This week marks the beginning of a fuller conference season slate for the Pac-12 and SEC, while the Big 12 will see four of its 10 members play conference matchups.
The ACC and Big 10 are still a week away from playing the majority of its games within the conference.
So far in the mostly non-conference season, the ACC has been the leader against the spread with a 24-14 record ATS. The Big 10 stumbled last week to a 5-9 record against the spread, while the Pac-12 has recovered a bit since a tough opening week.
ACC, 24-14 ATS
Last week wasn’t a banner week for the ACC, but it didn’t have a terrible week. In six games against power-five conferences, the conference went 3-3 straight up and 3-3 against the spread. Georgia Tech, Duke and Pittsburgh failed to make a statement on the national level, but Miami avenged a loss last year against the Cornhuskers. The only problem for the Hurricanes was that Nebraska turned in a miraculous backdoor cover, to stop the conference from another win against the spread.
North Carolina State is the only team undefeated against the spread at 3-0. The Wolfpack haven’t played anyone of note yet, and is winning by an average of 29 points per game, and averaging a plus-6.7 mark against the spread.
The worst team so far against the spread is Virginia. The Cavaliers are 1-2 against the spread, and are averaging a minus-3.3 points per game against the spread. The Cavs covered against Notre Dame, but suffered a late cover loss against UCLA and didn’t cover during a win last week against William & Mary.
Big 12, 10-14-2 ATS
Texas Tech has been one of the surprises of the Big 12 this season after its win against Arkansas on the road. The Red Raiders will be challenged again this week with a home game against TCU.
The Red Raiders are 2-0-1 against the spread, and are averaging a plus-16.3 points per game against the spread. Texas Tech is the lone undefeated team against the spread in the Big 12.
Likely the worst team in the nation is Kansas, and it is the worst against the spread in the Big 12. The Jayhawks and Baylor are the lone teams without a win against the spread; however only one of Baylor’s two wins actually counted against the spread, so the Bears are currently 0-1 ATS.
The Jayhawks got a bye last week and are 0-2 against the spread, with a minus-13.2 average per game against the spread. Kansas also is losing by an average of minus-17.5 points per game.
Big 10, 20-22 ATS
Last week wasn’t the Big 10’s best effort against the spread, but Northwestern has been the main contributor to wins column for the conference.
Northwestern is 3-0 against the spread, with two of those games coming against power-five competition. The Wildcats are averaging a plus-20 point margin of victory per game, and are averaging a plus-16.5 number against the spread per game. The Wildcats have won two of three games straight up as underdogs.
The worst team against the spread in the Big 10 may actually be its best team overall. Michigan State is 0-3 against the spread this year, all the while doing that by winning games by an average of 10 points per game. However, against the spread, the Spartans are minus-5.3 points per game this season.
Pac-12, 18-15-1 ATS
Washington wasn’t expected to do much this season, and oddsmakers have continued to put that label on the Huskies. As a result, Washington’s 2-1 record has catapulted it to a 3-0 record against the spread.
The Huskies’ only loss came in their opener to Boise State. Since then, the Huskies have played well, averaging a 20-point margin of victory per game, and going plus-11.5 points per game against the spread.
Arizona State, albeit with the same overall record as Washington, hasn’t found as much success. The Sun Devils have been a bit of a disappointment so far, going 0-3 against the spread, with a minus-13.2 points per game average against the spread.
What’s a good sign for the conference as a whole, however, is that every team is in the plus side for margin of victory. It is the only power-five conference that can boast that achievement.
SEC, 13-14 ATS
The Mississippi Rebels might be the best and most surprising team of the young 2015 season. It’s also doing massive work against the spread.
The Rebels are plus-23.2 points per game against the spread, the best average of any team in college football. Mississippi also owns the highest margin of victory average per game at 43.7 points, a touchdown better than second-place Georgia Tech.
However, while the SEC has the best team against the spread, it also has the worst. Auburn has been dreadful against the spread this season at minus-19.3 points per game this season. The Tigers also are in the minus category in margin of victory at minus-3.3 points per game.
