College Football Odds: SEC Week 9 picks against the spread
Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain during the second quarter of a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Only nine SEC teams are in action in Week 9, but each game has major implications. We pick each SEC football game against the spread.
After last week’s results, it’s important to remind yourself that picking games against the spread (especially if you are wagering hard-earned money on the games) is a marathon and not a sprint.
Overall, it’s been a good season. We’re 45-17 straight up, 36-26 against the spread, which is a profitable 58.1 percent success rate, and even a solid 35-27 (56.5 percent) when picking over/unders. We’ve done this eight weeks in a row, and have posted a losing record only twice. If you’ve followed the advice in these pages this season, you’ve done pretty well for yourself.
That said, last week was bad. We’d have done better flipping a coin.
It started when Auburn forced overtime against Arkansas. Had the Tigers missed their late fourth quarter field goal, they would have covered. Had Auburn been able to hold on in either the first or third overtime after scoring touchdowns, they would have won and covered. Had either team won by a field goal, they would have covered. Had the Tigers been able to stop Arkansas’ two-point conversion in the fourth overtime, they would have pushed. Instead, the Razorbacks pulled out an eight-point victory, and we started the day 0-1.
Things only got worse from there. A fast start by Alabama fell flat and Missouri lost outright, then Texas A&M and Kentucky were completely outclassed in their trips to the Magnolia State. Only LSU covered, which helped us avoid an even more embarrassing shutout.
- 2015 Straight Up: 45-17 (.726)
- 2015 Against the Spread: 36-26 (.581)
- 2015 Over/Under: 35-27 (.565)
- Last Week Straight Up: 3-3 (.500)
- Last Week Against the Spread: 1-5 (.167)
- Last Week Over/Under: 2-4 (.333)
Of course, last week is over and it’s time to move on. There is a light schedule of games in the SEC, only five of which we will predict because Arkansas plays FCS opponent UT-Martin. As we continue the marathon, and aim to get a new winning streak started, here are this week’s SEC picks against the spread.
Note: the point spreads referenced in the pages that follow come via VegasInsider.com and are accurate as of Thursday, October 29, 2015.
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