Bear Bytes:
Minnesota perspective this week
The last time a team 9-0 or better was a 'dog in regular-season vs. a three-loss team: 2012 Ohio State (+2) at Wisconsin. OSU won 21-14. The only time in the past 40 years a team 9-0 or better was a 3-point 'dog vs. a three-loss team: 1990 Wyoming. Lost 17-8 at Colorado State.
P.J. Fleck has won each of the past six games outright in which his team has entered as an underdog.
Iowa has won its past six games in which it has been favored by a field goal or less (dating to 2015). The Hawkeyes are 5-1 ATS in those six games, with the only non-cover a one-point win this season in Ames as a 1.5-point favorite.
Does it get better than this?
UMass (1-9) faces Northwestern (1-8) this week. There were two games last year featuring teams that brought 1-8 or worse records through nine games into a game. WKU (1-9) beat UTEP (1-9), and Bowling Green (1-8) beat Central Michigan (1-9) last year. The only time a team 1-8 or worse was favored by more than 20 vs. an FBS opponent was 1994; 1-8 Georgia Tech lost to 2-8 Wake Forest 20-13 as a 23-point favorite. The Wildcats are around a 40-point favorite this week -- and have scored 38 points in their past five games combined.
You laying 'em or taking 'em?
Since 1996, there have been two Power 5 games with a spread of at least 50 points: 1996 Nebraska -50 vs. Missouri (won by 44) and 2003 Oklahoma -53 vs. Baylor (won by 38). Ohio State is currently -52 vs. Rutgers.
Cyclones on the wrong side of close games
Iowa State has now lost three games this year by one or two points. In the past 15 years, only two other Power 5 teams had at least three losses by one or two points in a single season -- both were named Nebraska (2009 and 2015).
Anchors Aweigh?
In 2007, Navy snapped a 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame. Including that game, the past four times Notre Dame was a single-digit favorite over Navy, the Irish lost outright in three of those games. They won the other game by six as a 4-point favorite.
Baylor a historic 9-0 home 'dog
The only time in the past 40 years a team was 9-0 or better and at least a 7-point underdog on its home field was 1993 when Notre Dame beat Florida State 31-24 as a 7-point 'dog. All told, there have been six 9-0 or better teams that were a home 'dog. Four of the six won outright.
2015: Oklahoma State vs. Baylor (-2,5), lost by 10
2008: Utah vs. TCU (-2), won by 3
2005: Alabama vs. LSU (-3), lost by 3
1996: Florida State vs. Florida (-2,5), won by 3
1993: West Virginia vs. Miami (-5.5), won by 3
1993: Notre Dame vs. Florida State (-7), won by 7
Baylor currently is a 10-point home underdog against Oklahoma.
The 26 total 9-0 or better 'dogs in the regular season over the past 40 years (including road games) have gone 11-15 SU and 14-11-1 ATS.
In its last six games as an underdog, Baylor is 6-0 ATS with five outright wins. In 46 games as an underdog, Baylor coach Matt Rhule is 32-14 ATS with 16 outright wins. In 18 games as a home 'dog, Rhule's teams are 13-5 ATS with seven outright wins.
Temple a home underdog again
In its past 17 games as a home underdog, Temple is 13-4 ATS (2-1 this year) with eight outright wins.
Spartans have been a cover machine lately vs. Michigan
Michigan State is 10-1 ATS with eight outright wins in its past 11 games with Michigan.
Georgia perspective this weekend
In the past 20 years, there have been 10 top-5 teams favored by a field goal or less on the road vs. a team ranked outside the top 10. The 10 have gone 2-8. The only two to win: 2016 Ohio State at Oklahoma and 2009 Cincinnati at Pitt.
Utah dominant since loss
Since losing at USC, Utah has won and covered all five of its games, winning by an average of 25.6 PPG.
Indiana, we're all for you ...
Indiana is 1-48 in its past 49 road games vs. ranked Big Ten teams. However, the Hoosiers have covered three straight and seven of their past 10 in this spot.
Clemson has been crushing teams
Since the one-point win at North Carolina, Clemson has won its five games by an average of 41.6 PPG and covered vs. each FBS team its faced.