You've heard this comment before: a college head coach should try to cover the spread in order to keep the alumni and boosters happy. It's true the alumni and boosters are probably real happy when the alma mater covers the spread on Saturdays. But, if that's what's important to a head coach, he'll soon be enjoying those games from the same seats the alumni and boosters are sitting in.
I think the spread record of a head coach is important to me, as a handicapper, because it lets me know if the coach is meeting expectations.
If a head coach has a winning record vs. the spread, it very simply means to me the coach in question is meeting or surpassing the expectations of the line makers. It's tough maintaining a winning record in most programs, period. A consistent winning record vs. the spread is even more noteworthy.
For example, tonight's head coach for ULL, Mark Hudspeth, is in his 4th year in that position. His record in his first three years against the spread was 22-16 ( his straight-up record in that same span was a sterling 27-12). That's a record that this handicapper cannot ignore. When I do my CollegeEdge ratings, ULL's HC successes both straight-up and vs. the spread figure prominently in my final numbers.
On the other hand, the head coach from ULL's opponent tonight, Arkansas St, is in his first year as a head coach...anywhere. Until I learn more about HC Blake Anderson, I must give a decisive handicapping advantage to the experienced Hudspeth.
So, the bottom line for me is simple: if a coach has a winning record vs. the spread, he's meeting expectations, and, as a result, is a very important factor in the handicapping process.
Some of my favorite spread coaches: 1) Bill Snyder. Others include: David Cutcliffe, Saban, Todd Graham, Kirk Ferentz, Bobby Petrino, Urban Meyer, Al Golden, Mike Gundy........
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