Though the lines have been out at some sportsbooks since February for the first week of the upcoming college football season, sharps have started moving the lines on some key games. Several high profile games are seeing odds moving in different direction than when they were initially posted.
South Point dportsbook director Chris Andrews told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he has seen some significant odds changes from when he posted lines earlier this week.
“Whatever I put up, I think is the right number,” Andrews said. “But I certainly respect the guys playing us. These are all pretty smart guys betting us and I like to see what the sharp guys think. It helps me with my power ratings and with whatever adjustments we make.”
Notre Dame, Alabama Shift Substantially
One example of a dramatic line adjustment was the Notre Dame-Michigan game on Sept. 1. The Fighting Irish were favored by a touchdown when the line came out, but the professional bettors jumped all over that game. It went from a -7 for Notre Dame to a -1.
Brian Kelly’s team is coming off a 10-3 season a postseason win in the Citrus Bowl against LSU. They do enter this year with a quarterback controversy. When Brandon Wimbush struggled after starting most of the year, Kelly replaced him with Ian Book. The two will fight it out to see who takes the most snaps for the team. Wimbush is at the top of the depth chart, but Book could replace him if he struggles. Notre Dame is not expected to contend for the National Championship and is listed at 55/1.
Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is excited that his transfer has been ruled eligible. Former Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson should be behind center for the upcoming season, and the Wolverines might actually have the premier signal caller Harbaugh has been searching for the last few years. Michigan jumped up to 15/1 to win the National Championship on the news.
Roll Tide Rolling
Alabama was already a big favorite to defeat Louisville when the two open their seasons on Sept. 1, but the Crimson Tide shot up to 25 points almost instantly. Alabama is the preseason No. 1, and favored to win the National championship at 9/4.
But the Tide have a possible quarterback controversy between Junior Jalen Hurts and sophomore Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts struggled in a spring game, while Tagovailoa is rehabbing from surgery on his throwing hand. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season, and it could produce some friction on the team.
Another big line move was Florida State hosts Virginia Tech on Sept. 3. The line was a pick ’em, but has gone all the up to 5.5 points in FSU’s favor.
The Seminoles replaced their coach and are 30/1 picks to win the title. The biggest question is can new Head Coach Willie Taggert mold this team to a contender this season? FSU finished 7-6 last year and many believe they will improve, but not as much as the public believes.
