Online sports betting handicappers may be surprised that the Vanderbilt Commodores have gotten the money in 2 out of their first three games despite a 1-2 start. Vanderbilt is coming off their first win of the season last Saturday as they scored a 28-14 offshore sports betting payout at Ole Miss last week as 11.5-point road dogs. It was the first win for new head coach Robbie Caldwell who took over the program right before training camp after Bobby Johnson unexpectedly retired.
A Humble Hit
Caldwell wowed everyone in July at SEC Media days as he came off as the common country boy that he truly is. Caldwell grew up and worked on a farm before taking a different career path as an assistant coach. He had been with Johnson during his entire 8 season tenure at Vandy. It is ironic that someone as plain spoken as Caldwell leads the football program of an elite private university that is known far more for academics than for being a football factory, even as a member of the Southeastern Conference.
Not a Fluke
Vandy’s win at Ole Miss was not an accident or fluke as the Commodores held a 28-14 first down advantage and impressed everyone betting at SBG with their 5.5 yards per rushing attempt. Vanderbilt forced 3 Rebel turnovers and held quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in check. Warren Norman led Vanderbilt ball carriers with 111 yards on 15 carries with 1 touchdown and he is averaging 6.8 yards per carry for the season.
A Potential Bargain Value?
Vanderbilt nearly upset Northwestern in their season opener that was a tough 23-21 loss in which they covered the online sports betting board as 3-point home dogs. Even in their week two 27-3 loss to LSU the Commodores were competitive for most of the game. Before last year’s 4-6-1 mark against the spread Vandy had been in the red just once in the previous 5 seasons.
Winnable Games Ahead
Vandy will enjoy a bye this week before traveling to Connecticut to face a struggling Husky team on October 2. That will be followed by an October 9 home game against a woeful Eastern Michigan team in which Vandy should be a big offshore sports betting favorite. The Commodores will then resume SEC play on the road against under-achieving Georgia on October 16.