Like its in-state rival, Ole Miss is off to a solid start and could be in the running for an NCAA Tournament bid if it repeats last year’s 10-8 SEC record. The Rebels have one marquee victory on their ledger (a 67-63 win over then-No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4). And their three losses to Marquette, Boise State, and Western Kentucky will be viewed as “quality defeats” if all three programs reach the NCAAs. That said, Ole Miss doesn’t appear to have the talent and depth needed to keep up with the SEC’s big boys.

The Long Shots

Texas A&M +5,500 (8-2 SU/6-4 ATS)
Missouri +6,000 (6-5 SU/4-6 ATS)
South Carolina +6,000 (8-3 SU/5-5 ATS)
Vanderbilt +7,000 (6-4 SU/5-5 ATS)
Georgia +40,000 (5-6 SU/3-7-1 ATS)

Texas A&M is the most likely candidate to earn a promotion to the “Dark Horses” category. But it’s also difficult to view the Aggies as surprise contenders, given their light non-conference schedule (best loss: Wisconsin; best win: Notre Dame) — not to mention last season’s 2-8 record in league play.

The schedule-maker has seemingly given Missouri a reprieve, as the Tigers face just one currently ranked team twice in league play (No. 10 Alabama). But it’s still a daunting docket, with Mizzou drawing Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU in mini-bunches. Also worth nothing: The Tigers have matched up against just one ranked foe to date. Result: 102-65 loss to No. 8 Kansas.

South Carolina has three solid non-conference victories on its résumé (Florida State, Georgetown, and Western Kentucky). Can the Gamecocks find similar success in league play … playing a schedule that includes Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee in the first two weeks? If South Carolina can emerge from that start at least 2-2, it might be a team worth monitoring.

Vanderbilt has been stuck in a 3-15 cycle the last two SEC seasons, and this year looks to be more of the same. The Commodores ranks 227th nationally in scoring offense — punctuated by a 37-point “effort” in a Nov. 17 loss to VCU.

Georgia is the longest of long shots to win the SEC title for two primary reasons: The Dawgs are going through a major rebuild, and they’re the only team in the league with a losing record in non-conference action. There’s a reason why Georgia’s spring football practices garner more attention in Athens than the hoops team.

The post College Basketball Betting: Southeastern Conference Preview appeared first on Props.

If you judge a conference by its number of NCAA Tournament appearances, it’s pretty easy to make a case for the ACC being the best league in the land.

Over the past four seasons (2017-19, 2021), the ACC has garnered 32 bids to the Big Dance — four more than the Big Ten over the same period. And since 2015, three ACC schools (Duke in 2015, North Carolina in 2017, Virginia in 2019) have captured an NCAA championship.

Can this storied conference maintain its dominance, now that two of the sport’s blue bloods — North Carolina and Duke — are undergoing radical leadership changes (UNC coach Roy Williams retired last spring; Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski is retiring at season’s end)?

Props.com evaluates the college basketball conference championship odds for all 15 ACC programs, including Notre Dame. If the oddsmakers are correct, this could be a glorious farewell campaign for Coach K.

ACC odds via DraftKings and updated as of 5 p.m. ET Dec. 14. All SU and ATS record current as of date of publication.

PREVIOUS CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
Big Ten

ACC Basketball Odds

The Favorite

Duke +120 (Current record: 7-1 SU/3-3-2 ATS)

The Blue Devils, who tripped Kentucky and Gonzaga on neutral courts in November, have a great playmaking quintet in freshman Paolo Banchero (averaging 17.8 points/7.3 rebounds per game; potential No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft), Wendell Moore (17.8 points/6.5 rebounds), Mark Williams, Jeremy Roach, and freshman guard Trevor Keels.

This Duke squad plays faster (17th nationally in scoring offense, 83.1 points per game) and looks more imposing than last year’s team. But it’s not a vintage Coach K group in this regard: The Blue Devils aren’t oozing with supreme depth or veteran experience.

Such drawbacks might not preclude Duke from winning the ACC, but it could be a hindrance come NCAA Tournament time — especially if the Blue Devils encounter Baylor, Purdue, UCLA, Kansas, Alabama, or a rematch with Gonzaga.

The Challengers

North Carolina +600 (7-2 SU/2-7 ATS)
Louisville +800 (6-3 SU/4-5 ATS)
Florida State +1,000 (5-4 SU/3-6 ATS)
Virginia Tech +1,000 (7-4 SU/7-4 ATS)

North Carolina has a top-three ACC ranking in every major offensive category: second in scoring offense (81.1 points per game), and third in field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free-throw percentage. The Tar Heels are only 1-2 against ranked opponents, but six of their seven victories have been double-digit routs.

Schedule-wise, North Carolina hosts Virginia, Louisville, and Syracuse but only returns the favor (among the trio) with a visit to Louisville.

The Cardinals deserve props for facing five consecutive power-conference teams in November/December. They defeated Mississippi State (72-58), Maryland (63-55), and NC State (73-68), but fell to Michigan State (73-64) and DePaul (62-55). That aside, Louisville doesn’t appear to have enough star power or depth to credibly challenge for the conference crown. Offense is also a concern: Among ACC teams, the Cardinals rank 14th in three-point proficiency (29.3 percent) and last in field-goal shooting (40.8 percent).

Florida State (0-1 in league play) has an exemplary ACC record over three-plus years (40-14). But something seems amiss with this year’s Seminoles, who failed to score more than 65 points in losses to Florida, No. 2 Purdue, Syracuse, and South Carolina. Keep in mind: Syracuse has a defensive rating of 329th overall … out of 358 schools.

Virginia Tech got pummeled 80-61 by Wake Forest in its ACC opener, part of an ongoing 2-4 SU and ATS slump. Now for the good news: The Hokies own top-four conference rankings in three-pointers made per game (8.6) and three-point proficiency (39.3 percent). They’ll need to maintain those stats — and play better defense than they did against Wake Forest — to make a legit run for the conference title.

The Dark Horses

Virginia +1,400 (6-4 SU/3-7 ATS)
Syracuse +2,000 (5-5 SU/4-6 ATS)

It’s easy to forget Virginia (1-0 in ACC) claimed last year’s regular-season title (13-4) but never got a genuine opportunity to win the conference tournament because of COVID-protocol breakdowns. This year, however, the Cavaliers rank 11th in steals per game (5.7), 12th in field-goal proficiency (43.3 percent), 13th in three-point shooting (30.3 percent), 14th in scoring offense (61.0 points per game), and 14th in total rebounds (32.3 per game). That’s not an ideal recipe for repeating as league champs.

By one particular measure, Syracuse has played the nation’s 22nd-toughest schedule to this point. That seems low, considering the Orange recently encountered seven consecutive brand-name opponents: VCU (67-55 loss), Arizona State (92-84 victory), Auburn (89-68 loss), Indiana (112-110 double-overtime win), Florida State (63-60 loss), No. 6 Villanova (67-53 loss), and Georgetown (79-75 loss).

Will this November/December grind pay off down the line for Jim Boheim’s crew? Perhaps. Then again, the Orange face a gauntlet from Jan. 22-Feb.28 that includes two games against Duke, as well as trips to Pitt, North Carolina State, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and North Carolina — plus a home date with Louisville.

The Long Shots

Wake Forest +3,500 (9-1 SU/7-3 ATS)
Notre Dame +3,500 (4-4 SU/2-6 ATS)
Georgia Tech +4,000 (5-4 SU/2-7 ATS)
North Carolina State +4,000 (7-3 SU/2-8 ATS)
Clemson +5,000 (6-4 SU/5-4-1 ATS)
Miami +6,000 (8-3 SU/4-7 ATS)
Pittsburgh +10,000 (3-7 SU/5-5 ATS)
Boston College +20,000 (6-5 SU/5-6 ATS)

Wake Forest has the ACC’s No. 2 scoring offense, the league’s most overall wins (nine), and the conference’s best ATS mark, including that thorough 80-61 road rout of Virginia Tech as an 8.5-point favorite. In time, the Demon Deacons might warrant a promotion to the “dark horses” category — if they survive a mid-January to mid-February stretch when they play six of nine league games on the road.

Notre Dame has suffered single-digit losses to Saint Mary’s, Texas A&M, and Illinois, then upended No. 10 Kentucky last Saturday night. In other words, this has the look of a typical Fighting Irish season (several narrow head-scratching defeats and the occasional upset of a blueblood program).

Three straight power-conference losses to Wisconsin (70-66), North Carolina (79-62), and LSU (69-53) have dulled the hue of last season’s ACC tourney title for Georgia Tech. However, after Saturday’s neutral-site bout with No. 10 USC, the Yellow Jackets have just one currently ranked foe on their remaining schedule (No. 2 Duke on Jan. 4).

Last Sunday, NC State squandered a double-digit lead against then-top-ranked Purdue, losing 82-72 in overtime. On the plus side, other than a trip to Duke in mid-January, the Wolfpack might not encounter another squad of Purdue’s caliber all season.

Clemson definitely will have a chance to prove its worth, as it hosts North Carolina, Duke, and Florida State at Littlejohn Coliseum this year. That’s three résumé-building opportunities for a Tigers team that won six of its final seven ACC games last regular season.

Miami (1-0 in league play) has a 16-41 ACC record over the last three full seasons. Will new Hurricanes athletic director Dan Radakovich (formerly Clemson’s AD) be making another high-profile hire next spring (after signed Oregon’s Mario Cristobal last week to take over the football program last week)?

Pittsburgh’s ACC-title hopes likely ended with the season-opening 78-63 home loss to The Citadel. Or was it subsequent deflating defeats — at home — to Maryland-Baltimore County and Monmouth?

Boston College’s resounding 73-57 victory over Notre Dame on Dec. 3 must have been a sweet response to those forecasting doom and gloom for the Eagles this season. Just try not to pay too much attention to B.C.’s listless home loss to Albany on Monday.

The post College Basketball Betting: Atlantic Coast Conference Preview appeared first on Props.

Big Ten basketball will return to its pre-pandemic format of 20 conference games per member this season, a marathon slate that will surely separate the lot of contenders, pretenders, and cellar-dwellers by the time March rolls around.

And if recent history tells us anything, the Big Ten conference betting market figures to be flooded with money on Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Indiana, and Purdue to win the championship. That’s because those six schools have claimed either a full or partial share of every Big Ten regular-season title since 2006.

Props.com launches the first of multiple college basketball conference betting previews with a look at the Big Ten — a league that currently boasts the nation’s No. 1 team … but hasn’t produced an NCAA Tournament champion since Michigan State cut down the nets in 2000.

Big Ten odds via BetMGM and updated as of 5 p.m. ET Dec. 7.

Big Ten Conference Basketball Odds

The Favorite

Purdue +150 (Current record: 8-0 SU/6-2 ATS)

The Boilermakers (1-0 in Big Ten play) are enjoying their first week as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. And there’s a good chance they’ll remain in the top spot well into the new year, since Purdue (4th nationally in scoring offense at 90.5 points per game; No. 6 nationally in scoring margin) won’t encounter another ranked team until Jan. 3 (at No. 22 Wisconsin).

Purdue boasts three legitimate candidates for Big Ten Player of the Year (guard Jaden Ivey, center Zach Edey, and forward Trevion Williams), and perhaps the league’s most lethal perimeter threat in Sasha Stefanovic (46-percent shooting from beyond the arc).

The Challengers

Michigan +400 (6-3 SU/4-5 ATS)
Ohio State +600 (6-2 SU/4-4 ATS)
Illinois +600 (7-2 SU/4-5 ATS)

Michigan was ranked as high as No. 4 in mid-November. Then came a series of deflating losses to Seton Hall (67-65), Arizona (80-62), and North Carolina (72-51) that tempered expectations. And prior to Tuesday’s 102-point explosion at Nebraska, which included 15 made three-pointers, the Wolverines (1-0 in league) ranked among the Big Ten’s bottom five in scoring offense, three-point proficiency, and free-throw shooting. For Michigan’s sake, Tuesday’s breakout must become the new normal.

Ohio State (1-0 in league play) has the best résumé-building win of any Big Ten team in the early going, upending then-No. 1 Duke 71-66 last week. The Buckeyes also boast a bankable star in forward E.J. Liddell, who’s averaging 20.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. Liddell is a big reason why Ohio State has gone Over the total in seven of its last eight games.

Illinois is off to a 2-0 start in conference, suggesting the Fighting Illini will soon re-enter the AP Top 25. With four all-conference candidates in Jacob Grandison, Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer, and center Kofi Cockburn — who amassed 17 points and 18 rebounds in Monday’s 87-83 road victory over Iowa — Illinois’ Big Ten championship betting odds might be at peak value right now.

The Dark Horses

Michigan State +800 (7-2 SU/5-4 ATS)
Indiana +1,200 (7-1 SU/5-3 ATS)
Iowa +2,000 (7-2 SU/6-3 ATS)
Wisconsin +2,000 (7-1 SU/6-2 ATS)
Maryland +2,500 (5-4 SU/2-7 ATS)

Michigan State likely doesn’t have the requisite star power to outlast the Big Ten’s biggest and deepest squads that reside in the previous two sections. However, the Spartans do have a scheduling advantage: They face No. 1 Purdue, No. 21 Ohio State, and Iowa once during the regular season. Tom Izzo’s troops also get two cracks apiece at Northwestern, Penn State, Minnesota, and Maryland. To pull off a surprising league title, MSU probably would have to go 7-1 or 8-0 against the latter group of foes.

Indiana is averaging 80.4 points per game), having tallied 70-plus points in seven of its first eight contests. The Hoosiers also have a formidable 1-2 punch in Trayce Jackson-Davis (21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 blocks per game) and Race Thompson (10.0 points, 8.9 boards per game). So Indiana figures to rebound nicely from last year’s disappointing campaign (12-15 overall; 7-12 Big Ten). But do the Hoosiers have enough firepower to compete with the league’s upper-echelon teams? Doubtful.

Iowa, which finished last season ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense, has picked up right where it left off: The Hawkeyes currently are fifth once again (90.1 points per game). In addition to a strong 6-3 ATS start, Iowa has topped the total in four of its last six outings. However, the Hawkeyes (0-2 start in Big Ten) cannot afford many future slipups if they expect to contend for the league title like they did in 2020-21 (14-6, third-place finish). During the most recent 20-game Big Ten campaigns (2018-19 and 2019-20), the Big Ten champion averaged 15 league victories.

Wisconsin is currently riding a five-game wining streak that includes victories over a Final Four team from last year (No. 12 Houston, 65-63) and three Power 5 schools (Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, and Marquette). Along the way, the Badgers captured their first-ever Maui Invitational title. Not bad for a team that seemingly had little quality talent beyond Jonathan Davis (averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Brad Davison (15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds per game).

Maryland’s already-long conference-title odds might soon be getting longer. Head coach Mark Turgeon resigned last week (with Danny Manning taking over in the interim). Turgeon’s departure came in the wake of the Terrapins dropping three straight games, including Sunday’s 67-61 home loss to Northwestern in the Big Ten opener.

The Long Shots

Rutgers +4,000 (4-4 SU/1-6-1 ATS)
Northwestern +6,600 (6-2 SU/5-3 ATS)
Penn State +10,000 (4-4 SU/2-6 ATS)
Minnesota +15,000 (7-0 SU/5-2 ATS)
Nebraska +15,000 (5-5 SU/4-6 ATS)

Rutgers has been a big disappointment on the scoreboard and at the betting window, suffering consecutive losses to DePaul, Lafayette, and Massachusetts in November. Those setbacks were followed by Friday’s 35-point loss at Illinois in the Scarlet Knights’ conference opener.

Conversely, undefeated 7-0 Minnesota has been an early surprise, posting three true road wins over Princeton (87-80, 2 OTs), Pittsburgh (54-53), and Mississippi State (81-76). The Golden Gophers, under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, also warrant kudos for winning both high- and low-scoring games. Minnesota has scored 54, 55, 71, 73, 78, 81, 84, and 87 points in its seven wins.

Northwestern (1-0 in Big Ten) has a 2-2 mark against Power 5 teams (including wins over Georgia and Maryland), fueling hopes of the Wildcats’ first winning season since 2017 (the only time school history the program made the NCAA Tournament). Penn State (0-1 Big Ten) has a lengthy rebuild under first-year head coach Micah Shrewberry. But here’s one scheduling positive: Of the four Big Ten opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25, the Nittany Lions will encounter only Michigan State twice this season.

Nebraska’s title odds will become longer with each passing week. The Cornhuskers’ upcoming slate includes No. 21 Ohio State, No. 19 Michigan State, Illinois, and top-ranked Purdue. A Nebraska victory in any of those games would be a major upset.

The post College Basketball Betting: Big Ten Conference Preview appeared first on Props.

With college football’s coaching carousel spinning at tornado-like speeds this week, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Geez — can’t anyone in this sport honor a commitment?”

The answer: Yes — we here at Props.com can. Unlike Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma and Brian Kelly at Notre Dame, we’re finishing the job we started back in early September, when we first unveiled our midweek College Football Betting Trends report.

Hot streaks, cold streaks, sides, totals — we’ve kept bettors updated on all the relevant college football betting trends involving FBS schools. Whether you’ve ridden moneymakers like Oklahoma State (9-1-1 ATS), Michigan (10-2 ATS), and Notre Dame (9-3 ATS) — or faded the likes of Indiana and New Mexico (both 1-10 ATS) — we hope you’ve been able to profit from this endeavor.

And we hope you will continue to profit, because we’ve got one more week of regular-season action before shifting gears to bowl season. This week, we’ll focus exclusively on the 10 conference championship games on the Week 13 college football betting board, providing trend details on each matchup.

As we’ve noted all season, the College Football Betting Trends report considers only FBS vs. FBS results.

All ATS and Over/Under stats are reflective of VegasInsider.com’s final consensus lines.

The Big Boys Get Ready To Rumble 

Alabama vs. Georgia (SEC Championship): How dominant has top-ranked Georgia been this season? After an ugly season-opening 10-3 victory over Clemson, the Bulldogs won 11 consecutive games by at least 17 points. That includes eight wins by at least 27 points.

Since its “narrow” 30-13 victory over Kentucky in mid-October, Georgia beat its next four FBS opponents by a combined score of 163-30. And the Dawgs surrendered more than 13 points in a game just once all season (Tennessee put up 17).

Georgia has been just as impressive at the betting window, going 8-3 ATS, with the only non-covers coming as a favorite of 31.5, 22.5, and 40 points.

The Bulldogs head to Atlanta as a 6.5-point favorite against Alabama, which is 11-1 SU but just 6-5 ATS in FBS vs. FBS matchups. The Crimson Tide have dropped three of their last four against the number.

Alabama is 8-4 to the Under, while Georgia has stayed low in six of its last seven games.

Iowa vs. Michigan (Big Ten Championship): Had Michigan held onto a 16-point second-half lead on Oct. 30 at Michigan State — a game the Wolverines lost 37-33 as a 4-point favorite — Jim Harbaugh’s squad would be on an 8-0 ATS tear. As it is, Michigan (10-2 ATS) is sitting side-by-side with Oklahoma State atop the point-spread mountain.

The Wolverines, who are 11-point favorites against Iowa, have won eight of 11 games by 15-plus points.

Iowa started the season 5-1 ATS but has cashed just twice in its last six games. The Hawkeyes are 2-1 ATS as an underdog, and both of their losses were double-digit blowouts (24-7 vs. Purdue; 27-7 at Wisconsin).

Choose Your Moneymaker  

Baylor vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship): This may or may not end up being the most compelling conference championship matchup on the field, but it’s certainly the most compelling from a betting perspective. That’s because Oklahoma State and Baylor are a combined 16-5-1 ATS in FBS-specific games.

The Cowboys’ nine-game spread-covering streak came to an end last week against Oklahoma — well, sort of: OSU won 37-33, pushing as a 4-point favorite. The Cowboys, who are a 5.5-point favorite for this neutral-site clash in Dallas, are still 9-0-1 ATS in their last 10, while Baylor (7-4 ATS overall) has cashed in six of its last eight.

Oklahoma State took down the Bears 24-14 as a 4-point home chalk on Oct. 2, with the game staying Under the 47.5-point total. The Cowboys have stayed low in all five of their games away from home, while the Under is 4-1 in the Bears’ last five overall.

Oregon vs. Utah (Pac-12 Championship): While these teams obviously won their respective divisions, they finished in the middle of the Pac-12 ATS standings. Oregon went 6-5 ATS in FBS action, while Utah was 5-6.

Both teams at least finished strong at the betting window. The Ducks cashed in four of their last five following a 1-4 ATS start, while the Utes failed to cover in their first three FBS contests but enter this meeting on a 5-3 ATS upswing. Two weeks ago, Utah bludgeoned Oregon 38-7 as a 3-point home favorite, with the game staying Under the total.

The Utes, who are a 2.5-point chalk for this rematch in Las Vegas, started the season 8-2 to the Over, but the Under has hit in their last two. The total has alternated in Oregon’s last five games, with last Saturday’s 38-29 win against Oregon State going Over.

Bearcats, Cougars Break Out The Claws 

Houston at Cincinnati (American Athletic Championship): Cincinnati joins Georgia as the nation’s only undefeated teams. However, the Bearcats rode a point-spread roller coaster along the way. Cincy started out 5-0 ATS in FBS action, failed to cash in its next four, then closed the regular season with consecutive spread covers.

The Bearcats, who are consensus 10.5-point home favorites against Houston, are 5-4 ATS as a double-digit chalk.

The Cougars are a middling 6-5 ATS in FBS-specific matchups, but have won 11 consecutive games since a season-opening 38-21 home loss to Texas Tech. Houston has been favored in every game but two: a 45-10 win as a 3.5-point underdog at Tulsa and a 44-37 victory over SMU in a pick ’em contest.

The Over is 7-3 in Houston’s last 10 (5-1 on the road), but the Under is 5-1 in the Bearcats’ last six.

Wake Forest vs. Pitt (ACC Championship): Pittsburgh is one of eight schools that is 8-3 ATS in FBS-specific contests, cashing in six of the last eight. The Panthers, who are laying 3 points in this neutral-site battle, also are a perfect 5-0 SU and ATS away from home.

Wake Forest started the season 2-0-1 ATS but has split its last eight at the betting window. The Demon Deacons have alternated spread covers in their last five outings, most recently getting the cash in last week’s 41-10 rout of Boston College as a 6-point chalk.

Although Wake stayed Under the total against B.C., the Over is still 6-2 in its last eight games. The Over is also 7-4 in Pittsburgh’s games this season. In fact, the Deacons (42.9 points per game) and Panthers (42.8 ppg) rank third and fourth in the nation, respectively, in scoring offense.

Can Hilltoppers Do It Again?

Western Kentucky at Texas-San Antonio (Conference USA Championship): Like Pitt, Western Kentucky is 8-3 ATS and enters this one on a five-game spread-covering roll. The Hilltoppers were double-digit favorites in four of those games, while the other was last week’s 53-21 beatdown at Marshall in a pick ’em affair.

Conversely, Texas-San Antonio started the season 7-1 ATS but has since failed to cover in its last three (including last week’s 45-23 loss at North Texas as an 8.5-point chalk). The Roadrunners, who are a 3-point home underdog in this contest, are 1-4 ATS in their last five at home, while Western Kentucky is 4-2 ATS on the road.

Then again, UTSA went to Western Kentucky on Oct. 9 and departed with a 52-46 victory as a three-point pup. That game sailed Over the total, and the Over is 7-4 in the Hilltoppers’ FBS contests this season and 6-2 in the Roadrunners’ last eight overall. However, the Under is 4-1 in UTSA’s five FBS home games.

Utah State at San Diego State (Mountain West): San Diego State suffered just one SU defeat in the regular season, but the Aztecs were dead-even against the oddsmakers in FBS play, going 5-5-1 ATS (including 3-3 ATS at home).

SDSU entered last week’s showdown against Boise State mired in a 1-4-1 ATS funk but rallied for a 27-16 upset as a 3-point home dog. The Aztecs, who are laying 5.5 points in the title game, are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four as a favorite.

Utah State (7-4 ATS overall) followed up a 2-3 ATS start with a 5-1 ATS finish. The Aggies are 6-0 SU/5-1 ATS on the road, the only non-cover being a 28-24 win at UNLV as a 7-point chalk. They’re also 4-2 SU and ATS as an underdog.

The Under is 6-3 in Utah State’s last nine (including 3-1 on the road), while the Aztecs have stayed low in six of their last eight (including three of four at home).

MAC-tion In The Motor City

Kent State vs. Northern Illinois (Mid-American Conference): Kent State enters this neutral-site game at Ford Field in Detroit on a 4-1 SU and ATS roll, including a wild 52-47 victory over Northern Illinois as a 3.5-point home favorite on Nov. 3.

The Golden Flashes, who are a consensus 3.5-point chalk in this rematch, are 5-2 ATS since failing to cover in their first four FBS games.

Northern Illinois went 6-4-1 ATS in FBS play, but the Huskies split their last six against the oddsmakers. Including the loss at Kent State, NIU went 4-2 ATS away from home. Conversely, the Flashes are 2-5 ATS on the highway.

The Huskies have hurdled the total in five of their last six, and Kent State has done the same in five of its last seven.

Appalachian State at Louisiana-Lafayette (Sun Belt Conference): Appalachian State had its five-game ATS winning streak halted (barely) in last week’s 27-3 victory over Georgia Southern as a 24.5-point home favorite.

The Mountaineers still own a strong 8-4 ATS mark, cashing in four of their five road games. The lone exception: a 41-13 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette as a 4.5-point home chalk on Oct. 12. Despite that result, App State is a consensus 3-point road favorite this week.

The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the season with a 38-18 loss at Texas but have since ripped off 11 consecutive victories. However, they’re just 5-6 ATS in FBS contests (3-2 ATS at home). On the other hand, UL-Lafayette has pulled off outright upsets in its last two as an underdog, knocking off App State at home and Liberty on the road (42-14 as a 4.5-point pup).

The Under is 5-2 in the Mountaineers’ last seven and 8-3 for the Ragin’ Cajuns overall.

ATS Standings

Best:
Oklahoma State 9-1-1
Michigan 10-2
Notre Dame 9-3
UAB 8-3
Appalachian State 8-3
Michigan State 8-3
North Texas 8-3
Kentucky 8-3
Pittsburgh 8-3
Washington State 8-3
Western Kentucky 8-3

Worst:
Indiana 1-10
New Mexico 1-10
FIU 2-9
TCU 2-9
Temple 2-8
Stanford 3-9
(11 teams tied at 3-8)

Over/Under Standings

Over:
Louisiana Tech 8-3
Rice 8-3
Tennessee 8-3
Tulsa 8-3
Arkansas 7-4
FIU 7-4
Houston 7-4
Nevada 7-4
Pitt 7-4
Utah 7-4
Western Kentucky 7-4

Under:
Boise State 2-10
Penn State 2-9
Illinois 3-9
Ball State 3-8
FAU 3-8
UL Lafayette 3-8
Mississippi 3-8
New Mexico 3-8
Washington 3-8

The post College Football Betting Trends: Conference Championship Edition appeared first on Props.

The 2.0 version of the 2021 College Football Playoff rankings have been released, and per usual, the playoff committee’s rankings don’t exactly align with the perceptions of oddsmakers, let alone those who vote in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

With a full month to go before “Selection Sunday” on Dec. 5, so much can (and will) change among the top four. Well, maybe three of the four, since the school sitting atop both the CFP rankings/CFP odds board appears to be a lock for either the Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl on Dec. 31.

Let’s break down the latest College Football Playoff odds heading into Week 11.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel and updated as of 12 noon ET on Nov. 10.

Georgia Bulldogs

Record: 9-0
College Football Playoff Ranking: 1st (last week: 1st)
AP Ranking: 1st (last week: 1st)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes -2400/No +1800

Remember the old days — you know, like 2020 — when big, bad Alabama could shake off an early deficit and cruise to a drama-free victory of 25 points or more?

Well, now Georgia has entered that same realm of dominance. For instance, last week the undefeated Bulldogs took the field as a 40-point favorite against Missouri and quickly spotted the Tigers an early 3-0 lead that held up for nearly the entire first quarter. Rather than panic, though, Georgia buckled down, went to work dissecting the Tigers, and rolled to a 43-6 victory.

The Dawgs continue to boast the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense (6.56 points allowed per game), the No. 2 total defense (allowing 213.8 yards per game), and an offense that has averaged 42 points per game since Week 2. In short, Georgia is fielding as complete a team as SEC rival Alabama did on its way to winning last year’s national championship.

Which is bad news for the three teams remaining on the Bulldogs’ regular-season schedule: Tennessee on the road (5-4, 3-3 in SEC), FCS fodder Charleston Southern at home (2-4 overall), and Georgia Tech (2-5 overall) on the road. All three obviously will be massive underdogs when they face Georgia. Assuming none of those underdogs pull off a historic upset, the Bulldogs will have their CFP ticket punched — no matter what happens in the SEC championship game.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 8-1
College Football Playoff Ranking: 2nd (last week: 2nd)
AP Ranking: 3rd (last week: 3rd)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes -112/No -112

FanDuel has Alabama (5-1 in SEC) as a tossup to reach the four-team playoff, despite the Crimson Tide’s top-3 rankings with the CFP (No. 2) and Associated Press (No. 3) polls. Here’s what those 50-50 College Football Playoff odds tell us: Oddsmakers are confident that Alabama cannot make the CFP without beating Georgia in the presumptive SEC championship game matchup.

Makes sense, because as we’ve stated numerous times, no two-loss program has reached the playoff in the event’s seven-year history. As such, Alabama has zero margin of error as it hits the home stretch with games against New Mexico State (Independent), Arkansas (No. 25 in CFP poll), and rival No. 17 Auburn (Nov. 27).

First, the Crimson Tide need victories in the latter two contests just to clinch a berth in the SEC title game. And if they get those victories, they then need to knock off Georgia to earn the opportunity to defend their title. And judging by Alabama’s current pick ’em College Football Playoff odds at FanDuel, it’s pretty clear oddsmakers favor the Bulldogs in a Georgia-Bama showdown.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Record: 7-1
College Football Playoff Ranking: 4th (last week: 5th)
AP Ranking: 6th (last week: 6th)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes -182/No +142

Ohio State’s uncomfortably close 26-17 road victory over Nebraska last week didn’t affect much on the national landscape, outside of dropping OSU’s scoring average fractionally below 45 points per game.

The Buckeyes still have a clear path to the playoff semifinals. They just have to sweep their remaining regular-season slate of Purdue (No. 19 in CFP poll), Michigan State (No. 7 CFP), and Michigan (No. 6 CFP), then take care of business in the Big Ten title game (Dec. 4 in Indianapolis).

Pull that off, and Ohio State wouldn’t require any outside help to snatch a Playoff invite — most likely as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. That’s because of the overall strength of the Big Ten (six teams in this week’s CFP top 20), which of course boosts the Buckeyes’ strength-of-schedule rating.

Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 9-0
College Football Playoff Ranking: 8th (last week: 8th)
AP Ranking: 4th (last week: 4th)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes -174/No +136

The biggest so-called “loser” of Tuesday night’s CFP rankings release wasn’t Michigan State, which plunged four spots to No. 7 after last week’s loss to Purdue. Rather, it was Oklahoma, which is still slotted at No. 8, behind five one-loss clubs (No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, and No. 7 Michigan State).

Is the CFP committee already signaling that if Oklahoma were to go 13-0 and win the Big 12 championship game that the Sooners would fail to crack the top four, assuming No. 5-ranked Cincinnati and a collection of those aforementioned one-loss teams win out?

Certainly, bookmakers don’t believe that to be a possibility, given the fact they currently have Oklahoma with the third-best College Football Playoff odds (behind Georgia and Ohio State).

This much is known: Like everyone on this list but Georgia, the Sooners cannot afford to slip up. That won’t be easy, though, as Oklahoma has a heavily back-loaded schedule that starts Saturday with Baylor (No. 13 in CFP poll), followed by Iowa State and Oklahoma State (No. 10 CFP). Make it through that gauntlet and the Sooners would have to face one of those squads again in the Big 12 title game.

Win that game, and the Sooners would be a shoo-in for the CFP, right? Not necessarily. The schedules of the Big Ten’s powers (Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan) are also back-loaded for maximum November impact. Which is why if Ohio State wins out, its profile will rise considerably.

In other words, even though oddsmakers like Oklahoma’s playoff chances at the moment, the reality is there’s a good chance the Sooners could become the first-ever undefeated Power 5 conference champion to miss out on the four-team playoff.

Oregon Ducks

Record: 8-1
College Football Playoff Ranking: 3rd (last week: 4th)
AP Ranking: 5th (last week: 7th)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes +225/No -310

Oregon’s No. 3 CFP ranking factors in the Ducks’ résumé-topping road win over Ohio State back in Week 2, their come-from-ahead defeat to Stanford in Week 5, and last week’s rain-soaked road victory over Washington.

However, that ranking hasn’t yet accounted for Oregon potentially claiming the Pac-12 title in December — a feat that would seemingly clinch the Ducks’ playoff invitation without the need for outside assistance.

Then again, Oregon’s playoff odds are significantly longer than No. 8 Oklahoma’s. That means oddsmakers believe the selection committee ultimately would vault an undefeated Big 12 champion Oklahoma — which this week is five spots behind the Ducks in the CFP rankings — over a one-loss Pac-12 champion Oregon.

Then there’s this: Ohio State right now is a solid favorite to make the Playoff, while the Ducks are a decided underdog. Thus, those same oddsmakers also believe the committee, if it comes down to it, will disregard Oregon’s win at Ohio State and take the one-loss Buckeyes over the one-loss Ducks.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Record: 9-0
College Football Playoff Ranking: 5th (last week: 6th)
AP Ranking: 2nd (last week: 2nd)
College Football Playoff odds: Yes +350/No -550

Cincinnati fans can delude themselves into believing all the No. 5 Bearcats need to do to snag a College Football Playoff slot is win out and hope for one more upset loss by a Power 5 team. But we all know how things would play out in the event of Oklahoma, Oregon, and either Ohio State/Michigan State/Michigan finish as zero- or one-loss champions of the Big 12, Pac-12, and Big Ten, respectively.

Those champs almost certainly will possess more playoff cachet than Cincinnati when comparing overall and conference strength of schedules.

And frankly, that’s a raw deal for the undefeated Bearcats, who have a signature road victory in their back pocket (at Notre Dame). Essentially, Cincinnati is being doubly penalized for playing in an inferior conference (American Athletic) and not having the foresight to — insert sarcasm here — schedule two road games against the Fighting Irish.

The post College Football Playoff Odds: Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State Control Destiny appeared first on Props.

Last week represented our first losing stanza in some time. Cue the sad trombone. We went 3-4 on these college football props last time around, but things are still looking up with a 13-6 record over the past three. Let’s zoom out a little bit and keep that momentum going. As usual, we will turn to PrizePicks for these listings.

PrizePicks is technically a fantasy sports site, although they allow you to wager on a series of prop bets within their platform. They are legal in 30 states as well, including some places that don’t allow sports betting at the moment. 

You can read more details on how and where to play Prizepicks by clicking here. 

Another cool thing about PrizePicks is that they have college football props listed. I have perused those lines to find the best College Football Props for Week 9 – all of which can be found on the PrizePicks app. 

With that, let’s get to the best props! 

QB Logan Bonner – Utah State: OVER 234.5 Passing Yards

This can’t be right? My model has Bonner conservatively projected for nearly 300 yards against Hawaii on Saturday. We’ll take that value…I guess? 

Bonner crossed this total in four of his last six games, and three of those weren’t even close with 275-300+ yards. He has proven his ability to air it out with a 390 yard game against North Dakota earlier this season. 

Logan Bonner dropped it right in the bread basket @USUFootball pic.twitter.com/6UMu0Tu0Kz

— Stadium (@Stadium) October 24, 2021

It’s not like Hawaii has an excellent pass defense either. The Warriors currently rank 113th in the country while allowing more than 282 passing yards per contest. 

I don’t understand why this passing prop is so low, but I’m not going to complain. Grab it before PrizePicks decides to rise it too much. I’ll take it up to 265 yards to be safe.  

QB Aidan O’Connell – Purdue: OVER 234.5 Passing Yards

O’Connell will take on Nebraska this weekend, a team that is coming off a bye with a pretty solid defense. However, I’m still very optimistic that the Boilermakers’ QB can easily surpass this prop. 

First off, O’Connell has beaten this passing total in much tougher matchups. He posted 371 yards against Minnesota and 375 yards against Iowa in back-to-back weeks. That’s pretty impressive.

The Purdue QB has volume on his side. In those aforementioned matchups, he slung the ball 52 and 40 times respectively. That’s a realistic range for his upcoming matchup with Nebraska. In fact, Purdue ranks eighth in the country in passing rate, as they throw the ball more than 60% of the time. 

Now let’s address the elephant in the room. O’Connell was extremely shaky against Wisconsin, tossing three interceptions. However, he’s still listed as QB1 for the Boilermakers. There’s a chance Jack Plummer will take some snaps if O’Connell struggles, but #16 will take the first reps.

Honestly, I believe O’Connell can easily march over this total on volume alone. This is another spot where my projections have him closer to 300 yards. That makes the prospect of losing a few snaps in a QB rotation more tolerable. 

RB Max Borghi – Washington State: OVER 56.5 Rushing Yards

It would be nice if Borghi got more carries, but we can safely assume that he’ll have 15-18 attempts to make it over this 56.5 rushing yard total. That comes out to anywhere from 3.14 to 3.77 yards per attempt. Pretty manageable, right? 

Borghi is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season, and his career marks are even better. That makes things look even better as far as this prop goes. 

Max Borghi (Washington State RB) shows great balance here to stay on his feet and score the touchdown!

He has some fans in the draft community and could be a solid 3rd down back at the next level! https://t.co/7JqlJhejil

— Good, Bettor, Bets (@GoodBettorPod) October 23, 2021

Arizona State has been decent against the run, but they still allow 3.8 yards per rushing attempt. That number starts to spike when you examine how the Sun Devils performed against legitimate running backs: 

• Tavion Thomas (RB – UTA): 20-84
• Zach Charbonnet (RB – UCLA): 21-89
• Tyler Allgeier (RB – BYU): 21-69

It’s safe to say that Borghi is in similar company as that list in terms of ability and rushing potential. The Wazzu RB has cleared 80 yards in back-to-back games, and I believe he has an excellent chance to make it three straight. 

More College Football Props

Jeff Sims (QB – GT) OVER 224.5 Pass Yards. Georgia Tech is not afraid to let Sims sling the ball around the yard. The Yellow Jackets’ QB has thrown for more than 297 yards in three straight games, yet his prop rests at a comfortable 224.5 level. Take the over! 

Makai Polk (WR – MSST) OVER 6.5 Receptions. Mississippi State loves to throw short passes, which really benefits Polk’s reception total. He has gone over 6.5 catches in five of seven games this season. The two shortcomings came in double-digit victories when the Bulldogs throttled back their passing game. That won’t be the case against #12 Kentucky.

The post PrizePicks College Football Props Week 9: Over The Rainbow Warriors appeared first on Props.