Each week we’ll be taking a look at the spread of the Husker football team’s match-up with their respective opponents from a…mathematical point of you, you might say.
First up are the Florida Atlantic Owls who will enter Lincoln coming off of a 6-6 2013 season. You can take a look at the FAU Primer right here thanks to Editor-in-Chief Brandon Cavanaugh.
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So (for entertainment purposes only) let’s see what Vegas has to say on the subject.
The Owls opened as a 24-point underdog according to Vegas Insider’s’ VI Consensus Line Movements. This line was first posted on July 27.
The first jump came August 5 when the line came in one point leaving the Huskers as a 23-point favorite. Next, on August 18, the line moved twice, first a half point up to -23.5, but then later in the day dropped back to -23.
As of this writing, the line has held firm, even with the injuries to the Nebraska defense (including projected starters Charles Jackson and Michael Rose-Ivey).
It’s not surprising considering the perceived mismatch between the two teams. That said, it’s important to remember that with all betting lines, the odds makers are not predicting a victory. They’re attempting to place the line to get as close to even action as they can on either side.
The last time these two teams met (2009) the Huskers were also a 23-point favorite and the Huskers covered in a lopsided 49-3 game.
A few trends to keep an eye on thanks to Covers.com:
- Owls are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 road games.
- Owls are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games.
- Owls are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games overall.
- Huskers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on FieldTurf.
As you can see, FAU is red hot when it comes to the trends against the spread.
Obviously, going into the last few days the line can move, but for our purposes let’s say the line stays at -23 in favor of Nebraska. Where would you lay your money? Do the Huskers cover or do the Owls keep it within the 23?
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