Hot and Cold NFL Teams
November 18, 2021
NFL Week 11 Opening Line Report
November 19, 2021
The Playoff picture is beginning to paint itself with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. The top four consists of typical playoff staples Alabama and Ohio State but a few newcomers in Michigan, Michigan State, and Cincinnati are looking to crash the party.
Aside from the College Football Playoff, there have been some notable programs in decline over the last few weeks. These teams entered the year with conference championship hopes but are now on life support as the postseason approaches.
When betting on college football, it’s important to look at who’s playing well and who’s trending in the wrong direction. See who’s hot and who’s cold ahead of week 12.
Hot Teams
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Another week, another Georgia Bulldogs blowout. The top team in the land has yet to lose as they’ve now wrapped up SEC play with a perfect 8-0 record. This week’s victim was Tennessee, who hoped to dash the Bulldogs’ national title hopes but left Neyland Stadium with a 41-17 defeat.
Following a tight season opener against Clemson, Georgia has been one of college football’s best bets having beaten each of its last nine opponents by at least 17 points. With the blowouts, the Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS as game lines continue to grow. They’ll see another large spread this weekend as they’re listed as 54.5-point favorites over Charleston Southern. Barring an unexpected upset in rivalry week to Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs have all but locked up a playoff spot.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes dropped a week two matchup to Oregon but have since reeled off eight straight wins. In that time, the average score has been 49-17 in favor of Ohio State. Quarterback play has continued to improve as CJ Stroud lit up the Purdue secondary for five touchdowns last weekend, and the offense has rolled to five 50-point games in its last seven chances. The Buckeyes are 5-2 ATS in that time.
Competition gets stiffer this weekend against No. 7 Michigan State. Ohio State is considered a 20-point favorite despite Sparty’s top 10 ranking according to SugarHouse sportsbook.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
The Irish continue to quietly creep up the college football rankings. Notre Dame has won five straight since dropping a 24-13 matchup with Cincinnati in early October to climb into the top 10 of the latest poll. Their NCAAF Playoff odds could continue to increase, too, considering that Ohio State still has to face both Michigan and Michigan State while Georgia and Alabama are set to square off in the SEC Championship.
Notre Dame will take on Georgia Tech this weekend as 17-point favorites. It’s the second-largest spread the Irish have seen this year, but they are a perfect 5-0 ATS since that loss to the Bearcats.
Cold Teams
TEXAS LONGHORNS
The Longhorns have fallen apart in terms of college football betting picks since blowing an 18-point lead to Oklahoma in a 55-48 defeat. They’ve dropped each of their last five games, including an embarrassing loss to the Kansas Jayhawks last weekend. It was Kansas’s first conference win in 18 tries.
During that stretch, Texas is 0-5 ATS, losing outright as a 31-point favorite on Saturday. They’ll take on West Virginia this weekend as 2.5-point favorites, but this team looks to have packed it in for the year.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
While the Sooners have only lost one game this year, they’ve been trending in the wrong direction for some time now. They survived close games against Tulane, Nebraska, West Virginia, Kansas State, Kansas, and Texas before finally dropping one to Baylor last weekend.
In that matchup, the Bears shut down the Sooner offensive attack. The 13 points was the lowest total of the season for Oklahoma and it doesn’t get much easier next weekend versus Iowa State. Lincoln Riley’s bunch enters as four-point favorites at SugarHouse sportsbook as they hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
AUBURN TIGERS
Auburn suffered a season-altering loss last week to Mississippi State, all but ending their SEC Championship hopes. Auburn blew a 28-3 lead in that game, and to make matters worse, starting quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle.
The Tigers controlled their own destiny just a few short weeks ago but back-to-back conference losses have put a damper on the year. Now they sit at 6-4 with a matchup versus South Carolina set to take place before the yearly Iron Bowl with Alabama. Auburn is listed as a 7.5-point favorite on the road against the Gamecocks but they could be in for an upset. South Carolina took down the Tigers last season, 30-22.
