I was always fond of the Big East, but I am starting to love the new AAC after a 2-0 start has this season’s bankroll at +$700. After riding Cincinnati in Week 1, I cashed in on a three-unit play on Houston’s 22-13 victory over Temple as a three-point road favorite this past Saturday. This new conference, which is a combination of what was left of the Big East and a number of teams from Conference USA, should continue to offer some solid opportunities all season long to make some cash with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System.

The following is a brief betting report for all the Week 3 games in the AAC as well as my top play of the week. All the lines quoted have been provided by BetOnline.

Saturday, Sept. 14

Fordham Rams vs. Temple Owls (-27)    
Total Line: 47

The Rams step up in weight class from the Division IAA Patriot League, but they could provide a legitimate challenge after beating Rhode Island 51-26 and Villanova 27-24 in their first two games. The Owls’ loss to Houston dropped them to 0-2 on the year after opening the season with a 28-6 loss to Notre Dame as 27.5-point road underdogs. Temple is 1-5 both straight up and against the spread in its last six home games.

Eastern Michigan Eaglesvs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (-27.5)
Total Line: 49

Eastern Michigan is coming off a 45-7 beatdown at the hands of Penn State this past Saturday as a 28-point road underdog. This followed a 34-24 victory over D IAA Howard as a 22-point favorite at home on opening day. The Scarlet Knights lost a 52-51 overtime heartbreaker to Fresno State as 10.5-point road underdogs in their season opener but bounced back with a 38-0 shutout of D IAA Norfolk State as 40.5-point home favorites.

Central Florida Knights vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (-4.5)    
Total Line: 50.5

UCF is off to a 2-0 start both SU and ATS with fairly routine victories over Akron and Florida International. This should be a good test for the Knights, who are 4-2 SU in their last six road games but just 2-4 ATS. Penn State will also look to move to 3-0 SU after beating Syracuse and Eastern Michigan by a combined score of 68-24. The Lions have averaged over 300 yards passing in their first two games.

Florida Atlantic Owls vs. South Florida Bulls (-12)  
Total Line: 42

Something has to give in this in-state battle, with both teams looking for their first SU win of the new season. The Owls are now 2-11 SU in their last 13 games after losing to Miami (FL) and East Carolina by a combined 46 points. The Bulls have not been all that much better with five straight losses dating back to last season. They fell to McNeese State 53-21 on opening day as 20.5-point home favorites. This was followed by a 21-6 loss to Michigan State as 21.5-point road underdogs.

Memphis Tigers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (-6.5)
Total Line: 49.5

The Tigers opened their season this past Saturday with a 28-14 loss to Duke as 3.5-point home underdogs, while the Blue Raiders lost to North Carolina 40-20 as 19.5-point road underdogs to fall to 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS on the year. These two have met the last four years, with Middle Tennessee holding a 3-1 edge SU. Memphis has a 3-2 edge ATS in the last five meetings.

Northwestern State Demons vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (OFF)    
Total Line: OFF

The Demons play out of D IAA’s Southern Conference and come in with a 2-0 SU record after wins over Missouri State and Southern. The Bearcats are coming off a 45-17 drubbing at the hands of Illinois as 7.5-point road favorites after beating Purdue 42-7 as 10-point home favorites on opening weekend. The loss to the Fighting Illini proved costly after quarterback Munchie Legaux was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Maryland Terrapins (-7) vs. Connecticut Huskies   
Total Line: 47

The Terrapins are off to a solid 2-0 start both SU and ATS after beating Florida International and Old Dominion by a combined score of 90-20 while covering a three-touchdown spread at home in both games. Connecticut opened its season with a stunning 33-18 loss to D IAA Towson as a 16-point favorite at home. The Huskies are now 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games

AAC Pick of the Week

No. 7 Louisville Cardinals (-12.5) vs. Kentucky Wildcats      
Total Line: 61.5

The Cardinals played true to form on opening weekend with a 49-7 victory over Ohio as 21-point home favorites. This past week they failed to cover as 40.5-point favorites at home in a 44-7 win over Eastern Kentucky. Teddy Bridgewater has alreadythrown for 752 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two games.

Kentucky was a 5.5-point road favorite against Western Kentucky on opening weekend, but it lost that game, 35-26. This past Saturday it covered as a 17.5-point home favorite in a 41-7 rout of Miami (Ohio). The Wildcats are just 2-5 both SU and ATS in their last seven home games against Louisville. While you never like to give this many points on the road in an in-state rivalry, bank on the Cardinals to fully exploit the vast difference in each team’s overall level of talent this season as there is certainly no love lost between these two schools.

4-Unit Play Take Louisville -12.5 over Kentucky (Saturday, Sept. 14, 12 p.m. ESPN)

Year to Date Record:  2-0 (+700)

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