There were several good and bad bets this season in college football. Unfortunately for us, we tended to drift toward the bad bets in our weekly Lockness Monsters.
Here’s a list of the best and worst teams against the spread this season in college football.
Best
South Florida, 9-2-1 ATS
The season didn’t start out great for the Bulls, going 1-3 straight up. South Florida eventually got things going in the right direction, and finished 7-1 straight up in its final eight games.
That win/loss record was aided by several blowouts, which assured South Florida bettors of cashing in their bets.
Best cover: 65-27 win against Cincinnati. The Bulls actually entered the game as one-point underdogs, and led at halftime 51-3. In the categories of easy covers, nothing can possibly beat that.
Worst beat: 35-17 loss against Maryland. The Terrapins were only 6.5-point favorites, and defeated South Florida by more than two touchdowns.
Worst
Central Florida, 2-10 ATS
It wasn’t all good in Florida. Central Florida was the worst team in college football season, only a few years removed from being in a BCS bowl. The Knights were 0-12 and weren’t really close in many of their games.
Best cover: 45-30 loss to Tulsa. Tulsa needed three fourth-quarter scores to hold off Central Florida.
Worst beat: 16-15 loss to Furman. This was still when oddsmakers were overvaluing the Knights. Central Florida was actually 24-point favorites against Furman…and lost.
Here are some noteworthy power-five conference teams that did well and not-so-well against the spread.
Oklahoma, 9-3 ATS
Usually the Sooners wouldn’t be this high against the spread. But after losing to Texas, oddsmakers began undervaluing the Sooners, and all they did was put up major points on the board. Oklahoma was one of the best bets as the season closed among power-five teams.
Best cover: 55-0 win against Kansas State. This was a game just after the Texas loss and the Sooners entered the game as only four-point favorites in Manhattan, Kansas. The Sooners were up 35-0 at half.
Worst beat: 24-17 loss to Texas. How did this team lose to the Longhorns? We’re not sure, but oddsmakers were expecting the Sooners to win. Oklahoma was 16.5-point favorites.
Auburn, 3-9 ATS
In the past two seasons, the Tigers are a combined 7-18 against the spread. The Tigers continually are overvalued by the public and by oddsmakers, and we’re not sure when their value will come down to where it should be.
Best cover: 26-10 win against Texas A&M. The Tigers actually entered this game as 7.5-point underdogs, and won a hard-fought road game.
Worst beat: 27-20 win against Jacksonville State. This could have been the biggest upset of the season, but Jacksonville State couldn’t finish. The Tigers were 39.5-point favorites.
Washington State, 9-3 ATS
The Cougars lost their first game against a FCS opponent, but by the end of the year, were one of the better teams in the Pac-12.
Best cover: 45-38 win against Oregon. The Cougars were 15.5-point underdogs at Oregon and won in overtime. If these two teams faced at the end of the season, we’re not so sure this spread would be much different. But at this time, the Cougars were playing a high level, while the Ducks were at their worst.
Worst beat: 24-17 loss to Portland State. There were a couple bad games, but we can’t dismiss losing to a FCS team. The Cougars were 31-point favorites in this home contest.
Georgia Tech, 3-9 ATS
Remember when we loved the Yellow Jackets? We do, and that didn’t last long. Georgia Tech was horrible straight up and against the spread during a season that was one of the most disappointing in college football.
Best cover: 22-16 win against Florida State. Everything had to come together for the Yellow Jackets in this game. Georgia Tech blocked a field goal and scored a touchdown on the block with no time remaining to beat the spread as six-point underdogs.
Worst beat: 34-20 loss to Duke. The Yellow Jackets started showing their true colors in this early season game, losing by two touchdowns, while being a 7.5-point favorite.
