Last Saturday morning, the betting world was all in on LSU, showering them with tickets as a 3-point road favorite at Ole Miss. Then, classic college football, Ole Miss won that game outright. Now, fast-forward a week, and the pendulum has swung so hard the other way that the Rebels are the public darling, sitting pretty at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 with Trinidad Chambliss suddenly the Heisman favorite. But hold up, because this weekend, the “wise guys” are smelling a trap.
Ole Miss Is Walking Into a Swamp They Don’t Understand
Ole Miss is a 3.5-point underdog this Saturday at Florida, and the public is absolutely *loving* the idea of grabbing those points. Everyone is riding the Rebel high. But former Las Vegas bookmaker Ed Salmons is screaming Florida, telling anyone who will listen, “The greatest spot this week would be Florida.” He says the line itself is telling you who’s gonna cover. Think about it: Ole Miss just played their Super Bowl against LSU, a game they waited nine months for, according to professional bettor Vegas Rick. Can college kids really bottle that kind of energy and unleash it again just a week later? Salmons doesn’t think so, pointing out that when a lower-ranked team is favored, they usually do pretty well. Florida isn’t the team you think you know. Oddsmakers have boosted their power rating by a touchdown or more after just three games. Salmons didn’t mince words: “These kids at Ole Miss have no idea what they’re stepping into against this new Florida team.” The Gators just rolled Auburn “pretty easily,” even with 16 penalties that their coach absolutely ripped them for. Salmons is convinced no team has improved as much as Florida. Vegas Rick went further, saying if Ole Miss wins in The Swamp, they’re “a phenomenal football team.” That’s how high the stakes are.
Penn State’s Reputation Gets No Love From The Sharps, Miami’s D Has Issues
Over on another field, undefeated Penn State opened as a 10-point home favorite against Wisconsin. Sounds like a lock, right? Nope. Early sharp money is piling up on the Badgers at +10. Salmons cracked that “wise guys bet against Penn State all the time.” He sees a painfully slow pace in this game. He even changed the channel last weekend when Penn State kicked a 50-yard field goal on 4th and 2 against Buffalo in their first series! Vegas Rick is emphatic: “You don’t lay 10 in this spot.” Professional bettor Slice, an aggressive oddsmaker who trusts his gut on injuries and opinions, echoed that sentiment, calling it “a no-fly zone.” Speaking of Slice, he’s moved Miami down in his ratings. Why? “Miami just hasn’t impressed me. I’m not sold on them.” And now? Their top two cornerbacks are hurt. That, plus Stanford getting smashed by Duke, doesn’t paint a pretty picture for the Hurricanes. Salmons is calling Notre Dame -7 at home against Miami.
This Saturday is going to be wild. Will Ole Miss prove they’re phenomenal in The Swamp, or will Florida show everyone they’re for real? And can Penn State cover that double-digit spread against a surprisingly sharp-backed Wisconsin squad? Strap in, because we’re about to find out! Oh, and keep an eye on those injury lists for Hawaii QB Micah Alejado and Navy QB Braxton Woodson; they’re both listed as question marks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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