NCAAF Top 5: Teams that exceed early expectations
When it comes to creatures of habit, college football coaches take the cake.
Some coaches consistently have their teams playing their best football right out of the gates. Others prefer to have their team peak later in the season.
Knowing who?s who can make you money.
These five programs frequently exceed oddsmakers? expectations in September:
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores are underrated to start every season. Under coach Bobby Johnson, they are 15-6-1 against the number in September.
Vandy returns 17 starters from last year?s bowl team but is picked by most to finish fifth in the SEC East.
To start the season, when most everyone is healthy, the Commodores can field a team that is competitive in the SEC and superior to most non-BCS squads.
But the school?s tough academic requirements take a toll on the team?s depth. As the season progresses and the bumps and bruises add up, Vanderbilt suffers a significant drop off when it goes to its bench.
September games of note: at LSU, Sept. 12; vs. Mississippi State, Sept. 19; at Rice, Sept. 26.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks are 16-5 ATS in September in Mark Mangino?s seven seasons.
They?ve made a habit of clobbering inferior MAC, C-USA and Sun Belt teams and are 12-5 ATS against non-conference competition since 2004.
September games to note: at UTEP, Sept. 12; vs. Duke, Sept. 19; vs. Southern Miss, Sept. 26.
South Florida Bulls
Since moving up to Division-I in 2001, the Bulls are 14-7 ATS under coach Jim Leavitt in September.
Leavitt has done an especially good job preparing his team for early games against ranked teams. South Florida owns straight up and ATS wins over West Virginia, Auburn and North Carolina in the past three years.
September game to note: at Florida State, Sept. 26.
Air Force Falcons
The Falcons? 23-10 ATS mark in September is the best in the FBS over the last 10 seasons. Coach Troy Calhoun has continued that tradition. He is 5-2 ATS in September heading into his third season.
The Falcons have their best two offensive weapons back in quarterback Tim Jefferson and running back Asher Clark.
Calhoun?s latest version of the Air Force spread option is always tough to prepare for, but especially early in the season.
Early games of note: at Minnesota, Sept. 12; at New Mexico, Sept. 19; vs. San Diego State, Sept. 26.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Throughout his 23-year career at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer?s teams have always been well prepared. In the last 10 seasons, the Hokies are 21-13 ATS in September.
Coming out of the gates strong this year would be especially impressive this season. Not only is star running back Darren Evans out for the year with an ACL injury but two more Hokies running backs have been battling injuries and missed practice time this week.
Good luck facing Alabama (-5.5) with a fourth-string running back.
September games to note: vs. Alabama, Sept. 5, in Atlanta; vs. Marshall, Sept. 12; vs. Nebraska, Sept. 19; vs. Miami, Sept 26.
When it comes to creatures of habit, college football coaches take the cake.
Some coaches consistently have their teams playing their best football right out of the gates. Others prefer to have their team peak later in the season.
Knowing who?s who can make you money.
These five programs frequently exceed oddsmakers? expectations in September:
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores are underrated to start every season. Under coach Bobby Johnson, they are 15-6-1 against the number in September.
Vandy returns 17 starters from last year?s bowl team but is picked by most to finish fifth in the SEC East.
To start the season, when most everyone is healthy, the Commodores can field a team that is competitive in the SEC and superior to most non-BCS squads.
But the school?s tough academic requirements take a toll on the team?s depth. As the season progresses and the bumps and bruises add up, Vanderbilt suffers a significant drop off when it goes to its bench.
September games of note: at LSU, Sept. 12; vs. Mississippi State, Sept. 19; at Rice, Sept. 26.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks are 16-5 ATS in September in Mark Mangino?s seven seasons.
They?ve made a habit of clobbering inferior MAC, C-USA and Sun Belt teams and are 12-5 ATS against non-conference competition since 2004.
September games to note: at UTEP, Sept. 12; vs. Duke, Sept. 19; vs. Southern Miss, Sept. 26.
South Florida Bulls
Since moving up to Division-I in 2001, the Bulls are 14-7 ATS under coach Jim Leavitt in September.
Leavitt has done an especially good job preparing his team for early games against ranked teams. South Florida owns straight up and ATS wins over West Virginia, Auburn and North Carolina in the past three years.
September game to note: at Florida State, Sept. 26.
Air Force Falcons
The Falcons? 23-10 ATS mark in September is the best in the FBS over the last 10 seasons. Coach Troy Calhoun has continued that tradition. He is 5-2 ATS in September heading into his third season.
The Falcons have their best two offensive weapons back in quarterback Tim Jefferson and running back Asher Clark.
Calhoun?s latest version of the Air Force spread option is always tough to prepare for, but especially early in the season.
Early games of note: at Minnesota, Sept. 12; at New Mexico, Sept. 19; vs. San Diego State, Sept. 26.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Throughout his 23-year career at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer?s teams have always been well prepared. In the last 10 seasons, the Hokies are 21-13 ATS in September.
Coming out of the gates strong this year would be especially impressive this season. Not only is star running back Darren Evans out for the year with an ACL injury but two more Hokies running backs have been battling injuries and missed practice time this week.
Good luck facing Alabama (-5.5) with a fourth-string running back.
September games to note: vs. Alabama, Sept. 5, in Atlanta; vs. Marshall, Sept. 12; vs. Nebraska, Sept. 19; vs. Miami, Sept 26.
