College football Week 7 trend plays: USC struggling as underdog

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Last week, Baylor covered the spread - and won - as an underdog and UTSA went under the total yet again in conference play.

Here are some trends to keep an eye out for in Week 7.

USC at Notre Dame

USC head coach Clay Helton has been pure fade material when the Trojans are underdogs. They're currently on a 2-13 run straight up and 3-12 run ATS in this spot, with those 13 losses coming by an average of roughly 18 points.

Trend play: Notre Dame -11

UL Monroe at Texas State

UL Monroe isn't favored often, but when the Warhawks are giving points, it's typically a good time to fade them. Under head coach Matt Viator, the program is on an 0-8 run ATS in this spot. The Warhawks have had a tough time scoring, too, as evidenced by going under the total in seven of those eight situations.

Trend play: Texas State +3 and under 60.5

Fresno State at Air Force

Plenty of FBS head coaches are trendy plays as an underdog - Texas' Tom Herman, Baylor's Matt Rhule, and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald have been highlighted as go-to bets in these spots. Arguably the best one that nobody talks about is Fresno State's Jeff Tedford, who owns a 10-0-1 record ATS when catching points with the Bulldogs. He's 1-0-1 this season, covered the lone game as a 'dog last season, and came through eight out of eight times in his first season with the club in 2017.

Trend play: Fresno State +3.5

Iowa State at West Virginia

Iowa State's offense doesn't travel well. Over the Cyclones' last nine games as visitors, they averaged just 20.1 points per game and went under the team total in eight of them.

Trend play: Iowa State team total under ~31.5

Washington State at Arizona State

Arizona State's Herm Edwards might wind up being a coach you can trust as an underdog and fade as a favorite. The Sun Devils are 5-0 ATS the last five when getting points - with four outright wins - and 0-5 ATS the previous five when laying chalk. Unfortunately for ASU, it's a home favorite Saturday against Washington State.

Trend play: Washington State +1

Toledo at Bowling Green

Bowling Green's totals continue to inflate even though the team has one of the worst offenses in the nation. After going under the total yet again last weekend at Notre Dame, the Falcons enter Week 7 on a 9-1 run to the under over the last 10 overall and a 7-1 run when they're underdogs.

Trend play: 64.5

Ball State at Eastern Michigan

Eastern Michigan beat Illinois on the road this season as an 8.5-point underdog but was trounced by Central Michigan as a 4.5-point favorite. That's just the type of team the Eagles are: great as underdogs, terrible as favorites. Fortunately, they're in the role they prefer this weekend as home 'dogs to Ball State. Head coach Chris Creighton is on a 19-4-2 run ATS when catching points.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.