This is something I do every week...Line studying for every game. This style is more successifull as the season progresses because the data is bigger and more comprehensive.
1-3 (SMU) @ 1-2 (TUL)-17.5
The line is Tulane -17.5 and according to my ratings it is a little bit higher than average for a home team that is ranked some 40 places better. the closest lines for a home team ranked 30-50 places better have been TCU -15.5 (W), Boise -17.5 (L), UCONN -13 (L), PIT -14 (L), IND -18 (P), ORE -14 (W), OHST -21 (L), UNLV -11 (L), CLE -21 (L). Wagerline shows over 73% on Tulane at this moment and that is the highest % (by far) for any of the teams on that list. The closest ones have been Boise (60.83) L, Pittsburgh (71.65) L, Indiana (63.06) P, UNLV (63.39) L, CLE (66.76) L and those 5 teams went 0-4-1 ATS.
Conclusion: The line is inflated after three straight covers for Tulane and three blowout losses by SMU in their three lined games. However, when I look at the public support Tulane is getting with this line, I have a feeling that this line might not be inflated at all. The public would bet on Tulane even if they were favored by 21 or more. Lean: SMU +18 (if you like SMU here then wait before the game time as the line could go up).
(2-0) USC -25 @ (1-2) ORST
USC (as usual) has a very inflated line here for a road team ranked 30-135 places better. The only road team that was favored by this many points while not being ranked 100+ places better was USC (again) against Virginia. They covered that spread in a non conference game. This time the line is even more inflated with even more public bets on USC.
Conclusion: I don't see any edge in this game for either team (not enough data to make any decision).
(4-0) UCONN @ (2-1) LOU -3.5
According to my ratings, Connecticut is slightly better ranked than Louisville (9 places) and these teams have been doing extremely well so far this season as long as they were not underdogs of 6.5 pts or more or favorites of 5 pts or more. The record for these teams is 12-1 ATS year-to-date, and the only loser was Iowa State last week (lost in OT). The list of teams that went 12-1 ATS include: Rice +2.5 (W), WF +4.5 (W), AKR +4.5 (W), BST +2 (W), KAN +4.5 (W), AF +2.5 (W), IOST +1.5 (L), SMISS +1.5 (W), CMU -2.5 (W), TXAM -1.5 (W), MIA -2.5 (W) LSU -2 (W) and ARI -3 (W).
Conclusion: The public is not impressed with UCONN and the support for Louisville in this game is huge. But if Louisville was really much better than UCONN, they would be favored by more than 3.5 at home. 3.5 points is basically the home field advantage in CFB. Lean: UCONN+3.5
1-3 (SMU) @ 1-2 (TUL)-17.5
The line is Tulane -17.5 and according to my ratings it is a little bit higher than average for a home team that is ranked some 40 places better. the closest lines for a home team ranked 30-50 places better have been TCU -15.5 (W), Boise -17.5 (L), UCONN -13 (L), PIT -14 (L), IND -18 (P), ORE -14 (W), OHST -21 (L), UNLV -11 (L), CLE -21 (L). Wagerline shows over 73% on Tulane at this moment and that is the highest % (by far) for any of the teams on that list. The closest ones have been Boise (60.83) L, Pittsburgh (71.65) L, Indiana (63.06) P, UNLV (63.39) L, CLE (66.76) L and those 5 teams went 0-4-1 ATS.
Conclusion: The line is inflated after three straight covers for Tulane and three blowout losses by SMU in their three lined games. However, when I look at the public support Tulane is getting with this line, I have a feeling that this line might not be inflated at all. The public would bet on Tulane even if they were favored by 21 or more. Lean: SMU +18 (if you like SMU here then wait before the game time as the line could go up).
(2-0) USC -25 @ (1-2) ORST
USC (as usual) has a very inflated line here for a road team ranked 30-135 places better. The only road team that was favored by this many points while not being ranked 100+ places better was USC (again) against Virginia. They covered that spread in a non conference game. This time the line is even more inflated with even more public bets on USC.
Conclusion: I don't see any edge in this game for either team (not enough data to make any decision).
(4-0) UCONN @ (2-1) LOU -3.5
According to my ratings, Connecticut is slightly better ranked than Louisville (9 places) and these teams have been doing extremely well so far this season as long as they were not underdogs of 6.5 pts or more or favorites of 5 pts or more. The record for these teams is 12-1 ATS year-to-date, and the only loser was Iowa State last week (lost in OT). The list of teams that went 12-1 ATS include: Rice +2.5 (W), WF +4.5 (W), AKR +4.5 (W), BST +2 (W), KAN +4.5 (W), AF +2.5 (W), IOST +1.5 (L), SMISS +1.5 (W), CMU -2.5 (W), TXAM -1.5 (W), MIA -2.5 (W) LSU -2 (W) and ARI -3 (W).
Conclusion: The public is not impressed with UCONN and the support for Louisville in this game is huge. But if Louisville was really much better than UCONN, they would be favored by more than 3.5 at home. 3.5 points is basically the home field advantage in CFB. Lean: UCONN+3.5