Nugget releases 10 Games of the Year lines
Published on Thursday, 6/6/13, at 2:45 p.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
With the Golden Nugget poised to release lines for 250 Games of the Year on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific, Sportsbook Director Tony Miller provided The Linemakers on Sporting News with 10 of those numbers (sides and totals) earlier this week.
When I was asked about Alabama’s Week 3 showdown at Texas A&M on twitter a few weeks ago, I responded Crimson Tide -4. The Nugget is opening ‘Bama at -6 with a total of 54.5.
According to a report from David Pardum of the Linemakers, vegas oddsmaker Kenny White made the Tide a 4.5-point ‘chalk.’ Ed Salmons, the head oddsmaker at the LVH Superbook, made ‘Bama a seven-point favorite.
Georgia has had the good fortune of not playing Alabama and LSU during the last three regular seasons. This has been huge for the Bulldogs, who have won back-to-back East titles in large part because South Carolina had a more difficult scheduling draw for SEC West opponents.
LSU is back on UGA’s slate this year, visiting Athens in Week 5. The Nugget has the Dawgs installed as six-point favorites with a total of 52.
If there’s a number that looks off out of the 10 games released, I think it’s Florida as a two-point home favorite versus Florida St. This line is way too short.
FSU returns only four starters on defense and is expected to start a freshman at quarterback. Junior wide receiver Rashad Greene is the only returning starter at a skill position.
Florida lost a lot of key players, too. However, the Gators get Ronald Powell back after he missed 2012 with a knee injury. They also add a key transfer on the offensive line in Max Garcia from Maryland. Furthermore, rising sophomores Matt Jones and Antonio Morrison have superstar written all over them at the running back and linebacker positions, respectively.
All 10 of the games given out by Miller are listed below. Be sure to check back with us on Friday for reaction to the Games of the Year lines once they are released.
Alabama (-17, 48) at Virginia Tech (Atlanta), Aug. 31
Alabama (-6, 54.5) at Texas A&M, Sept. 14
LSU at Georgia (-6, 52), Sept. 28
Wisconsin at Ohio St. (-11, 45), Sept. 28
Florida at LSU (-4, 41.5), Oct. 12
Florida vs. Georgia (-4, 44.5) (Jacksonville), Nov. 2
LSU at Alabama (-11.5, 39.5), Nov. 9
Texas A&M at LSU (-1, 47.5), Nov. 23
Florida St. at Florida (-2, 44), Nov. 30
Ohio St. (-6, 50.5) at Michigan
