Every week, Rock M Nation will post the SEC betting lines for that week’s slate of games. DISCLAIMER: Rock M Nation is not an online gambling operator, nor a gambling site of any kind. We are simply here to provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only. None of the staff will be using this information for gambling purposes and are not liable for any losses incurred due to the analysis contained within.
Look. See. I mean. Sometimes college football is dumb. Apparently it’s
especially dumb on the games that I pick. To be fair, Best Bets did pick the right teams to win their games last week. In fact, we were a perfect 6-0 in that regard. Unfortunately, that’s now how spreads work. So thanks a lot, Texas, for no-showing in Lexington. Thanks a lot, Iowa, for only Penn State by one point rather than three. And thanks a lot, Aggies, for giving up a garbage time touchdown to Arkansas. I’m not bitter. All in all, we still went 3-3 overall last week, but only 1-2 on Best Bets, which are now 13-11 on the season after a dry spell here. We’re still above .500 overall at 25-23 so it’s not panic time yet, but we need a get-right week. I think we have it here in Week 9.
Best Bets
SMU (-3.5) @ Wake Forest
SMU is coming off a massive win at Clemson last week (hey, we picked that one right at least) and they go back on the road to the East Coast again this week against the Demon Deacons. If this game were in Dallas I’d worry about a let-down spot, but since it’s on the road I think the Mustangs will get back up for this one. SMU has not lost a regular season ACC game in the history of their program. I don’t think that’ll happen this week either. Give me the ’tangs. Is “tangs” a thing? I’m making it a thing.
Auburn @ Arkansas (+1.5)
In perhaps the most depressing game of the SEC season, two teams that can’t win play in a game where the rules specifically state that one of them has to win. This is the classic strength on strength, weakness on weakness match up. Mizzou fans know how good Auburn’s defense is, and despite the Hogs’ offense running wild in recent weeks, I think the Tigers will be able to slow them down. Auburn’s offense sucks but Arkansas’s defense is even worse. This actually might be a really fun game to watch in a real sicko way, but I think ultimately Auburn will finally end up on the right side of one of these close games.
Alabama (-12.5) @ South Carolina
South Carolina has officially entered “season from hell” territory after their most recent blow out loss at home to Oklahoma. Alabama is the hottest team in the SEC, if not the country as things seem to be clicking on both sides of the ball for the Tide. I see Alabama getting a two-to-three score lead early and the Gamecocks laying down, leading to a blow out.
Worth a look
Baylor @ Cincinnati (-4.5)
Cincinnati is sneakily off to a 6-1 start. Now sure, that’s 6-1 in the Big 12, but hey, Baylor is a Big 12 team too. The Bears just got throttled by rival TCU and Dave Aranda is back on hot seat watch. This game is in Cincinnati so I expect the Bearcats to handle the Bears by at least a touchdown and make Aranda really start sweating.
Stanford (+30.5) @ Miami
No, Stanford is not going to win this game. They aren’t even going to keep this game particularly close. However, 30.5 points is a LOT of points, especially for a Miami team that, while talented, doesn’t have the most high-flying offense in the country. The Hurricanes will wrack up a 3-4 touchdown lead early and sit on the score the rest of the way, which is great for us big-spread squatters.
Colorado State @ Wyoming (-5.5)
Wyoming might be the most boring team in the country, and they are only 3-4, but they should be 4-3 after completing blowing multiple opportunities to win at Air Force last week. Colorado State just fired Jay Norvell after a disappointing 2-5 start, so don’t expect the Rams to put up much of a fight in the underrated Battle for the Bronze Boot rivalry. I’ll take the Pokes in a boring win.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.
