College Football Week 3: The only real barbecue is whole Hog

Texas is favored to win by 10. The team associated with the (-XX) is the favored team. Sometimes you'll see a line like Texas at Mississippi, +10. That means the road team, Texas, is favored by 10. Conversely, if the line were Texas at Mississippi, -10, the home team would be favored by 10. And the sports books would have lost their minds.

 

. . . and more than likely, copious amounts of loot . . . though the Rebs are clearly markedly improved with the new kid at QB.

 

Ok. You have totally confused me.

I will try and sort this out.

So ... if the number is next to the name of a team, then that team has to do the opposite of the sign that is next to their name?

 

You could think of it like a scoreboard that includes negative numbers. In order to win (against the spread), Texas starts out down. The scoreboard would read Mississippi 0, Texas -10.

 

It's much simpler.

If there's a — sign then subtract that number from that team's final score.

So Texas (-10) vs. Ole Miss means if the final score is Texas 31-24 then the betting score is 21-24. If you bet on Texas minus the points, you've lost. If you bet on Ole Miss plus the points, then you won.

 

Not to mention the epic push, where everyone loses. Lies, a push is where the score differential is exactly the same as the spread. Some casinos will payout with a push, though, but most don't.
For example, Texas (-10 and favored to win by more than 10 points) beat Ole Miss 10-0. Everyone would lose. Stay away from those lines if the casino doesn't pay out for a push. Lines with half a point (10.5) are a safer bet if the house wins on a push.
All we need to do now is explain the money line. That should be fun.

 

And teasers.

 

If a team is "minus 10", they have to win by 11 points for the wager to win.
If a team is "plus 10", they have to lose by fewer than 10 points for the wager to win.

Minus is the favorite.
Plus is the underdog.

The money line is the number you'll see that looks like this:

Texas (-180)
Ole Miss (+150)

To win a money line wager, a team only has to win straight up. No point spread. The minus means the favorite. In the example above, you have to wager $180 to win $100. Everything on the money line is based on a $100 wager. If you like Ole Miss, you risk $100 to win $150.

And to answer someone's question above, I like VT -10 at Pitt and UCLA -17.5 at home against Houston. Still debating a few others. Have seen a lot of people on Ole Miss.

 

What a crock of shit on Gameday, saying little UT has an "exact" shade of orange, as represented by Darrik Duulee* and his pants. No two pieces of Vol merch are ever the same shade. Although it does all look like vomit.

 

It is very functional color, though. You can wear it to the game on Saturday, and wear it to pick up trash alongside the highway Monday thru Friday.

 

Hence, "Volunteers."

 

It really is the ugliest color in FBC. I would be hesitant as a recruit if I had other options. But to Vols' credit, they own it--no matter the hideous factor.

And no school district or New York columnist will ever need to lament that orange being linked to gang culture. Or masculinity. Or feminity. Or, really, humanity.