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November 2007
Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. These so-called technical handicappers use trends, or prior team tendencies, to try to predict future results. Let's see if we can't sift through all the data to find the very best plays for this weekend:
SATURDAY, NOV. 10
Kansas State at Nebraska: KSU has covered six of the last seven meetings between these clubs, including three in a row in Lincoln.
Illinois at Ohio State: Since 1985, Illinois is 15-5 ATS versus Ohio State, including covering five of the last six meetings and eight of the last 10 games in Columbus.
Auburn at Georgia: The visitor has flourished in this SEC rivalry, covering 10 of the last 14 games since '93. What's more, Auburn has covered four of the last five times it traveled to Athens.
North Carolina at NC State: UNC has dominated this Tar Heel State rivalry, covering 11 of the last 14 encounters, including four in a row and four straight in Raleigh.
Wake Forest at Clemson: Wake Forest 12-3-2 ATS the last 17 games with Clemson, including 7-1 ATS as the visiting team South Carolina and five straight pointspread wins, overall.
Michigan State at Purdue: The home team is 10-2-2 ATS since 1991, including four consecutive home covers for Purdue.
Michigan at Wisconsin: Wisconsin has had the best of this Big Ten rivalry, carving out an 8-3-1 record ATS versus Michigan since 1989. The Badgers also have covered four of the last five games in Madison.
Kansas at Oklahoma State: The Oklahoma State Cowboys ride a seven-game winning streak ATS and the Jayhawks into this contest in Stillwater.
Alabama at Mississippi State: Mississippi State has dominated the pointspread wars, forging a 12-4 record ATS versus Alabama the last 16 meetings.
Minnesota at Iowa: With a 12-2 record ATS versus Minnesota that includes seven covers in the last eight meetings, Iowa looks like the play.
Stanford at Washington State: Stanford is 12-3 ATS versus Washington the last 15 meetings, including six consecutive covers in Seattle.
Also: Western Michigan (4-1 ATS) over Central Michigan, Tuesday; Louisville (Underdog 4-1 ATS) over West Virginia, Thursday; BYU (4-1 ATS) over TCU, Thursday; Eastern Michigan (3-0 ATS) over Bowling Green, Friday; Rutgers (4-0 ATS) over Army, Friday; Baylor (3-0 ATS away) over Oklahoma; Boston College (3-0 ATS) over Maryland; South Carolina (Home team 6-2 ATS) over Florida; Florida State (3-0 ATS) over Virginia Tech; Arkansas (Road team 6-1 ATS) over Tennessee; Penn State (4-1 ATS) over Temple; Kentucky (5-1 ATS) over Vanderbilt; Air Force (3-0 ATS away) over Notre Dame; UCLA (4-0 ATS) over Arizona State; Colorado State (6-1 ATS away) over New Mexico; Rice (4-1 ATS) over SMU; Boise State (5-0 ATS) over Utah; USC (Road team 8-3 ATS) over California; Oregon State (3-0 ATS) over Washington; San Diego State (4-1 ATS) over UNLV; Hawaii (6-2 ATS, 5-1 ATS home) over Fresno State.
SUNDAY, NOV. 11
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: Neither team is very good but the clear pointspread choice is the Bills, who have covered six straight games versus the Dolphins.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have covered eight in a row against the Browns, including this season's opener on Sept. 9.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: The Vikings have covered seven straight games at Lambeau Field.
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers (NBC): The Colts entered the season 21-13-3 ATS on the road the last four years.
Also: Arizona Cardinals (4-0 ATS home) over Detroit Lions; Carolina Panthers (5-1 ATS) over Atlanta Falcons; Cincinnati Bengals (5-1 ATS) over Baltimore Ravens; Chicago Bears (4-0 ATS) over Oakland Raiders; NY Giants (5-1 ATS, 3-0 ATS home) over Dallas Cowboys; Kansas City Chiefs (6-1-1 ATS home) over Denver Broncos;
MONDAY, NOV. 12
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (ESPN): Seattle (-2), won the first encounter in San Francisco earlier this year, 23-3. The Niners are fantastic on Monday Night Football, logging a 33-13-1 record ATS, including 17-7 ATS on the road. The Seahawks are 13-7-1 ATS on MNF, including 5-3-1 as a home favorite.
Are the above sportsbook busters guaranteed? Of course not. But historians point out that by studying the past we're better equipped to predict the future. That may be true for sports betting, too.
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