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Editor’s Note: We will track various gambling statistics related to SEC teams throughout the season and update them every week. This is the debut of this feature.
The first chart below is a running tally of how each SEC team has performed against the spread this season.
In other words, if Auburn is favored by 10 points, but wins by 20, the Tigers are +10 for that week. It gives us an idea of how teams are performing relative to expectations.
Texas A&M has outperformed expectations relative to the spread more than any SEC team, and it’s not even close. The Aggies have beaten the spread by an average of 28.5. Alabama (minus-13.5), South Carolina (minus-39) and Vanderbilt (minus-58) have underperformed against the Las Vegas line.
Tennessee’s combined ATS +/- is third in the SEC at plus-26.5, but the Vols entered the season opener against Utah State as just a three-point favorite and blew out the overmatched Aggies. Arkansas, ranked fourth, also got all of its positive points against the spread by demolishing Nicholls State.
In the right column is each team’s overall record against the spread. SEC teams are 16-10 against the spread through two weeks. Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Kentucky, LSU, Auburn and Georgia are unbeaten against the spread. Alabama, South Carolina and Vanderbilt are 0-2.
As an aside, Auburn now has covered the spread in 13 consecutive games. Coach Gus Malzahn is 22-6 ATS at Auburn.
| Team | ATS Combined +/- | ATS Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Texas A&M | +57 | 2-0 |
| 2. Ole Miss | +32 | 2-0 |
| 3. Tennessee | +26.5 | 1-1 |
| 4. Arkansas | +25.5 | 1-1 |
| 5. Kentucky | +25 | 2-0 |
| 6. LSU | +24 | 2-0 |
| 7. Florida | +23.5 | 1-0 |
| 8. Auburn | +19 | 2-0 |
| 9. Missouri | +16 | 1-1 |
| 10. Georgia | +14.5 | 1-0 |
| 11. Mississippi State | +2.5 | 1-1 |
| 12. Alabama | -13.5* | 0-2* |
| 13. South Carolina | -39 | 0-2 |
| 14. Vanderbilt | -58 | 0-2 |
*The game against Florida Atlantic ended as a push at several sports books because it was suspended and finalized about halfway through the fourth quarter. Alabama was leading 41-0 at the time. The Las Vegas Hilton line for the game closed at Bama -41.5.
SEC teams have been underdogs just three times this year through two weeks. All of those (Texas A&M at South Carolina, Arkansas at Auburn, Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss) were SEC games.
In other words, all 14 league teams have been favored in every non-conference game. Even Vandy.
The chart below will track the average line for each SEC team throughout the season as an indicator of perceived strength. Of the teams that have played two games, Alabama (minus-32) claims the highest average line. It’s one of the reasons the Tide is 0-2 ATS this season.
Vanderbilt (plus-10) is the only SEC team that is an underdog in its average game.
Texas A&M, as a 47-point favorite against Lamar last weekend, claims the largest spread of the season. The Aggies covered without difficulty, winning 73-3.
| Team | Average Line | Biggest Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Florida | -39# | -41.5 vs. Eastern Michigan |
| 2. Alabama | -32 | -41.5 vs. Florida Atlantic |
| 3. Mississippi State | -30 | -30.5 vs. Southern Miss |
| 4. Auburn | -25.5 | -34 vs. San Jose State |
| T5. Kentucky | -18.5 | -23.5 vs. Tennessee-Martin |
| T5. Texas A&M | -18.5 | -47 vs. Lamar |
| 7. LSU | -18 | -32.5 vs. Sam Houston State |
| 8. Missouri | -14.5 | -26 vs. South Dakota State |
| 9. Ole Miss | -14 | -18 vs. Vanderbilt |
| 10. South Carolina | -12.5 | -15 vs. East Carolina |
| 11. Arkansas | -11.5 | -40.5 vs. Nicholls State |
| 12. Tennessee | -10 | -16.5 vs. Arkansas State |
| 13. Georgia | -9.5 | -9.5 vs. Clemson |
| 14. Vanderbilt | +5 | -8 vs. Temple |
#Florida entered the game against Idaho as a 37-point favorite, but after a long delay and the opening kickoff, lightning cancelled the contest. The line was final so it is still included in our average.
The following chart tracks the average over/under for every SEC team as well as whether each team’s games go over or under the posted Vegas total.
The over is 14-12 in SEC games through two weeks.
Despite scoring 62.5 points per game against an average over/under of 69, overs are 1-1 in Texas A&M’s contests. Bettors hoping to capitalize on the Aggies’ potent offense had to contend with a 76.5-point total in the game against Lamar, which went under despite Kevin Sumlin directing a 73-point output.
Every Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia and Missouri game has gone over the total this season, while every Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt game has gone under.
The Commodores have faced the lowest average over/under at 49.5 points, but considering Vanderbilt has managed just 10 points in two games, it has been a profitable bet thus far.
| Team | Average Over/Under | Biggest Over/Under | Over/Under (Results) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Texas A&M | 69 | 76.5 vs. Lamar | 1/1 |
| 2. South Carolina | 63.5 | 65.0 vs. East Carolina | 1/1 |
| 3. Auburn | 62 | 67.0 vs. San Jose State | 2/0 |
| 4. Arkansas | 60.5 | 64.0 vs. Nicholls State | 2/0 |
| 5. Missouri | 58.0 | 62.0 vs. Toledo | 2/0 |
| 6. LSU | 57.5 | 66.0 vs. Sam Houston State | 1/1 |
| T7. Georgia | 56.0 | 56.0 vs. Clemson | 1/0 |
| T7. Mississippi State | 56.0 | 58.0 vs. UAB | 1/1 |
| 9. Tennessee | 55.5 | 59.5 vs. Arkansas State | 0/2 |
| 10. Florida | 53.5# | 56.5 vs. Eastern Michigan | 1/0 |
| 11. Alabama | 53.0 | 53.5 vs. West Virginia | 1/1 |
| 12. Kentucky | 52.0 | 52.5 vs. Arkansas State | 1/1 |
| 13. Ole Miss | 51.0 | 52.5 vs. Boise State | 0/2 |
| 14. Vanderbilt | 49.5 | 49.5 vs. Temple/Ole Miss | 0/2 |
#Florida entered the game against Idaho as a 37-point favorite, but after a long delay and the opening kickoff, lightning cancelled the contest. The line was final so it is still included in our average.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
