LSU Athletics
By Chris Marler
Not a single snap has been taken since the week one betting lines were initially released and updated this May. Not even a single snap in practice has technically happened at the time we write this. However, that didn’t stop the oddsmakers from moving several Week 1 betting lines a little over a month out from the season.
Six SEC teams will open their season with a Power Four opponent, and none of them will be playing in front of their home crowds. While Tennessee and South Carolina will both play a neutral site game in Atlanta, the other four will play in true road games, including two against preseason top 10 teams Clemson and Ohio State.
After a long offseason of schedule slander and debate, the SEC finds itself under a great deal of scrutiny. They’ll be under even more if they aren’t able to get some signature wins in week one.
Here’s a look at the updated betting lines for each of the six games, as well as some additional news and notes about other week one games that saw significant movement.
LSU at Clemson
- Open: Clemson -2.5
- Current: Clemson -3.5
Auburn at Baylor
- Open: Auburn -2.5
- Current: Baylor -1.5
Texas at Ohio State
- Open: Ohio State -3
- Current: Ohio State -2.5
Tennessee vs Syracuse (Atlanta)
- Open: Tennessee -12.5
- Current: Tennessee -14
Alabama at Florida State
- Open: Alabama -11.5
- Current: Alabama -13.5
South Carolina vs Virginia Tech (Atlanta)
- Open: South Carolina -10
- Current: South Carolina -8.5
Elsewhere around the SEC…
Two under-the-radar SEC vs. G5 matchups have seen the biggest point spread shifts of any game this offseason, outside of Auburn-Baylor. Fittingly, they involve the two teams projected to finish last in the SEC: Kentucky and Mississippi State.
If you’re confused as to why the line dropped so significantly, well, same. Maybe it’s because Mississippi State is playing on the road in Hattiesburg? Or, maybe it’s because over the last 50 years Southern Miss is 10-8 against the Bulldogs? Regardless, the Golden Eagles went 1-11 last year, so Lebby cannot afford to let Vegas be right if he wants a smooth start to the season.
Kentucky plays Toledo in week one in a game that saw the line open at Kentucky -12.5. However, that number has plummeted all the way down to -9.5. Toledo finished 8-5 last year. Sure, they may have gotten blown out by Bowling Green and Buffalo, and only went .500 in conference. But, they were also undefeated against the SEC, thanks to an absolute beating they put on Mississippi State 41-17 in week two.
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