2019 college football betting trends — Week 1

By Bruce Marshall Special to the Review-Journal

5 years ago

In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe directs his players d ... — In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe directs his players during an NCAA college football practice in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

This photo taken Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, shows Duke head coach David Cutcliffe directs his players during an NCAA college football practice in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe looks toward the scoreboard during the first half of the Independence Bowl, an NCAA college football game against Temple, in Shreveport, La., Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Duke vs. Alabama (-33), at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta: Duke coach David Cutcliffe is 25-12-1 ATS as an underdog since 2013, 7-4 as a double-digit underdog, and has won and covered seven straight openers. The Crimson Tide have won and covered their last four openers, but are 5-8 ATS in their last 13 games as favorites away from home. Edge: Duke.

Toledo at Kentucky (-11½): Kentucky coach Mark Stoops went 0-9 against the spread as a home favorite the past two years and is on an 0-10 spread slide as a nonconference host. The Rockets were 1-4 ATS as underdogs last season. But they were 12-4 ATS as visitors the previous three years. Edge: Toledo.

Northwestern at Stanford (-6): Northwestern is 8-0 ATS as a visiting underdog since 2016, 14-3 ATS since 2014. The Wildcats also are 14-4-1 ATS as underdogs since 2016 and 14-4 ATS away from home since 2015. The Cardinal are on a 6-11 spread skid as home chalk. Edge: Northwestern.

Boise State at Florida State (-6½): Willie Taggart went 4-8 ATS in his Florida State coaching debut last season. The Seminoles are on an 8-15-2 spread skid since 2017. Boise State coach Bryan Harsin is 5-2 ATS as an underdog with the Broncos and 23-11 ATS away from home. Edge: Boise State.

Georgia (-22½) at Vanderbilt: Kirby Smart has won and covered big in his last two games against Vanderbilt after getting upset at home by the Commodores in 2016. The Bulldogs are 7-4 ATS as visiting chalk for Smart and riding a 20-10 cover streak overall. Vanderbilt is 1-5 ATS as a home underdog the past two years. Edge: Georgia.

Oregon vs. Auburn (-3½), at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas: Mario Cristobal is 5-9 ATS as Oregon’s coach, and the Ducks are 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine as underdogs away from Eugene. Tigers coach Gus Malzahn is 6-4-1 ATS since 2016 as chalk away from home. Edge: Auburn.

Louisiana Tech at Texas (-20½): Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz is 14-4-1 ATS as a road underdog since 2014 and is on a 6-2 cover run as a nonconference road underdog. Texas coach Tom Herman went 0-4 ATS as a double-digit favorite last season and is 2-11-1 ATS in that role since 2016. Edge: Louisiana Tech.

Fresno State at Southern California (-13½): Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford is 20-6-2 ATS the last two years, 7-0 ATS as an underdog and 12-2-2 ATS away from home. USC coach Clay Helton is on an 8-19 spread skid and 3-9 ATS slide as home chalk. Edge: Fresno State.

Sunday

Houston at Oklahoma (-23): This is Dana Holgorsen’s Houston coaching debut. The Cougars are on a 13-3-1 cover run as underdogs. The Sooners went 3-6 ATS as double-digit favorites last season and are on a 3-5 spread skid in nonconference home games. Edge: Houston.

Monday

Notre Dame (-18) at Louisville: This is Scott Satterfield’s Louisville coaching debut. The Fighting Irish were 2-5-1 ATS as double-digit favorites last season and 0-3 ATS as at least 20-point favorites. The Cardinals went 1-11 ATS last season, but Satterfield went 13-3-1 ATS in his last 17 games on the board at Appalachian State. Edge: Slight to Louisville.

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Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall is editor of The Gold Sheet. He provides the Review-Journal with college football tech notes and trends.