The wiseguys have been moving lines again. This week, few games have seen as much sharp money as the Indiana/Michigan match-up that takes place this Saturday afternoon. The professionals must have noticed strong situations in Indiana’s favor because the Hoosiers have been getting the brunt of the sharps’ wagers.
Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 3:30 pm, TV: NBC
Opening Line: Notre Dame -6
Current Line: Notre Dame -3 1/2
Opening Total: 52
Current Total: 52
Money Line: Notre Dame -175/ Michigan +155 Lines Take From Bookmaker Sportsbook offering a 20% bonus to all new football bettors.
When it comes to looking for teams to get behind as a bettor in college football, there is one type I like most. There are the teams that everyone knows are good, and the ones that are really lousy, but there is only so much opportunity in those. What I really like is the teams that are likely to be solidly better than people expect them to be. The public is very quick to develop expectations for teams, and those expectations aren’t always grounded in truth. If you can spot teams that are better than the public perception of them than you can often find very attractive value. Here are five teams that we pegged as potentially under-appreciated by the public prior to the season and as we head into week 2 of the season it is interesting to note that these teams went 4-1 ATS in week 1.
Connecticut Huskies at Michigan Wolverines, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Saturday, September 3, 2010, 3:30 pm EST, TV: ABC or ESPN2 (check local listings) Opening Line: Michigan -2 1/2
Current Line: Michigan -3 Opening total: 54
Current total: 52.5
Current Money Line: Mich -150/UConn +130
With the start of college football season, there is no preseason to gauge how a team looks. It’s important for college football handicappers to have the right information and know which team will start off hot or cold. There are a lot ways to analyze the season. From statistical review to how many starters are returning. But like the old saying a fish rots from the head down, it may serve a person to take a look at some of the coaches who have a lot to prove or a lot of pressure. The Big 10 seems to have a lot of coaches facing the wrath of their alumni.
When it comes to handicapping NCAA football (or any other sport, for that matter), desperate coaches can be very useful. When a coach is clearly and obviously on a hot seat and coaching for their continued employment sparks can often fly. You can’t always predict how coaches in these positions are going to respond. Some rise to the challenge by adapting their approach, adjusting their schemes, changing their staffs, and bringing renewed vigor to their job. Others get overwhelmed by the challenge and look even more lost than they already have. While you can’t be sure which approach coaches will take in these situations, what you can be fairly sure of is that something is definitely going to change, and change can be very useful for bettors who can spot it and capitalize on it. Here’s a look at five guys who are certainly on the hot seat this year:
The University of Michigan has admitted to violating NCAA rules and imposed penalties on itself. The school released a list of penalties including cutting back practice time by 130 hours over the next two years, cutting the number of assistants and banning them from practices and coaching meetings for the rest of 2010, and a two-year probation. The school also will issue letters of reprimand to head football coach Rich Rodriguez and six other staff members.
Michigan will announce self-imposed penalties Monday
Michigan pledged to respond Monday to NCAA allegations that head football coach Rich Rodriguez violated the organization’s rules. The school will disclose all the details about the allegations and its self-imposed penalties in a reports set to be released on May 24. The allegations against Rodriguez include failing to create an environment of acceptance within the football team as well as failing to track his staff’s actions to ensure his players’ compliance with the NCAA rules. The allegations state that he failed to make sure that his players were following rules on the amount of time spent on football activities.