re: Auburn opens as a 10 point favorite

Not how it works. The oddsmakers think that the general public thinks they are 7 points better on a neutral field. It's nothing more than trying to even out a public consensus. The sharps and wiseguys that do this for a living get first crack at the lines right when they come out before the public gets to see them. The limits are set low to 500-1k per bet at this time but it enables the books to really sharpen the lines up. The smart money then watches throughout the week how it moves and when they really start seeing value they jump in for a big bet for at least 10k up to 100k (10 dimes to 100 dimes).

It's not what the books think, but what they think that the public thinks. If a game ever looks too good to be true to you, take the other side. You will profit way more than you lose I promise you. Technology has given them huge psychological advances. Not every favorite should be favored. It's up to you to find the value. No different than investing.