If you have an interest in LSU football from week to week -- whether you're just a fan or if you're playing the spread or both -- you're probably prepared for anything these days. Sometimes the line is at stake, sometimes it's just the outright score, but more times than not, you're at the edge of your seat in the fourth quarter of Bayou Bengals games.
Saturday was no different. A Tennessee penalty gave LSU and coach Les Miles second life with an untimed down. They used it to get in the end zone, and
steal one from the Volunteers, 16-14.
But -- as always in the gambling world -- we need to look ahead, not backward. So, knowing that, what does yet another maniacal LSU finish mean for this week's tilt vs. Florida in Gainesville?
"It means we don't know how good they are, to begin with," said John Avello, of the Wynn Hotel Sportsbook. "I don't like this LSU team all that much. They caught a break, they took advantage against Tennessee, give them credit for that. But we still don't know much."
Perhaps Miles is in the same boat.
"I don't know that we can play any sloppier," he said Saturday. "I don't know if we could have planned it any poorer. I think we are a very talented team. I don't think we played near to our capacities."
As a result, Florida is a 10-point favorite this week in The Swamp. Yep, that same Florida team that was just handled by Alabama, 31-6, and looked overmatched from the gun.
"Florida? Well, they can go two ways this week," Avello said. "We don't know where they'll be mentally, after a loss like that. But they're at home, they're more talented, and they may have something to show us all."
Pete Korner of the Sports Club in Las Vegas liked the Gators at Alabama last week, plus the points. And although he was disappointed, certainly, he's going back to that well this week.
"It's just that there's a clear talent differential there," he said. "We expect a better Florida team to bounce back big at home."
With that, let's take a look at some other openers in Las Vegas this week:
Nebraska (-10) at Kansas State
"Kansas State has done nothing wrong," Avello said. "But they might not be as good as their record is. They get UCLA early, if they play that game now, it might be different. Nebraska is just the more complete team, and is coming off a bye week. Nebraska should be ready on primetime."
Florida State (+6) at Miami
"Miami showed very well vs. Pitt, and won again last week vs. Clemson," Korner said. "I think they show that kind of play again. Florida State has a chance, but Miami has more talent and they're at home. I could have gone to a touchdown here."
Alabama (-10) at South Carolina
“South Carolina will be ready. We know that Steve Spurrier will have something in store for Alabama," Avello said. "And this is a road game for Alabama, but they already survived at Arkansas, and we think Arkansas is better than South Carolina, so we'll see. South Carolina is good, but keep in mind, they have to play here against perhaps one of the best teams ever.”
Pitt (+3.5) at Notre Dame
"Notre Dame has played better than their record, and it'll be interesting to see what that win over Boston College does to them," Avello said. "They played hard for weeks, and lost, now they play hard, and win a game, it could really help them turn the corner. Pitt? Not much to see there. Played bad against Utah, worse against Miami. We can't have a lot of faith there."
Michigan State (+3.5) at Michigan
"Michigan gets a little help because they're at home," Avello said. "Michigan State's been good, nothing to be ashamed of there. They are undefeated, they played great against Wisconsin, and they can play defense. Michigan, on the other hand, doesn't play much defense. That could be a problem here."
USC (+8) at Stanford
"Stanford losing to Oregon? Nothing wrong there. Oregon is a power, so I don't think that will be a negative for Stanford," Korner said. "I do think USC, with a loss to Washington, is coming in off a negative. They have nothing to play for, and this is really, really big for Stanford. I could've gone even higher with Stanford."
Saturday was no different. A Tennessee penalty gave LSU and coach Les Miles second life with an untimed down. They used it to get in the end zone, and
steal one from the Volunteers, 16-14.But -- as always in the gambling world -- we need to look ahead, not backward. So, knowing that, what does yet another maniacal LSU finish mean for this week's tilt vs. Florida in Gainesville?
"It means we don't know how good they are, to begin with," said John Avello, of the Wynn Hotel Sportsbook. "I don't like this LSU team all that much. They caught a break, they took advantage against Tennessee, give them credit for that. But we still don't know much."
Perhaps Miles is in the same boat.
"I don't know that we can play any sloppier," he said Saturday. "I don't know if we could have planned it any poorer. I think we are a very talented team. I don't think we played near to our capacities."
As a result, Florida is a 10-point favorite this week in The Swamp. Yep, that same Florida team that was just handled by Alabama, 31-6, and looked overmatched from the gun.
"Florida? Well, they can go two ways this week," Avello said. "We don't know where they'll be mentally, after a loss like that. But they're at home, they're more talented, and they may have something to show us all."
Pete Korner of the Sports Club in Las Vegas liked the Gators at Alabama last week, plus the points. And although he was disappointed, certainly, he's going back to that well this week.
"It's just that there's a clear talent differential there," he said. "We expect a better Florida team to bounce back big at home."
With that, let's take a look at some other openers in Las Vegas this week:
Nebraska (-10) at Kansas State
"Kansas State has done nothing wrong," Avello said. "But they might not be as good as their record is. They get UCLA early, if they play that game now, it might be different. Nebraska is just the more complete team, and is coming off a bye week. Nebraska should be ready on primetime."
Florida State (+6) at Miami
"Miami showed very well vs. Pitt, and won again last week vs. Clemson," Korner said. "I think they show that kind of play again. Florida State has a chance, but Miami has more talent and they're at home. I could have gone to a touchdown here."
Alabama (-10) at South Carolina
“South Carolina will be ready. We know that Steve Spurrier will have something in store for Alabama," Avello said. "And this is a road game for Alabama, but they already survived at Arkansas, and we think Arkansas is better than South Carolina, so we'll see. South Carolina is good, but keep in mind, they have to play here against perhaps one of the best teams ever.”
Pitt (+3.5) at Notre Dame
"Notre Dame has played better than their record, and it'll be interesting to see what that win over Boston College does to them," Avello said. "They played hard for weeks, and lost, now they play hard, and win a game, it could really help them turn the corner. Pitt? Not much to see there. Played bad against Utah, worse against Miami. We can't have a lot of faith there."
Michigan State (+3.5) at Michigan
"Michigan gets a little help because they're at home," Avello said. "Michigan State's been good, nothing to be ashamed of there. They are undefeated, they played great against Wisconsin, and they can play defense. Michigan, on the other hand, doesn't play much defense. That could be a problem here."
USC (+8) at Stanford
"Stanford losing to Oregon? Nothing wrong there. Oregon is a power, so I don't think that will be a negative for Stanford," Korner said. "I do think USC, with a loss to Washington, is coming in off a negative. They have nothing to play for, and this is really, really big for Stanford. I could've gone even higher with Stanford."
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