With college football here and the NFL heading towards us, Line Moves will start changing focus towards football. We will give you a first look early in the week on the various line moves and provide current betting trends on each contest. Later in the week, we will have updated information on these games, free picks and look at other contests where the numbers has moved significantly from previous article. We will still have some baseball, especially daily trends, but the primary focus alters to football. Like we say every day, understanding line moves can build your bankroll. (95-72 L41D)
CFB – Thursday (135) WAKE FOREST at (136) UL-MONROE 7:00 E ESPNU
Wake Forest has been in steady decline since 2006 which brought about a coaching change with Dave Clawson taking over. The first year coach inherits a 4-8 squad from a year ago with only 10 returning starters. With UL- Monroe bringing back 15 starters, the Warhawks have dropped from +4 to +2.5. UL- Monroe will no doubt be fired up to face an ACC squad, but they have to find a quarterback themselves. Watch the line since the home team is 9-2 ATS as underdogs of three or less. Betting Trend – 73% on Wake Forest to cover
CFB – Thursday (137) TULANE at (138) TULSA 8:00 ET CBSSN
After posting a 29-11 record over three seasons, Tulsa plummeted to 3-9 last year and third coach Bill Blankenship is seeking a quick turnaround. Thanks to the positive leadership of coach Curtis Johnson, Tulane had it first winning season in 11 years and went bowling. At least in the contest, those trends are not expected to continue with Tulsa rising two points to -5. Both these squads have moved to the AAC and despite last year’s 14-7 setback, Tulsa is 8-1 SU and ATS since 2005. Betting Trend – 83% on Tulsa to cover
CBB – Thursday (141) TEMPLE at (142) VANDERBILT 9:15 ET SECN
Temple averaged almost 400 yards a game last year, but just 24.9 PPG, for first-year coach Matt Rhule. If the offensive line can be retooled quickly, this offense could improve to close to 30 PPG. With Vanderbilt having to switch coaches with the departure of James Franklin, the Commodores have dropped from -17 to -14. If Vandy can force turnovers, they cover the spread and they are 9-3 ATS as 10 or more point favorites since 2010. Betting Trend – 63% on Temple to cover
CFB – (157) OHIO STATE vs. (158) NAVY 12:00 ET CBSSN
This line moving Ohio State from -17.5 to -14 has everything to do with Braxton Miller being lost for the season. The Buckeyes redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett has been heaped with praise since, ascending to the job. But what else is Ohio State supposed to say? The Ohio State defense will be the deciding factor if they are to cover and against a rare veteran Navy squad, whom you have to mentally ready to play a full 60 minutes. Betting Trend – 78% on Ohio State to cover
CFB – (159) UCLA at (160) VIRGINIA 12:00 ET ESPN
When comparing the two teams, UCLA being lowered two points to -21.5 only makes sense if you buy into the handicapping adage of West Coast teams still being sleepy for what for them is a 9:00 am contest on their watches. However, being the first game of the season, this would not seem to be a factor. Virginia has better talent than they have played the past two years, but can they be coached up? Betting Trend – 51% on Virginia to cover
CFB – (175) RICE at (176) NOTRE DAME 3:30 ET NBC
Other than two years ago, there seems to be always something negative swirling around the Notre Dame campus. Before the season even starts four Fighting Irish players (three starters) are involved in academic scandal. Rice is the defending C-USA champions and while they suffered personnel losses, they are well-coached by David Bailiff and have been dumped from +24 to +21. Oh by the way, the Irish are 18-30 ATS as home favorites the last decade. Betting Trend – 58% on Rice to cover
CFB – (187) WESTERN MICHIGAN at (188) PURDUE 12:00 ET ESPNU
It is not a good sign when two teams are coming off brutal 1-11 seasons and the home team from the superior conference is a dwindling favorite. Yet that is the situation and Purdue is down from -13 to -11. We agree with the logic of those moving the numbers because it is really difficult to back a team whose only win was against a FCS opponent a year ago. Betting Trend – 69% on Purdue to cover
CFB – (195) WASHINGTON at (196) HAWAI’I 10:30 ET SBSSN
With the suspension of expected Washington startering QB Cyler Miles, Jeff Lundquist has won the job for the season opener and football bettors are not impressed. The opening line of the Huskies favored by -19.5 has fallen like a Hawaiian cliff diver to -15.5. Not sure we agree with the move since these Huskies are bigger and stronger at most every position and there defense can limit Hawai’i. Betting Trend – 97% on Washington to cover
CFB – Sunday (207) SMU at (208) BAYLOR 7:30 ET FS-1
Last year Baylor opened their season by smothering SMU 59-24 as 6.5-point favorites and went on to a Big 12 championship. Those betting football are forecasting more of the same and hoisted the Bears from -31.5 to -33. Coach Art Briles likes offense and is not bashful about scoring points and his teams are 19-6 ATS as home favorites and 8-1 ATS the past three seasons handing out 20 or more points. Betting Trend – 87% on Baylor to cover
Sports Watch Monitor Weighty Trends
MLB Money Line Trend
Baltimore is 12-3 when playing on Monday this season.
MLB Totals Trend
The N.Y. Yankees are 21-6 UNDER playing into double revenge this season.
MLB Run Line Trend
Baltimore is 13-1 after scoring four runs or less in four straight games this season.
Follow Doug Upstone at www.vegasproinsidersdaily.com and on Twitter @VegasProInsider
The post Sports Watch Monitor Line Moves, Top Trends and Free Picks – CFB Week 1 appeared first on Locker Room Picks.