North Carolina vs LSU at Georgia Dome (Neutral Site)
Saturday, 9/4/10, 8:00 PM EST, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Pick
Current Betting Line: LSU -7.5
Opening Total: 39.5
Current Total: 43.5
Current Moneyline: LSU -320, North Carolina +270
All odds taken from Bookmaker
North Carolina enters the first game of the 2010-11 football season surrounded in controversy due to off-the-field problems. Defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little are the main issues at hand, as the NCAA is investigating if they received improper benefits from agents. Austin definitely will not play in Saturday’s clash, being suspended indefinitely by head coach Butch Davis earlier this week. “It is kind of a distraction,” said senior quarterback T.J. Yates. “But we kind of look at it as we’ve already taken our adversity for the season. The Tar Heels were 8-5 last season and will be making their first trip to the Georgia Dome since a win over Auburn in the 2001 Peach Bowl. This will be the first neutral site meeting between the two schools, with the team posting a 1-5 mark in the previous six contests.
The Tar Heels’ rushing defense was tenth in the nation last year, allowing 95.6 yards per game, while the team allowed 17.1 points per game overall. The team was really able to establish a running game late in the 2009-10 season, improving from 59.8 yards per game in the first four games to 151.8 over its final seven. North Carolina has compiled an impressive 6-2 ATS record as an underdog over the last two years and the total is 5-3 O/U in those contests. The number improves when placed in today’s spot, as the team is 2-0 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.
LSU returns 12 starters from a team that went 9-4 last year and quarterback Jordan Jefferson is set to begin his second full season behind center. He threw for 2,166 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while leading an offense that ranked 112th last season with 304.5 yards per game. Jefferson will become the first quarterback to start back-to-back season openers for LSU since JaMarcus Russell in 2005-06. The Tigers will turn the page on the best decade in school history, winning 99 games and playing in 10 bowl games, including capturing a pair of national titles in 2003 and 2007. The team also brings a seven-game winning streak in season openers into this contest, with head coach Les Miles being 5-0 over that span.
The Tigers return to the Georgia Dome for the first time since their 38-3 win over Georgia Tech in the 2008 Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Don’t expect the team to be disappointed in starting the season at this venue due to its 7-1 all-time mark and six of those wins coming against teams ranked in the Top 15. Miles is also a dominating 19-0 in non-conference regular season games as head coach. LSU is just 1-2 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points over the last two years and 8-16 ATS overall during that span. The team has lined up against five ACC opponents since 1992, tallying a 4-1 ATS mark and the total is 3-2 O/U in those contests.
Bettors will find it hard to pass up the Tigers in this spot, especially with Miles being a perfect 3-0 against the ACC while manning the sidelines. In those three games, LSU outscored opponents by a 126-13 margin.
With a high profile game like as well as it hovering around the key number of 7, bettors should be sure to bookmark our college football point spread page which gives you up to date odds from multiple online books so you know you are always getting the best number. Also if you have already get on board for Saturday college football picks, it should be another winning weekend for the Maddux Sports client base.
