The Missouri Tigers kick off the 2022 season Thursday against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Kickoff from Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Missouri vs. Louisiana Tech odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Tigers finished 6-7 last season and have toed the .500 line for two years under coach Eli Drinkwitz. They’ll look to get above the average hump this season with quarterback Brady Cook leading the way. Cook went 27-for-34 with 238 yards and 2 total touchdowns in the team’s 24-22 bowl loss against Army last year.
New Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie has his work cut out for him as he tries to turn around a 3-9 squad from 2021. With Cumbie comes a new quarterback, TCU transfer Matthew Downing, who was recently named the Week 1 starter. Downing has yet to play a complete game in college and could be on a short leash if the offense isn’t working early in the season.
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Louisiana Tech at Missouri odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7:17 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Louisiana Tech +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Missouri -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisiana Tech +19.5 (-110) | Missouri -19.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 60.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Louisiana Tech at Missouri picks and predictions
Prediction
Missouri 38, Louisiana Tech 24
Money line
It’s safe to go ahead and PASS on the money line for this matchup, which sees a minimal 10 percent return for playing Missouri as the winner. Missouri generally wins games it should, winning 14 of its last 16 games in Week 1, but early season shenanigans make this not worth putting down so much for such little return.
Against the spread
With such a huge line, LOUISIANA TECH +19.5 (-110) is probably a safer bet in this matchup. This will most likely be an easy win for Missouri but the Tigers tend not to cover even against weaker programs.
Last season Missouri failed to cover against Central Michigan, Southeast Missouri State and North Texas despite being double-digit favorites in each game.
Over/Under
The OVER 60.5 (-108) is worth a play considering the offensive-mindedness of these teams. Missouri will look to air it out early, getting 5-star freshman wideout Luther Burden as much work as possible. Louisiana Tech should carry a similar pass-heavy approach and could earn a heap of second-half points against a Missouri defense that has improved on paper but still carries plenty of question marks heading into the season.
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