Potent QB makes Mizzou worthy wager

Maty Mauk is not mentioned along with the top quarterbacks in college football, and Missouri is a team flying under the radar, too.

But that sets up a scenario bettors can take advantage of today, because the Tigers appear to be the best bet on the board as 13½-point home favorites over Indiana.

I made Missouri, which is underrated by oddsmakers, a 21-point favorite against the Hoosiers, who lost a 45-42 decision at Bowling Green last weekend. Even without star quarterback Matt Johnson, the Falcons scored 45 points on Indiana’s mediocre defense.

Gary Pinkel has coached the Tigers to a 3-0 start, with victories over Central Florida, Toledo and South Dakota State by margins of 28, 25 and 20 points.

Missouri blasted UCF 38-10 as an 11-point favorite last weekend, and the Knights had two weeks to prepare for their trip to Columbia. Mauk threw four touchdown passes in that game and has thrown nine in the past eight quarters.

A third-year sophomore, Mauk is 7-1 as a starter. All seven of those victories were by margins of 14 points or more. He has a 23-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio for his career, including a 12-to-3 ratio this season.

Missouri is not one-dimensional on offense. Mauk is an outstanding runner with two dynamic running backs behind him. Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy have rushed for more than 200 yards apiece, and both average 5.5 yards per carry.

Why this line is so low is a mystery. Even if one wants to put a major emphasis on the potential of a look-ahead spot for the Tigers with a revenge game at South Carolina on deck, the number should be at least 18.

I’m not complaining, though. I recommend getting aggressive with this play on Missouri, and don’t be afraid to bet the favorite in the first half, too. The Tigers will cruise past Indiana to set up a monster game against the Gamecocks.

Three more plays for today (home team in CAPS):

■ Middle Tennessee (+12) over MEMPHIS — The Blue Raiders have won two of their first three games, covering the spread each time. Middle Tennessee has won three in a row and five of the past six against Memphis. I made the Tigers 7-point favorites, so this number looks inflated.

■ Rutgers (+6½) over NAVY — During coach Kyle Flood’s tenure, Rutgers is 6-2 against the spread as a road underdog. Since 2008, the Scarlet Knights are 14-6 ATS as road ’dogs. Even with quarterback Gary Nova throwing five interceptions last week, Rutgers had a great chance to win in a 13-10 loss to Penn State.

Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds is expected to play, but a knee injury kept him out of last week’s win at Texas State, and he might not be at full speed. The Midshipmen have struggled as home favorites on coach Ken Nuimatalolo’s watch, limping to a 10-14 ATS ledger. With better play from Nova and the running of Paul James, Rutgers can win outright.

■ Oklahoma (-7½) over WEST VIRGINIA — I made the Sooners 10½-point favorites for this trip to Morgantown. West Virginia has been impressive in its first three games, but that’s why we are able to get a dominant favorite laying a single-digit number. Oklahoma has cruised to wins over Louisiana Tech (48-16), Tulsa (52-7) and Tennessee (34-10).

The Sooners are getting dynamite defensive play and steady performances from quarterback Trevor Knight. Remember, when the Mountaineers hung tough in a 16-7 loss in Norman last season, Oklahoma’s quarterback situation was unsettled, and that’s no longer the case. Under coach Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia is 2-3 ATS as a home ’dog.

Last week: 3-1 against the spread

Season: 6-5

Brian Edwards of VegasInsider.com and BrianEdwardsSports.com is providing college football analysis for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.