I have a hard time going with Vandy simply because their QB play is just not very good. Adams and Nickson have been inconsistent to say the least and they have a lot of new starters on offense this year. Miami was as bad (or worse considering the competition) but they have a ton of returning starters and are at home. I think Bobby Johnson is a very underrated coach, but I just don't see a lot in Vandy this year.
Not only are you betting the MAC team straight up -- you're laying 3.5.... I think the MAC will be better this year (it was awful LY obviously) and I'll likely be taking some points with a couple MAC teams this week. However, I sure would be reluctant to lay them.
Montgomery is 1-5-1 as a favorite the last two years. 1-2 in first games of season ATS. I think that's a good stat. How does the coach have his team prepared when he's had the whole spring/summer to get ready for the first game? If there's a big look ahead game -- I might consider it less. Tough to take Vandy given the OL situation and George Smith being out. Bobby Williams has been pretty good in first games last five 3-1 ATS with 1 No line.
It seems to me that the market overreacts now to the returning starters numbers. We all buy the same couple magazines after all. Look at Temple. No way that line moves 5 points that fast ten years ago.
I sure could use some help from some SEC guys who know Vanderbilt this year. It's hard for me to accept the fact that Vanderbilt is a "dog" of 4 points going to play a MAC team on the road. No offense to guys who are fans of the MAC, but I can't give the MAC much respect after last season's performances out of conference. Miami (OH) Barely beat a sorry Minnesota team in OT, they got riddled by Cincinnati and Colorado, and they barely beat a horrendous Syracuse team. They bring back almost that same exact team for this year.
Now, someone might say, "Well, Vandy only beat them by 11 points at their place last year." That may be so, but this game was played after Vandy had played Auburn, Georgia and S. Carolina consecutively. They were coming off a big win against S. Carolina and had Florida on deck whenever they played Miami (Oh). It was a good spot for Miami (Oh) to get a cover, but they couldn't pull off the upset.
This year Vandy lost 9 on offense and 6 on defense. The only real question I had about this team though was the offensive line as they lost everybody off last season's team. They bring back most of their skill players including their QB which is a plus. Word coming out of camp is that this offensive line might be more athletic and play better as a unit than what last season's experienced veterans did. Defensively the news has been positive as well.
Why the hell should we not be betting on an SEC team playing against a MAC team and catching points?
I was hoping no one was going to start a buzz about this game as I was going to quietly take Vandy! This is really a bet of SEC vs the MAC for me. I will take my +4 all day long. It seems like a no brainer but I may be wrong. Good luck with whatever you decide
I love Bobby Johnson, but he will do very well to get this team to four wins this season. From what I saw of Miami last year and what I've read about them this year, they are the better team on both sides of the ball.
The 17-42 stat is largely irrelevant. That's 28%, which is about how often MAC teams are favored in non-conference games. Games like Northern Illinois/Wisconsin and Eastern Michigan/Michigan are games the MAC team will never win.
This game involves two teams, not two conferences. Vandy is far and away the worst team in the SEC (no other SEC team would be a dog anywhere in MAC country), and Miami is at or near the top of the MAC. Of course the SEC would destroy the MAC in a round-robin tournament, but that is unimportant.
It's impossible not to make a case that the SEC is stronger than the MAC. It's almost as difficult to make a case that Vanderbilt is likely to go on the road and defeat any competent team.
As others alluded, Vandy will be a quality 15-30 point dog later in the season, especially if they lose to some teams such as Miami that are perceived to be weak. But in my opinion there is a much greater chance of Miami winning by double digits than losing this game outright.
The 17-42 stat is largely irrelevant. That's 28%, which is about how often MAC teams are favored in non-conference games. Games like Northern Illinois/Wisconsin and Eastern Michigan/Michigan are games the MAC team will never win.
This game involves two teams, not two conferences. Vandy is far and away the worst team in the SEC (no other SEC team would be a dog anywhere in MAC country), and Miami is at or near the top of the MAC. Of course the SEC would destroy the MAC in a round-robin tournament, but that is unimportant.
It's impossible not to make a case that the SEC is stronger than the MAC. It's almost as difficult to make a case that Vanderbilt is likely to go on the road and defeat any competent team.
As others alluded, Vandy will be a quality 15-30 point dog later in the season, especially if they lose to some teams such as Miami that are perceived to be weak. But in my opinion there is a much greater chance of Miami winning by double digits than losing this game outright.
I'm telling you guys this ain't the same old Vandy. I'm in Nashville and I follow them closely. They've got depth and two good QB's battling for the starting job. They very well could be 4-0 before Auburn comes to Nashville. I guess we'll see on Thursday. I'm taking Vandy moneyline. You're going to see a mediocre SEC team beat a good MAC team by at least a TD.
My family has three VU alumni that I have talked to and ALL are worried about this years Vanderbilt team. This team is just not good, at all. They have two battling QBs but neither of them are worth a damn and have only proved anything against the poor Vanderbilt offense.
I'm just not sure about this game either. As a whole this Vanderbilt team is just going to be terrible, but the other team that they are playing just might be just as terrible.
BOL this year. Try and stay off of Vanderbilt LOL.
I'm just not sure about this game either. As a whole this Vanderbilt team is just going to be terrible, but the other team that they are playing just might be just as terrible.
BOL this year. Try and stay off of Vanderbilt LOL.
agreed. any of you backing Vandy think about this. Vegas makes an SEC team a dog to a MAC team, knowing the general betting public will back the SEC. i dont even have to cap the teams to know which side i like -- Miami (OH).
i guess some could argue reverse logic... but SEC way too high profile conference. add the fact that MAC coming off a wretched yr.
oddsmakers just dangling that carrot out in front of you Vandy backers.
will say this - guys on the under make a very convincing argument. gL
i guess some could argue reverse logic... but SEC way too high profile conference. add the fact that MAC coming off a wretched yr.
oddsmakers just dangling that carrot out in front of you Vandy backers.
will say this - guys on the under make a very convincing argument. gL
