According to legend, early in the week is the time when professional bettors make some of their moves - the other most important time is just prior to kickoff - and they tear apart the ripe lines from the Las Vegas Sports Consultants. For the last two years I have tracked the opening steam movements of lines in both college football and the NFL. The idea was to see if the "sharp" money was really that, or if the idea of trailing these severe early line movements was merely a myth. Well, I'm glad to say that we are back at it this season and ready to build on last year's research.

Here is the basic methodology. If a line starts as Penn State (-1) and moves to Penn State (-4.5) then we're going to track Penn State as our side, because the Lions are getting all of the money and driving the spread up. If the line starts as Penn State (-4) and then moves to Penn State (-1) we're going to track the opponent because they are taking the heavy action and it's moving the line lower.

I have not nailed down a specific movement - either passed on percentage of the spread changed or overall points changed - so I have to admit that my research is a little unscientific and based a bit on "feel". However, having done this as much as I have I would have to say that I have an eye for the odd movements.

That said, two years ago the "sharp" money went just 20-30 for the season and we had a solid fade system. But last year I think I opened the parameters up way too much and our tracked teams went 76-69, which was not statistically significant. This year I want to try to tighten it up and keep the total tracked plays somewhere in the range of 70-90 for the season.

It was a role reversal for the early line movements last week. The college football movements were surprisingly spry at 4-1. on the weekend while the NFL movements were just 1-2 ATS. This season the college early line movements are just 20-27 ATS while the NFL moves are a solid 14-9-1 ATS. Overall, the early big movers are just 34-36-1 ATS.

Also, I can say that in my years of tracking these movements I've never seen so many steam moves in the NFL. I am tracking five but there very easily could have been three or four more that I added to track. Looks like the books can't pump up the favorites high enough, fast enough.

Here is this week's action:

Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt (7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31)
Open: Georgia Tech -10.5
Current: Georgia Tech -12.5
Tracking: Georgia Tech

Tech has won five straight games and is coming off a blowout win in Charlottesville that may have put them in the ACC driver's seat. Vanderbilt has lost four in a row and that includes an overtime loss against Army, which also runs the option. Tech is playing great ball right now and is a sweet 9-2 ATS in its last 11 road games. The SEC has dominated the ACC in non-conference games over the last several years but they have managed to win their last two (at Georgia, at Mississippi State) straight up.

Air Force at Colorado State (1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31)
Open: Air Force -6.0
Current: Air Force -3.5
Tracking: Colorado State

Air Force has really been hit or miss this year and they have lost three of their last four games outright. They have, however, gone 2-1 ATS in their last three games. But it's tough for them to lay any points because their offense has been so awful this year. The Falcons have gone 'under' in five straight games and six of seven overall. The home team has won eight of 10 outright in this series and after getting waxed the last two years (and losing three straight overall) it stands to reason that the Rams might finally get a win against an in-state rival and snap a five-game losing streak in the process.

USC at Oregon (8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31)
Open: USC -4.5
Current: USC -3.0
Tracking: Oregon

I guess the Ducks are for real. They've won six straight and covered five straight lines, most of them with ease. Now they welcome a USC team that is just 1-5 ATS in its last six games to Eugene. The Trojans have dominated the series recently, winning four of five and going 5-1 ATS in the last six. That said, Oregon is 4-2 SU at home against the Trojans going back to 1998 and it looks like the sharps are thinking upset this week.

Southern Mississippi at Houston (1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31)
Open: Houston -9.0
Current: Houston -6.0
Tracking: Southern Miss

If anyone can derail Houston's romp through CUSA I think it would be this veteran Southern Miss squad. The Eagles have rebounded from a three-game losing streak to win and cover in heir last two games. But the Cougars have managed to go 5-1 ATS in their last six games and they are a tough team to bet against at the moment. Houston is also 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings and the home team has won five of six. The host is also 4-2 ATS in the last six matchups.

San Francisco at Indianapolis (1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18)
Open: Indianapolis -9.5
Current: Indianapolis -12.0
Tracking: Indianapolis

The general theme in all of the NFL line movements is simple: the top teams in professional football have been dominant and the teams at the bottom are simply killing the books. Sportsbooks just can't set lines high enough at the moment and I fully expect to see some 20s out there in the coming weeks. The Colts have covered five straight games, which, for a team of their public stature, is incredible. Books gotta hope to stem the tide and I think that San Fran's quarterback issues aren't helping the Niners at the window.

Seattle at Dallas (1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18)
Open: Dallas -7.5
Current: Dallas -10.0
Tracking: Dallas

Even after a week off things are still incredibly unsettled for Seattle. They have serious offensive line issues, their defense has been ravaged by injury, and they don't seem like they are much advanced from the noncompetitive team that got waxed 34-9 at Big D last Thanksgiving.

Jacksonville at Tennessee (4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18)
Open: 'Pick'
Current: Tennessee -3.0
Tracking: Tennessee

Somehow, people still look at this Titans team and think that they have some potential. It is just too hard for bettors to fathom that Tennessee went from a 13-3 juggernaut last season to the 0-6 debacle that we see before us. The Titans were absolutely destroyed in Jacksonville a month ago in a game that they were down 27-3 at the half. The Titans are 3-1 ATS against the Jags at home and 7-3 ATS at home after an extra week of rest. But they still have the No. 31 defense in the league.

Oakland at San Diego (4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18)
Open: San Diego -14.5
Current: San Diego -17.0
Tracking: San Diego

It's Oakland. Do you ever need a reason to bet against Oakland? How about all of the suckers that got pulled into betting on the Raiders last week against the Jets? How'd that work out for them? San Diego looked sharp at Kansas City and - stop me if you've heard this one - they may be getting themselves back on track. Oh, and it looks like JaMarcus Russell is back under center this week in San Diego. Great job, Oakland!

Atlanta at New Orleans (8:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18)
Open: New Orleans -7.5
Current: New Orleans -10.0
Tracking: New Orleans

If the Saints can come back and not only win a road game after being down 24-3, but win it by 12 points and cover their sixth straight spread in the process I don't see how New Orleans can't be a double-digit favorite. The Saints are now 6-0 ATS and have scored 45 points or more in four of six games this season. You want to be the guy holding a ticket against that?

Robert Ferringo is a professional handicapper and you can purchase a full season's package of his football selections for just $25 per week! Click here for details.