Week 3 of college football resumes with a trio of games under the Friday night lights. Covers checks in on the action and odds movement for all three contests, with insights from Randy Madayag, sportsbook supervisor at The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.
Kansas Jayhawks at Boston College Eagles – Open: -21; Move: -22; Move: -21.5; Move: -21; Move: -22; Move: -21.5; Move: -21; Move: -20.5
After opening with an outright win over Virginia Tech as a home ‘dog, Boston College had a much easier Week 2 test, against an FCS opponent. The Eagles (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) pounded Richmond 45-13, coming up just short as 33.5-point faves by allowing a field goal with 12 seconds left.
In Weeks 1 and 2 at home, Kansas hasn’t looked good under new coach Les Miles, and now hits the road for this 7:30 p.m. ET meeting. The Jayhawks needed a late touchdown to beat FCS opponent Indiana State in Week 1, then lost to Coastal Carolina 12-7 laying 7 points at home last week.
MGM books took a mid-five-figure wager on Boston College on Monday, leading to the initial line move of Eagles -21 to -22, then got a $22,000 BC Wager on Tuesday.
“We lose about $40,000 if Boston College covers, and we pick up $40,000-$50,000 on Kansas,” Madayag said, noting the book took a $33,000 wager Wednesday on the Jayhawks +21.5. “We are still rooting for the Jayhawks right now.”
North Carolina Tar Heels at Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Open: -3; Move: None
Tonight’s first kickoff, at 6 p.m. ET, is expected to be the most competitive one, as Mack Brown seeks to stay unbeaten in his second stint as North Carolina coach. The Tar Heels (2-0 SU and ATS) nabbed outright wins as underdogs in Weeks 1 and 2, beating Miami 28-25 as 5-point home pups Saturday, and they’re a ‘dog again this week.
Wake Forest is also out of the gate 2-0 SU, though it has yet to cover the closing number. The Demon Deacons went to Rice as 20-point favorites in Week 2 and held a 41-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, but gave up a late TD to push in a 41-21 victory.
“We’ve got a small decision there,” Madayag said of a game that hasn’t moved off of Wake -3. “We need Wake Forest.”
No. 20 Washington State Cougars at Houston Cougars – Open: +7.5; Move: +8.5; Move: +9.5; Move: +9; Move: +9.5; Move: +9; Move: +9.5
Washington State, the only ranked team on tonight’s docket, is out to a 2-0 SU start (1-1 ATS), albeit against a couple of lightweights. In Week 2, the Cougars were 43-point home favorites against FCS outfit Northern Colorado and fell just short of covering in a 59-17 pasting.
Houston plays its second top-20 outfit of the season, after falling at Oklahoma 49-31 but covering the 21.5 points in Week 1. The Cougars (1-1 SU and ATS) got a breather in Week 2 against FCS foe Prairie View, but couldn’t cover the hefty 36-point spread in a 37-17 home win.
“A small decision there, too. We need Houston,” Madayag said of a 9:15 p.m. ET kickoff. “Wiseguys moved the line from 7.5 to 9.5.”
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
