The Sports Club, a Las Vegas-based oddsmaking service that influences lines throughout Nevada and offshore, was one of the first to release its college football lines for Week 1. Here is a look at where they opened the lines earlier this summer for five games in Week 1 and where the numbers have moved since.
South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Commodores
Sports Club's Opening line: Vandy +4.5
Current: Vandy +6.5 This line moved to 7 and has dropped to 6 at a few books. Those jumping on Vandy can't resist the temptation of a team that went 9-4 ATS (against the spread) and returning 18 starters - second-most in the SEC behind Tennessee and Florida (19).
Gamecocks RB Marcus Lattimore is also coming off an ACL injury last season and will be wearing a knee brace. Lattimore is 15-1 to win the Heisman Trophy.
Before the Commodores' hype machine gets rolling with too much steam though, keep in mind South Carolina is the second favorite to win the SEC East and Vandy hasn't won a season opener against an SEC opponent since 1988 (Miss St.).
Tennessee Volunteers at N.C. State Wolfpack
Opening line: Tennessee Pk
Current: N.C. State +3This line was 3.5 as late as Wednesday night, but was bumped back to 3 by Thursday morning. Vols bettors haven't been deterred by the fact that SEC-leading receiver Da'Rick Rogers was booted off the team last week for what
he says was due to failed drug tests.
Chalk this move up to conference bias. The SEC has proven it's the most dominant league in the land and the ACC is 0-3 in these Chik-fil-A season openers at the Georgia Dome. North Carolina. State also lost to South Carolina in the 2008 and 2009 openers and the Gamecocks are the only SEC team the Wolfpack has managed to beat since 1994.
San Jose St. Spartans at Stanford Cardinal
Opening line: over/under 57
Current: 51.5Most books released this one at 53.5 or so and it's since come down a couple of points.
With the departure of Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, it looks like the Cardinal offense will lean heavily on running back Stepfan Taylor. For bettors, that means more time ticking off the clock, which makes the under appealing.
Keep in mind though, Stanford racked up a school-record 446 yards rushing in a 65-21 win over Washington last season.
Southern Miss. Golden Eagles at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Opening line: -17
Current: Nebraska -20.5Just about every book opened this one at 17 and it's climbed to 20 or higher in recent days. Makes sense. It's tough to bet against a team that has won a national-leading 26 straight openers.
Southern Miss is breaking in a new QB (Chris Campbell) after finishing the season in the Top 20 in points and yards per game last year. Bettors might also be wondering if the Eagles' thoughts are elsewhere for this game with Hurricane Isaac barreling down on their home on the Gulf Coast.
SMU Mustangs at Baylor Bears
Opening line: Baylor -15
Current: Baylor -10Bettors are fading Baylor like it just lost a Heisman Trophy winner - oh wait, it did. It could also be due to the fact that SMU is coming off a bowl season and Texas transfer Garrett Gilbert is taking control of a balanced offense at QB.
While it's true there's no RG3 for the Bears, 2012 starter Nick Florence is a senior and has experience as the first stringer for Baylor. There should be a packed house in Waco for this one and the Bears have covered the spread in nine straight meetings against SMU going back to 1989.