Week 4 of the college football season includes a trio of games under the Friday night lights, featuring a Pac-12 After Dark clash of top-25 teams. Covers checks in on the action and odds movement, with insights from Eric Osterman, manager at The SuperBook at Westgate in Las Vegas.
No. 11 Utah Utes at No. 24 Southern California Trojans – Open: +4.5; Move: +4; Move: +3.5; Move: +4; Move: +3.5; Move: +4; Move: +3.5
Southern Cal quarterback Kedon Slovis had a superb first start in Week 2 against Stanford, but looked much more the true freshman he is in Week 3. Slovis, who stepped in after JT Daniels (ACL) was lost for the year in Week 1, threw three interceptions at Brigham Young, and the Trojans (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) lost 30-27 laying 5 points.
Utah (3-0 SU, 1-2 ATS) had little trouble in Week 2 against overmatched Idaho State, winning 31-0 but falling short of the cash as 36.5-point chalk. The Utes opened the season where USC was last week – at BYU – and rolled 30-12 as 5-point favorites.
“The action has been pretty good two-way,” Osterman said of wagering for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff. “We’re at Utah -3.5, where we’re seeing pretty good money on the Utes. When we were at 4, we saw bets come in on USC. It looks like parlays are coming in on Utah too.”
For the moment, that has The Superbook rooting for the home ‘dog Trojans.
“If the parlays on Utah continue, we’ll need USC,” Osterman said, noting there would be delayed gratification on a Southern Cal cover. “It may not show up today, but it will help us a lot going into tomorrow.”
Air Force Falcons at No. 20 Boise State Broncos – Open: -8; Move: -7.5; Move: -7
Air Force is out of the gate 2-0 SU and ATS, including a Week 3 road victory over a Power Five foe. The Falcons rallied from an early 10-0 deficit at Colorado to take a 23-10 fourth-quarter lead, then pulled out a 30-23 overtime victory as 3-point pups.
Boise State (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) got a statement victory in Week 1 at Florida State, then survived a home scare against Marshall before getting back on track in Week 3. The Broncos rolled over FCS foe Prairie View State 45-10, barely cashing as 34.5-point faves.
“As far as straight bets, we haven’t taken very much. Almost all the money is at 8, on both sides,” Osterman said. “Support for the parlays, kind of surprising, has come in on Air Force. We’ve also seen some money trickle in on the Over.”
That’s after the total went from the opener of 55 down to 54.
Florida International Golden Panthers at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Open: -8.5; Move: -9.5; Move: -8.5; Move: -8; Move: -7.5; Move: -7; Move: -6.5
It’s not a glamour game, but this Conference USA tilt has seen the largest line move of tonight’s three matchups, trending toward underdog Florida International. The Golden Panthers (1-2 SU, 0-3 ATS) are coming off their first win, 30-17 laying 13.5 points at home against FCS outfit New Hampshire.
Louisiana Tech got beat up as expected at Texas in Week 1, then bounced back with a pair of victories. In Week 3 at Bowling Green, the Bulldogs rolled 35-7 giving 12.5 points.
“It looks like we were ahead of the bettors in moving this down,” Osterman said. “There’s a little Florida International money coming in at +7.5 and +7. We need Louisiana Tech as of right now.”
The line reached LaTech -6.5 Friday afternoon.
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
