The Real Top 25: College Football’s Best Teams Against The Spread

Anybody can throw together their list of Top 25 teams in the country but at the end of the day they don’t mean too much. Hell, the most important poll in college football is done by a computer that breaks down the information someone feeds it. But this Top 25 can actually be used for something important: To put money in our pockets!

Keeping in mind that you usually can’t get a line when a 1-A team plays against a 1-AA opponent, here are the Top 25 teams in the country against the spread:

1. Connecticut (9-1) - Have lost their five games by a total of 15 points. The only game in which they didn’t cover was against Rutgers, a game in which we actually took the Scarlet Knights.
2. Central Michigan (9-2) - Vegas underrates Dan LeFevour and his crew on a consistent basis. The Chippewa win their games by an average of 16.7 points.
3. Temple (8-2) - No surprise here. Nobody believed the Owls would be this good and they have kept Vegas guessing all season long. Bernard Pierce and his 1,300 rushing yards have led the way. Of course they have a chance to meet Central Michigan in the MAC title game and it will probably end in a push.
4. Central Florida (8-2) -They have beaten a lot of team in Vegas’ eyes but a straight up win against Houston was the highlight of their season.
5. TCU (8-2) - Even Vegas doesn’t realize how good the Horned Frogs are. The only games they’ve lost ATS were against Air Force and SMU.
6. Boise State (8-2) - The Broncos have won their 11 games by an average of 27.1 points per game this season and have covered all three times they have been favored by 30+ points.
7. Ohio State (9-3) - Never bet against the Buckeyes. Yet, we took them giving 17 against Iowa a few weeks back and they needed a last second field goal to win the game. Go figure.
8. Pittsburgh (6-2-1) - The only two games the Panthers have lost were against UConn and NC State. They will probably finish second in the Big East straight up and against the spread.
9. Middle Tennessee State (8-3) - The Blue Raiders are one of the rare teams that have won every game they’ve covered and lost ever game they haven’t. So if you think MTSU is going to win straight up, you might as well take them against the spread as well because they cover every time they are favored.
10. Wyoming (7-3) - You’ve heard of the “Cocaine Cowboys”? Well, these “Cover Cowboys” won five straight games ATS in the middle of the season.
11. Alabama (7-3) - Defense is a big part of the reason the Tide has rolled this season. By allowing only 10 points per game, Bama has been able to cover on the heels of defensive touchdowns and burning the clock with the run game. They aren’t the type of team to give up a backdoor cover.
12. Clemson (7-3) - The Tigers are a streaky ATS squad. They covered three straight to start the season, lost three in the middle, covered their next four and lost their last game. Take South Carolina this weekend.
13. Georgia Tech (7-3) - The Ramblin’ Wreck’s dominance has led to a lot of wins ATS. With the offense they run, they can never be accused of running up the score either.
14. Houston (7-3) - Vegas caught onto the Cougars for a few weeks then probably cashed in by setting a 23-point Memphis line that wasn’t nearly enough for the Cougars, who won 55-14.
15. Idaho (7-4) - The Vandals surprised everyone when they jumped out to a 7-0 record ATS. But their last four games have gone coverless highlighted by a 38-point whipping at the hands of Boise State, a game in which the Vandals were 32 point dogs. Ouch!
16. Louisiana Tech (7-4) - Despite their 3-8 record, Tech has one of the best records ATS in the country on the heels of a four game ATS winning streak that has included two games in which they were 20+ point dogs
17. Indiana (7-4) - The Hoosiers are 1-7 in the Big Ten, but in the handicapper’s eye they are the second best team in the conference with a 5-3 in-conference ATS record.
18. Iowa (7-4) - Vegas hasn’t had a good read on the Hawkeyes all season. The Hawkeyes are 3-0 ATS as underdogs this season, which says a lot about Iowa’s ability to step up in big games even if they lose.
19. Iowa State (7-4) - The Cyclones biggest victory this year came against Nebraska, a game in which they were 20-point dogs.
20. Kansas State (7-4) - Bill Snyder’s team has shocked the Big 12 and Vegas all season long. From a loss against Louisiana-Lafayette to wins against Kansas and Texas A&M, the Wildcats have been enigmatic to everyone.
21. Stanford (7-4) - The Cardinal have only been underdogs in four games this season, all on the road too, so while the nation has been surprised by Jim Harbaugh’s team, Vegas has been hip to them all season long.
22. Oregon (7-4) - The Ducks covered 6 straight games in the middle of the season to pad their record but have alternated wins and losses ATS over the last three games.
23. Troy (7-4) - The Trojans have only outscored their opponents by an average of 3 points per game but has come out of it 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS.
24. Utah State (7-4) - Utah State are the opposite of Troy. They are 3-8 SU but have been able to cover thanks to a mix of big spreads and close losses.
25. Nebraska (7-4) - Bo Pelini’s squad has outscored their opponents by 15 points per game by dominating on the defensive side of the ball.
26. Ohio (7-4) - The Bobcats ATS record is even more impressive considering they have only outscored their opponents by an average of 4 points per game.

Bottom of the Barrel

These five teams are 2-8 ATS going into this week: Notre Dame, Kansas, USC, San Jose St and Memphis