Week 10 college football odds: ‘Bama is the biggest favorite over LSU since ‘93

1993, the heyday of the dread Curley Hallman era. That day, Alabama was a 24-point favorite...and lost...at home...to a 5-6 Tigers team. That’s just an historical note: don’t take it as apocryphal.

This weekend, the Tide are again home against the LSU Tigers, and, like ‘93, the spread is monstrous: ‘Bama opened a 20-point home chalk tonight and that line has moved to -21 within hours. Not only is it the largest point spread in the series since 1993, it’s the first time the Tigers have been a 20+ point underdog in the last 25 years.

Truth be told, I kind of like it. The limitations in the LSU passing game, one functional WR, a banged-up Derrius Guice, an LSU front four that’s been mauled by Troy, Auburn and ‘State, and a terrible Tiger offensive line don’t seem to be conducive to keeping this one particularly close. 31-6ish, 30--3 seems far more likely than say 31-17.

Other games of note for degeneracy purposes include:

• Ole Miss as a bizarre 4.5-point underdog in Kentucky. Nothing about the Wildcats offensive competence or secondary suggests that they can hang in a shootout
• I like Iowa as a 17-point home ‘dog against the Buckeyes. This should be a fairly low-scoring slobber-knocker, it’s always a tough road trip in the Big 10, and human nature tells you there’s bound to be some victory hangover.
• Memphis at Tulsa (+12) Tulsa is terrible, Memphis is very good. The Tigers may hit 80, and that’s not a joke.
• Va. Tech is favored by less than a field goal in Coral Gables. The U has been playing a dangerous game against some average teams lately, and the Hokies can light it up. I’m pretty sure the ACC loses its last unbeaten.

• Northwestern is a 1.5 point underdog to Northwestern. It’s not a very daunting road trip and the simple fact is that I suspect the Wildcats are just better than the Huskers, who have been mentally coach-shopping since September.
• I’m steering well clear of: Texas (+8) at TCU, the ‘Horns could outright win this game; Wake at ND (-15), ND could rout the Deacs, they could also be in a defensive slugfest with a really under-the-radar Wake team; Auburn at Texas A&M (+14), the talent disparity isn’t two touchdowns, but I just don’t know how the Aggies offense will perform, and you know Gus will run 78 times if he gets the chance. I’m fairly certain the ‘Barn will win big, but I’m not putting money on it. Lastly, Georgia (-23.5) vs. Sakerlina. See Auburn-A&M. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Anyway, here are your Week 10 lines from Bookmaker.eu

Tell us what games you like and answer the burning question: Do you trust this Alabama team to cover three scores against its bitter roux rival?

Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images

College Football Week 10 Opening Odds

Top 25

LSU at Alabama (-20)

South Carolina at Georgia (-23.5)

Ohio State at Iowa (+17)

Wisconsin at Indiana (+9)

Wake Forest at Notre Dame (-15)

Clemson at NC State (+7)

Penn State at Michigan State (+9)

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (-3.5)

Virginia Tech at Miami (+2.5)

Texas at TCU (-8)

Oregon at Washington (OFF)

Iowa State at West Virginia (-2.5)

UCF at SMU (+12.5)

Auburn at Texas A&M (+14)

Arizona at USC (-10)

Stanford at Washington State (-1)

UMass at Mississippi State (-28)

Memphis at Tulsa (+12)

Full Schedule

Bowling Green at Kent (+2)

Miami Ohio at Ohio (OFF)

Central Michigan at Western Michigan (-7)

Northern Illinois at Toledo (-10)

Ball State at Eastern Michigan (-23.5)

Navy at Temple (+8)

Idaho at Troy (-18.5)

Marshall at Florida Atlantic (-8)

Memphis at Tulsa (+12)

UCLA at Utah (OFF)

Baylor at Kansas (+9)

Clemson at NC State (+7)

Illinois at Purdue (-14)

Ole Miss at Kentucky (-4.5)

Syracuse at Florida State (-4)

Northwestern at Nebraska (-1.5)

Ohio State at Iowa (+17)

Iowa State at West Virginia (-2.5)

Virginia Tech at Miami (+2.5)

Maryland vs Rutgers (PK)

Georgia Tech at Virginia (+9)

Nevada at Boise State (-22)

Colorado at Arizona State (-5)

New Mexico State at Texas State (+10)

Georgia State at Georgia Southern (+3.5)

Appalachian State at UL Monroe (+10)

Charlotte at Old Dominion (-8.5)

Southern Miss at Tennessee (-7.5)

Auburn at Texas A&M (+14)

Army at Air Force (-7)

Wisconsin at Indiana (+9)

Cincinnati at Tulane (-6.5)

South Carolina at Georgia (-23.5)

UMass at Mississippi State (-28)

UCF at SMU (+12.5)

Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt (-11.5)

Kansas State at Texas Tech (OFF)

Texas at TCU (-8)

North Texas at Louisiana Tech (-4)

Oregon at Washington (OFF)

Coastal Carolina at Arkansas (-25)

Minnesota at Michigan (-14)

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (-3.5)

Wake Forest at Notre Dame (-15)

Rice at UAB (-11.5)

UL Lafayette at South Alabama (-4.5)

Utah State at New Mexico (-4.5)

BYU at Fresno State (-11.5)

Hawaii at UNLV (-7.5)

Colorado State at Wyoming (+2.5)

UTSA at Florida International (+3.5)

UTEP at Middle Tennessee State (OFF)

Florida at Missouri (-3)

LSU at Alabama (-20)

Penn State at Michigan State (+9)

San Diego State at San Jose State (+24)

Oregon State at Cal (-8)

Stanford at Washington State (-1)

Arizona at USC (-10)

South Florida at UConn (+23)

East Carolina at Houston (-24.5)

Early Sharp Action:

- FAU -8 to -9.5- Cincinnati +7 to +5.5

- Michigan -14 to -15.5- Fresno State -11 to -14

- Missouri -1.5 to -3- Michigan State +9 to +7.5

- Washington State -1 to -2.5- Arizona +10 to +7.5

Notes:

- Undefeated Miami is a home underdog (+2.5) to one-loss Virginia Tech

- Wisconsin has its smallest spread of the season (-9) at Indiana