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Against the Spread | Bozich & Crawford pick against Cards, Wildcats, split on Hoosiers

  • Updated
  • 3 min to read
Louisville vs SMU football

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- I've come across several updated numbers for the football teams at Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana.

Jeff Brohm's team is not 5-3. The Cards are 3-5.

Mark Stoops and Kentucky are not 3-5. The Wildcats are 4-4.

Curt Cignetti and Indiana are not 8-0. The Hoosiers are 7-1.

If beating the spread is one way you follow college football, those are the wagering numbers for those three local programs.

Louisville covered the number in it first three games but hasn't covered the last five times the Cardinals have played.

Kentucky started 4-1 against the line but the sagging Wildcats did not cover (or win) against Florida, Vanderbilt or Auburn.

Indiana is perfect on the field — and riding a seven-game streak against the spread. The only time the Hoosiers failed to cover was opening week. IU was favored by 25.5 against Florida International, but won by 24 (31-7).

That's part of the challenge this week as Eric Crawford and I try to stay on the sunny side of .500.

Do we follow the recent trends of U of L and UK failing to cover? Can Indiana actually cover for an eighth straight week while going 9-0 for the first time in school history?

Time to find out.

Wagering Recap:

Crawford went 3-2 last week, bumping his season record to 26-19. But he lost $50, dropping his season bankroll for $1,525 (after starting with an imaginary $1,000).

Bozich went 4-1, improving to 27-18 on the year. His bankroll moved to $1,285. (Obviously Crawford is a better money manager.)

1. Louisville (+10) at Clemson, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Crawford: All of Louisville's losses have come by one score this season, and the Cardinals are playing better. I just don't know if I like them in the environment they'll enter at Clemson, and the Tigers need style points. (Clemson for $50).

Bozich: Louisville has never won at Clemson. The Tigers have covered in three of their four home wins this season. The first college football playoff rankings will be released Tuesday. Dabo Swinney's team is playing for a spot in the 12-team party as well as a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. They're working to make the world forget the Georgia game. Give me Clemson for $35.

2. Kentucky (+16.5) at Tennessee, Saturday, 7:45 p.m.

Crawford: Tennessee has worn its “dark mode” black uniforms four times and won those games by an average of 25.5 points. They have one of the top defenses in the country, Kentucky has one of the worst offenses in the country. I know the Wildcats have played top 10 teams close, but they seem pretty down. (Tennessee for $150).

Bozich: The Vols are another team playing for playoff recognition. My primary hesitancy is Tennessee has failed to score more than 25 points in its last four games, making 16 1/2 a big number. But Kentucky's defense was no match for Florida or Auburn. The Wildcats might be in surrender mode. Give me Tennessee for $50.

3. Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Crawford: Indiana is a better team than Michigan State, and I know they're due to throw in a clunker, but with a chance to be the first 9-0 team in school history and with quarterback Kurtis Rourke back, I like the Hoosiers. (Indiana for $50).

Bozich: This should be a perfect time to play the Spartans. They invested a ton of emotion in a rivalry game they lost by a touchdown at Michigan last weekend. But although there are credible reports that IU quarterback Kurtis Rourke will return from the medical procedure performed on his right thumb, I wonder how effective he'll be. One of these weeks the Hoosiers have to throw in a dud. Doesn't every team? Michigan State and the points for $25.

4. Ohio State (-3.5) at Penn State, Saturday, Noon.

Crawford: Ohio State has been roundly criticized after struggling to put away Nebraska. I think reports of their imminent demise have been exaggerated. (Ohio State for $25).

Bozich: You won't get 15 seconds into a conversation with a Penn State football fan before you learn that coach James Franklin is 1-9 in his career against Ohio State as well as 3-7 against Michigan. Nobody has called him “Big Game” James. But the Nittany Lions have limited five opponents 13 points or less and Ohio State labored to take down a Nebraska team that Indiana flattened one week earlier. Give me Big Game James and the points for $25.

5. Pittsburgh (+7.5) at SMU, Saturday, 8 p.m.

Crawford: Pitt is the hot team in the ACC, but SMU has been making statements in its new conference all season, and I think it will make another one at home this week. (SMU for $25).

Bozich: Did you know that Pitt (7-0) was undefeated? With road wins over Cincinnati and North Carolina? Both teams are working with injured quarterbacks, which makes this one a risky call. But four of SMU's seven wins have been by less than 7 1/2 points. So give me the Panthers and the points for $50.

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