Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

Week #14 opening lines have been hung, so in this space we take a look at what the oddsmakers are laying down around the SEC and a few other games of interest.

With that, as always, if you’re going to dabble, please do so responsibly. Don’t forget, any line that seems too good to be true likely is, and the sharps in Vegas know what they’re doing.

Here’s a look at the SEC opening lines and a few other thoughts, with all lines courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, who is an SBNation partner. All odds are subject to adjust during the week, and all kick times listed are central. TV provider listed in parentheses. The Nuggets of Wisdom (NoW) are free of charge, so you’re getting what you paid for there!

What are some of your favorite plays this week? Leave them in the comments section below and we’ll compare notes.

Friday, Nov. 29th

• 2:30 pm (ABC) – Mississippi State at Ole Miss (-26.5 / 60.5 total)

NoW – The Egg Bowl is typically an interesting watch. I think the only way this one is interesting is if Ole Miss’ NLI-heavy lineup doesn’t get up for the game now that they’re eliminated from playoff contention…

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• 6:30 pm (ABC) – Georgia Tech at Georgia (-20.5 / 54.5 total)

NoW – The Bulldogs have already clinched their spot in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, so technically they wouldn’t HAVE to win this one to still have a playoff shot. That would be an ill-advised strategy to undertake, however…

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Saturday, Nov. 30th

• 11 am (ABC) – Tennessee at Vanderbilt (+11.5 / 47.5 total)

NoW – The Vols were the prime beneficiaries of all the SEC chaos last week, and appear to be back in the playoff at-large hunt, while Vanderbilt has lost three of four after drawing the nation’s attention with a mid-season three-game winning streak…

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• 11 am (ESPN) – South Carolina at Clemson (-2.5 / 51.5 total)

NoW – Big rivalry game here with both teams hanging onto thin playoff hopes…

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• 11 am (SECN) – Louisville at Kentucky (+3.5 / 49.5 total)

NoW – A dismal season for the Wildcats comes to a close against a Louisville team that’s also disappointed, at 7-4. All four of the Cardinals’ losses have been by one score…

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• 2:30 pm (ABC) – Auburn at Alabama (-12.5 / 52.5 total)

NoW – Auburn can reach bowl eligibility with a win here against a ‘Bama team that might be down in the dumps after blowing their playoff chances with a dud of a loss at offensively-challenged Oklahoma last week…

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• 2:30 pm (SECN) – Arkansas at Mizzou (-3.5 / 54.5 total)

NoW – Oddsmakers are basically looking at this one as a toss-up, giving Mizzou the edge with homefield advantage. The Razorbacks notched their 6th win Saturday against Louisiana Tech, but they haven’t been all that competitive in their last three games against teams with a pulse…

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• 6 pm (ESPN) – Oklahoma at LSU (-5.5 / 47.5 total)

NoW – I’ll admit I left OU with no chance of beating Alabama last week, so who knows how this one will go. Both teams have had disappointing seasons, who wants this one more?…

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• 6:30 pm (ABC) – Texas at Texas A&M (+7.5 / 51.5 total)

NoW – Aggie Nation is in tatters after A&M blew its playoff clout with an unfathomable loss at hapless Auburn. Now, the Aggies only likely path to the CFP will likely be upsetting Texas here and Georgia the next week in the SEC Championship Game…

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• 7 pm (ESPN2) – Florida at Florida State (+13.5 / 46.5 total)

NoW – It’s kind of sad to see this rivalry game fall to such a meaningless affair…

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Non-SEC games of interest

Thursday, Nov. 28th

• 6:30 pm (ESPN) – Memphis at Tulane (-13.5 / 55.5 total)

NoW – Seems like a pretty big number for Tulane to cover against a Memphis team that comes in at 9-2…

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Saturday, Nov. 30th

• 2:30 pm (CBS) – Notre Dame at USC (+6.5 / 52.5 total)

NoW – Conversely, this line is awful low for a Notre Dame team that is red hot having won 10 straight by an average margin of over 28 points a game. USC is only 6-5 after all, but they do rate very highly in the computer strength rankings, so maybe this one could throw a kink in the Irish playoff plans?…

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• 6:30 pm (FOX) – Kansas State at Iowa State (-2.5 / 52.5 total)

NoW – I feel like the wrong team is favored here, but I also understand the thinking. Kansas State is the better all-around team, but they have thrown up some clunkers on the road this season…

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