The AAC kicked things off with a bang last week, especially the Cincinnati Bearcats, who were my four-unit pick of the week. They rolled over the Big Ten Purdue Boilermakers 42-7 as 10.5-point home favorites with the total staying “under” the 49.5-point line.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 2 games in the AAC as well as my top play of the week. All the lines quoted have been provided by BetOnline.

Friday, Sept. 6

UCF Knights (-23) vs. Florida International Golden Panthers      
Total Line: 51

The Knights kicked off their 2013 campaign last Thursday with a 38-7 pounding of Akron as 23.5-point home favorites. The total stayed “under” the 55.5-point line. Florida International lost to Maryland 43-10 in its season opener as a 21-point underdog on the road. The total went “over” the 48.5-point line in that game. It comes into this game with a 1-5 record against the spread in its last six home games.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Cincinnati Bearcats (-10) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini    
Total Line: 56

The Bearcats had no problem getting by their first Big Ten opponent this season with the 35-point thrashing of Purdue as 10-point home favorites. They ran up 425 yards of total offense in that game. Illinois started the new season on a winning note with a shaky 42-34 victory over Division IAA Southern Illinois as a 16.5-point home favorite.

South Florida Bulls vs. Michigan State Spartans (-24)   
Total Line: 43.5

The Bulls were stunned by D IAA McNeese State last Saturday, 53-21, as 20.5-point home favorites. They are now 1-10 straight up in their last 11 games. Michigan State had an unexpected battle on its hands on opening day in a 26-13 win over Western Michigan as a 28-point favorite at home. It is 1-8 ATS in its last nine home games.

Norfolk State Spartans vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (OFF)  
Total Line: OFF

The D IAA Spartans started the season with a 23-6 loss to Maine. Last season against Rutgers, they lost 31-0 in a game that had no posted line. The Scarlet Knights lost a 52-51 heart-breaker in their season opener with a failed two-point conversion attempt in overtime against Fresno State. They were 10.5-point road underdogs in that game.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Louisville Cardinals (OFF)  
Total Line: OFF

The Colonels are coming off a 38-6 opening day victory over Robert Morris in a D IAA matchup. Louisville made short work of the Ohio Bobcats in its home opener with a 49-7 romp as a 21-point favorite. The Cardinals are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games and 7-1 SU in their last eight games at home. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 355 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Bobcats.

Duke Blue Devils (-5.5) vs. Memphis Tigers
Total Line: 50

Duke cruised to a 45-0 victory in its season opener over D IAA NC Central Eagles as a 32.5-point home favorite. This will be the Tigers first time in action this season with no game on last week’s schedule. They are 5-16 SU in their last 21 games and 4-13 SU in their last 17 games at home. Memphis is 4-0 ATS in its last four games.

Montana State Bobcats vs. SMU Mustangs (OFF)    
Total Line: OFF

The Bobcats beat Monmouth 42-24 in an opening day IAA matchup that had no posted line. SMU came up short against in-state rival Texas Tech last Friday in a 41-23 loss as a 4.5-point home underdog. The total went over the 59.5-point line, and it has now gone over in six of the Mustangs’ last nine games.

AAC Pick of the Week

Houston Cougars (-3) vs. Temple Owls         
Total Line: 62

Houston will officially open play in the first-ever American Athletic Conference game fresh off a nonconference 63-13 drubbing of D IAA Southern as a 40.5-point home favorite. Temple got bounced around by No. 14 Notre Dame, 28-6, as a 27.5-point road underdog in its opener. The Owls are 17-8 SU in their last 25 home games, and the total has gone over in four of their last five games at home.

The Cougars’ rushing offense was in solid form against Southern with 372 yards on the ground. And while they probably will not be able to put up numbers like that against the Owls, they still will have a huge edge in this matchup. Look for another heavy dose of Ryan Jackson and Kenneth Farrow running the ball this Saturday as Houston easily covers the three points on the road.

3-Unit Play Take the Houston -3 over the Temple (Saturday, Sept. 7, 12 p.m. ESPNU)

Year to Date: 1-0, +400

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