Missouri has thrived as an underdog this season, compiling a 5-1 record both straight up and against the spread. Going back further, Gary Pinkel's team has won outright in eight of its last nine games as an underdog. The Tigers won outright as dogs again last week, rallying in the fourth quarter to knock off Arkansas 21-14 to win the SEC East for a second straight season. They return to Atlanta on Saturday to face Alabama and, as of Wednesday, were 14.5-point underdogs. This is Missouri's first game as a double-digit dog since its 2012 regular-season finale at Texas A&M.
Alabama went 3-5-1 ATS in nine games as a double-digit favorite this season. However, if we count the Crimson Tide's final four games from last year, it has limped to an abysmal 3-9-1 spread record in its last 13 games as double-digit chalk.
Quick Hitters
-- Since dropping a 31-24 decision to Arizona at home back on Oct. 2, Oregon has won seven in a row, both straight up and against the spread. Each victory for the Ducks has come by margins of 12 points or more. As of late Wednesday afternoon, they were listed as 14.5-point favorites for Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game vs. Arizona in Santa Clara.
-- Arizona has been an underdog three times this season, producing a 2-1 record both SU and ATS. The Wildcats won outright at Oregon and at Utah, but they failed to cover as 6.5-point dogs at UCLA in a 17-7 loss due to a pair of missed short field goals in the second half. Rich Rodriguez's team might not have one of its top weapons against the Ducks. WR Samajie Grant was cited for DUI this past weekend. There are conflicting reports about Grant, who definitely won't start. Other reports have indicated he's suspended for the entire game. Grant has 40 receptions for 645 yards and five TDs.
-- Baylor and Kansas State remain alive with hopes of making the College Football Playoff going into Saturday's showdown in Waco. While there was no line at many books as of Wednesday because on the uncertain status of Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, The Wynn was dealing Baylor -8 and CG Technology was at -9. Petty left last week's 48-46 win over Texas Tech after sustaining a concussion. He has a 25/5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 2,893 passing yards, but back-up Seth Russell has seen plenty of playing time. The third-year sophomore has played in eight games, and in his one start vs. Northwestern State, he threw for 438 yards and five TDs without an interception. Russell has an 8/1 TD-INT ratio and is considered a better runner than Petty, averaging 5.8 yards per carry with six career rushing scores.
-- Kansas State owns an incredible 19-5 spread record in its last 24 games as a road underdog. The Wildcats won outright in a pair of such spots this year at Oklahoma and at West Virginia. However, they got smashed 41-20 at TCU.
-- Georgia Tech will be without two of its top playmakers for Saturday's ACC Championship Game vs. Florida State. WR DeAndre Smelter tore his ACL and RB Broderick Snoddy injured his leg in last week's overtime win at Georgia, and both players will miss the rest of the season. Smelter is the Yellow Jackets' leading receiver with 35 receptions for 715 yards and seven TDs. He has more than twice as many catches and receiving yards than any other Georgia Tech player. Smelter has also rushed for 103 yards and one TD on three carries. Snoddy has run for 283 yards and three scores on 28 totes. He has 495 all-purpose yards on 36 touches. Paul Johnson's team is a 4-point underdog against the Seminoles.
-- With QB J.T. Barrett out with an ankle injury, Ohio State turns to third-year sophomore Cardale Jones as its starter vs. Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. As a redshirt freshman last year, Jones had two pass attempts and 17 rushes. He has played in mop-up duty in seven games this season. For his career, Jones has connected on 11-of-19 throws for 121 yards and two TDs without an interception. He has rushed for 334 yards and one TD on 43 carries. The Buckeyes are 4-point underdogs against the Badgers.
Pick
Missouri +14.5 vs. Alabama. Missouri ranks 13th in the country in scoring defense, giving up only 19.7 PPG. As noted above, the Tigers have thrived as underdogs in recent years. I'll back Gary Pinkel's team catching the huge number.
Betting previews, picks: SEC | Big Ten | ACC | Pac-12
Brian Edwards is a college football handicapper who contributes a weekly column to The Linemakers on Sporting News. For more valuable information and insight, follow him on Twitter @vegasbedwards and visit his website, BrianEdwardsSports.com.Sign up for The Linemakers’ free newsletter and follow us on Twitter.