LSU (-17.5) vs Miss. State Is the Most Lopsided Week 8 Game in Terms of Betting Handle
- No. 2 LSU is a 17.5-point favorite at Mississippi State in Week 8
- The Tigers are being heavily backed by both the public and sharps
- Should you feel confident betting LSU to cover the spread?
No. 2 LSU (6-0, 2-0 SEC) is listed as a 17.5-point favorite over Mississippi State (3-3, 1-2 SEC) on Saturday in Week 8 (October 19, 3:30 PM EST).
The undefeated Tigers have one of the best offenses in the country led by QB Joe Burrow, and LSU is getting heavily backed by both the public and sharps for this game. A book reports that 94.7% of its handle and 87.6% of wagers are on the Bayou Bengals.
LSU vs Mississippi State Odds
| Team | Spread | Handle | Bet Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU (#2) | -17.5 (-110) | 94.7% | 87.6% |
| Mississippi State | +17.5 (-110) | 5.3% | 12.4% |
*Odds Taken 10/18/19.
Why is there so much confidence in LSU? What’s the best ATS bet given the current LSU vs. Mississippi State odds?
LSU Heavily Backed
The 94.7% handle and 87.6% ticket count indicate that both sharps and the public are on LSU. The Tigers have covered the spread in four of their six games this season, while Mississippi State has only covered twice and is fresh off a 20-10 loss to Tennessee.
Let your actions speak for themselves.
And no matter how loud it gets,
You block out the noise. pic.twitter.com/J9bxs0N3xl— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 17, 2019
LSU has one of the best offenses in the country and are facing a Mississippi St. team that ranks 68th nationally in total defense. The Tigers are averaging an impressive 561 yards per game and have beat their opponents by an average of 21 points this season.
Mississippi State managed just 10 points in Week 7 and lost 56-23 to Auburn the week prior. Will the Bulldogs be able to bounce back against one of the best teams in the nation?
Joe Burrow is Heisman Candidate
LSU starting QB Joe Burrow is a big reason why the Tigers are being heavily backed against Mississippi State. The second-favorite in the 2019 Heisman odds has looked excellent in every game this season and delivered another great performance against a very strong Florida defense in Week 7.
The Tiger QB went an impressive 21-of-24 for 293 yards and three touchdowns against the Gators. LSU held Florida without a sack or turnover as Burrow continued to make big plays. LSU’s offensive line delivering against a strong Florida defense bodes well for the Tigers chances of covering the spread against Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs’ toughest test this season came against Auburn, a game they lost by over 30 points. Auburn QB Bo Nix went 16-for-21 and the Tigers recorded 578 total yards. LSU is a better team with an ever more accurate quarterback.
Burrow leads the nation with a 218.1 pass efficiency rating and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. He should continue adding to his Heisman resume with another big game against a mediocre defense.
Bulldogs QB Issues
While Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in college football, Mississippi State is struggling at QB. Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens has been battling injuries and was benched against Tennessee after he threw two interceptions in the first half.
What a long, miserable journey college football has been for Tommy Stevens. https://t.co/z1HCixBaiN
— Matt Freiler (@MattyFreshTV) October 14, 2019
True freshman Garrett Shrader has been named the starter for the Bulldogs against LSU. Shrader has struggled with inconsistency and doesn’t match up well against LSU’s defense. Mississippi State has a weak offensive line that has struggled to protect their quarterback this season.
Kylin Hill is a very impressive running back for the Bulldogs, but he’s been held to under 50 rushing yards in each of his last two games. If Tennessee’s defense can hold him to just 13 rushing yards, I’m confident LSU’s 13th-ranked rush defense can prevent him from doing any significant damage on Saturday.
Bet the Tigers
LSU has been too dominant this season to not feel confident betting them to cover the spread against a struggling Mississippi State team.
Joe Burrow has performed well in every game this season and should deliver another strong performance against a Bulldogs team that couldn’t handle a mediocre Auburn offense.
Veteran coach Ed Orgeron will prevent LSU from looking ahead to Auburn in Week 9, and the Tigers will rely on their elite offense to easily cover the spread.
Pick: LSU (-17.5)
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
