Sportsbooks Get Hit Somewhat By Tennessee -37 Cover Over Ball State

Written by:
Don Shapiro
Published on:
Sep/02/2022

The Tennessee Vols versus Ball State Cardinals Thursday night game for Week 1 of the 2022 season was not even a competition.  Tennessee won this game   59-10 and the 49-point margin of victory was an easy cover for a -37 point spread.

BetOnline was reporting 71% of the spread action on the Vols ahead of this game.  Most of the Thursday night matchups featured relatively balanced action.

59% C. Michigan +20.5 @ Oklahoma St

71% Tennessee -37 v Ball St

52% Pitt -7.5 v WVU

51% Penn St -3.5 @ Purdue

59% LA Tech +20 @ Mizzou

56% New Mexico St +36 @ Minnesota

Hendon Hooker threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores, bringing his career total touchdowns to 33 in his two-year career at Tennessee.

Hooker's player props for the Tennessee-Ball State game came in as follows:

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Passing Yards

Over  272½  Passing Yards-115

Under  272½  Passing Yards-115

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Touchdown Passes

Over  2½  TD Passes-135

Under  2½  TD Passes+105

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Interceptions

Over  ½  Interceptions+240

Under  ½  Interceptions-330

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Rushing Yards

Over  45½  Rushing Yards-115

Under  45½  Rushing Yards-115

Hooker extended his streak of games with having thrown a touchdown pass to 13.  That is tied with Tony Robinson (1984-85) for second all-time in Vols' history behind Heath Shuler's 18 (1992-94).

"(Hooker) was really efficient," said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel. "He was in command; in control. He was in complete command of the football game."

"Tennessee is good at what they do from an offensive standpoint," said Ball State coach Mike Neu. "It's tough to slow down an offense like that with a quarterback playing at a high level."

"We have more guys who understand the ‘why' behind (what's being done)," said Heupel, comparing his second season to last year. "We're a deeper team than a year ago.

"We know more about this football team than a year ago. Roles are going to change throughout the season."

Jaylen Wright led the Tennessee ground game with 86 yards and a touchdown.

Elsewhere, the West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh "Backyard Brawl" proved to be one of the better games Thursday night.

The Panthers edged their rivals for the first time since 2008 after a pass by West Virginia’s JT Daniels smacked off the hands of Bryce Ford-Wheaton and into the hands of MJ Devonshire.  This resulted in a 38-31 victory.  But this was a failed cover at many books that had Pittsburgh as a -7.5 favorite.  Some books had a push at -7.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com

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