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SEC football resumes Saturday at noon ET as Georgia hosts Tennessee. There are three conference games later in the day as well.
Brian Edwards, a long-time Las Vegas handicapper with an emphasis on SEC football, will provide his thoughts and insights on the line moves throughout the 2014 season. Edwards, a University of Florida graduate, is a weekly radio guest in Las Vegas, Omaha and Memphis and makes regular appearances on Chad Millman’s betting podcast on ESPN.com.
You can check out his work on Twitter or on his website, BrianEdwardsSports.com.
SATURDAY
Tennessee at Georgia
Kickoff: Noon ET
Friday Line: Georgia -17.5 (opened -17)
Over/Under: 57.5 (opened 55.5)
Public: 54 percent Vols
Edwards: “I think it’s a perfect number. I made it 17 myself and I haven’t seen a whole lot of line movement. It’s just a good number.”
The Play: Stay away.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
Kickoff: Noon ET
Friday Line: Kentucky -17.5
Over/Under: 49.5 (opened 50)
Public: 69 percent Wildcats
Edwards: “It seems a touch high, but Vandy’s not a play-on team right now. I think Vandy’s a better team with Patton Robinette under center, but he suffered a concussion last week. Jordan Cunningham, one of their best receivers, left the team this week. Brian Kimbrow, their second-leading rusher, is suspended indefinitely. Their best pass rusher, Kyle Woestmann, is questionable this week. Vanderbilt’s just a mess right now.”
The Play: Stay away.
Arkansas at Texas A&M
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Friday Line: Texas A&M -9.5 (opened -8.5 at the LVH)
Over/Under: 72 (opened 72)
Public: 65 percent Aggies
Edwards: “The Wynn in Vegas opened it at 14.5. Within an hour they were down to 11.5. It got to 8.5 in quite a few spots Tuesday.
“I like Texas A&M and the over. I made the over 83. It’s rare that I have a double-digit discrepancy. I think the total’s going to go up. You look at their last three head-to-head meetings, combined scores of 80, 68 and 78. Texas A&M’s averaging 55.2 points per game and Arkansas is averaging 48.8 points per game.
“The quarterbacks are playing well. Kenny Hill would probably finish second if the Heisman votes were tallied today behind Marcus Mariota, and Brandon Allen’s playing very well.
“I think the jury’s still out on how improved Texas A&M’s defense is. I think a major part of every handicap involving an Arkansas game is what sort of run defense the opponent’s got, and we don’t really know with A&M yet. The only team they’ve played that was any good was South Carolina, and South Carolina was in comeback mode that whole game and Mike Davis wasn’t 100 percent healthy.
“I just don’t think Arkansas is going to have any answers for Kenny Hill and company.”
The Play: Over the total, with a lean to Texas A&M also.
Louisiana Tech at Auburn
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Friday Line: Auburn -33 (opened -32.5)
Over/Under: 61.5 (opened 61)
Public: 71 percent Tigers
Edwards: “I don’t know what the hell happened to them last week. They were playing extremely well and they lost outright to Northwestern State. They’ve got a terrific running back in Kenneth Dixon. LSU is a revenge game for Auburn next week.
“Auburn didn’t play well last week. I downgraded them in my power rankings. They were very lucky to escape with a ‘W.’ I don’t know what happened to La. Tech last week. I watched them a couple Thursdays ago against North Texas and they were dynamite.”
The Play: Stay away. If you have to pick, Louisiana Tech.
Missouri at South Carolina
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Friday Line: South Carolina -5.5 (opened -6)
Over/Under: 62 (opened 61.5)
Public: 65 percent Gamecocks
Edwards: “Missouri was my favorite play last week and that was obviously a dud. I’m extremely disappointed in the Tigers. Both of these teams got caught in look-ahead spots last week. Neither covered and Mizzou lost outright at home.
“Both quarterbacks are playing well. But South Carolina’s defense, they’re so shaky. I can’t trust them.
“I don’t like the game.”
The Play: Stay away.
Memphis at Ole Miss
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday Line: Ole Miss -21 (opened -18)
Over/Under: 59 (opened 59)
Public: 56 percent Rebels
Edwards: “I’m getting more interested in Memphis as the week goes. I made Ole Miss a 16.5-point favorite. It’s as big of a look-ahead situation as you’ll ever get. It’s probably going to be the first time ever that GameDay has been to Oxford. And Memphis is playing well. They only lost by seven against UCLA and they beat Middle Tennessee State pretty good last week.
“That major look-ahead is worth a point and a half to me. I think the true number should be 18 after I made it 16.5. As it’s gone up a little North of 21, I lean to Memphis. If it gets to 22 or even higher, I’m definitely going to have a small play on Memphis.”
The Play: Memphis.
New Mexico State at LSU
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday Line: LSU -43 (opened -42.5)
Over/Under: 56 (opened 56)
Public: 57 percent Tigers
The Play: Stay away.
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.
