The last game of the season can be meaningful for college football teams, especially to those carrying the added weight of being the No. 1 team in the AP preseason poll.

In addition to the respect these teams earn early on in the season, they are also admired by the betting public and the oddsmakers alike.  Surprisingly, these kingpins hold their own in the ATS wars as double-digit chalk, going 260-16 SU and 148-123-5 ATS (54.6%).

It’s when they dress up in season finales that that tend to feel the pressure.  That’s confirmed by the fact that AP preseason No. 1 teams are just 17-11-1 ATS and 9-20 ATS in curtain calls, including 9-6 SU and 3-12 ATS when taking on a sub .800 opponent.

Worse, when the sub .800 foe is off a win they dip to 6-6 SU and 1-11 ATS in these affairs.  That’s a 50-/50 straight-up proposition and an 8.4% winning pointspread mark for these teams.

The top-ranked Florida Gators will be sipping that Kool-Aid this week when they host Florida State in their quest of completing the first-ever perfect season in school history.
 
Whether your taste is Kool-Aid or Saki, I say Sayanora, Gators…