Betting Previews: Auburn vs. Missouri, UCLA vs. Rutgers, South Carolina vs. Oklahoma

Auburn was a +4 dog after opening at +7 versus Missouri.

Auburn comes into this game with a disappointing 2-4 record while Missouri has been hot with a 5-1 record.  They are ranked No. 19 in the nation.

Georgia easily beat Auburn last week 31-13 while Missouri comes into this game with a 45-3 victory over Massachusetts following their first loss of the season to Texas A&M the week before.

Missouri still believes it can play for the SEC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff despite getting blown out at Texas A&M a couple of weeks ago. But the Tigers cannot afford to drop a home game to Auburn, which is winless through its first three SEC games. Missouri had a rare out-of-conference game at UMass last week and cruised to an easy win.

UCLA vs. Rutgers

Rutgers opened as a -7 point home favorite but the line has since dipped to -4.5 during the week.

Sagarin gives us a number of 6.13. This one opened pretty much on the money but we now have an underlay.

Underlays in the 7/6.5/6 range have worked out well for the favorite, according to our model data.

This will be the Bruins first game against the Scarlet Knights as they look to end a five game losing streak.

Rutgers is trying to end a two-game losing streak and move within a win of becoming bowl eligible.

Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis has struggled the past two games. He has completed 27 of 69 passes for 289 yards, one touchdown and three of his four interceptions this season. That’s a 39.1% completion rate and the Scarlet Knights have been limited to seven points in each of the last two games. The Minnesota transfer needs to pick up his game for Rutgers to rebound.

South Carolina vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma opened as a -2.5 home favorite.  The line moved to -1.5 by Thursday.

Sagarin gives us a number of Sooners 5.88.

There is a significant underlay that may be a result of the Gamecocks nearly upsetting Alabama last week.

Be careful here.  Our model likes the favorite with these big underlays in the 3/2.5 range.

Winners and Whiners offered this prediction:

The South Carolina Gamecocks are a competitive squad. They beat Kentucky on the road and only lost by three points against LSU. They almost stunned Alabama in a narrow 28-25 road defeat last week. The Oklahoma Sooners have dropped two of their last three games including a 34-3 defeat last week.

Furthermore, South Carolina has a potent running game. They are averaging 184 rushing yards per game. I expect the success to continue against a defense that gave up 177 rushing yards last week. Also, the Gamecocks just held Alabama to only 313 total yards. They have a stifling rush defense. Oklahoma will run more than pass and the Gamecocks are holding opponents to only 110 rushing yards per game, ranking them 34th in the country.

Prediction: South Carolina Gamecocks +1.5

Oklahoma is not ranked for the first time since the final 2022 poll.  They come into this game with a 4-2 record, 1-2 against the SEC.