Sports Picks & Predictions

I'm playing on Georgia/Alabama UNDER the total. It goes without saying that both teams are loaded, on both sides of the ball. As you're likely aware, the first meeting was fairly high-scoring. It finished comfortably above the total, Alabama winning 41-24. While we're working with a considerably higher O/U number for the rematch, I'm expecting a much lower-scoring affair. Both teams were dominant defensively last game. Alabama limited Michigan to 11 points. Georgia held Cincinnati to only six. In last year's big bowl win over Ohio State, the Tide got four combined TDs from Devonta Smith and Najee Harris. Of course, they no longer have either of those players, both having moved on to the pros. The Tide also got a big game from Metchie III in last year's final. He had eight receptions and averaged better than 10 yards per catch. The Tide won't have him either though. That's a big deal. Metchie had a TD and averaged better than 16 yards per reception in Alabama's December win over Georgia. However, it was Jameson Williams who really torched the Bulldogs. Now, with Metchie out, we saw Alabama change the way that they used Williams. He started doing a lot of the things Metchie had previously done. Either way, Metchie's absence will help allow Georgia to be much better at guarding Williams. A closer look at the stats from the first game shows that it was only one "wild" second quarter where the majority of the points were scored. They only had three in the first, seven in the third and a relatively modest 17 in the fourth. So, 27 points in those three quarters. They're not going to score 38 points in the second quarter this time. In the first meeting, the Tide threw the ball 44 times, while running only 26 times. The Tide had an opposite approach last week though. They ran the ball 47 times, while throwing 28, in the win over Cincinnati. I expect more frequent running plays to be part of the game plan, once again. While the Bulldogs accumulated more than 500 yards of offense against Michigan, the UNDER is a perfect 5-0 the past five times that they had gained more than 450 yards in their previous game. Look for those stats to improve as this one turns into a lower-scoring than expected, defensive battle. 

I'm playing on Baylor/Ole Miss OVER the total. Both teams closed out the regular season on 'under' streaks. Those results have kept this O/U line in the 50s, when it otherwise could have easily been in the 60s. Note that Ole Miss games average 64.9 ppg. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. Both these offenses can put up big numbers. Baylor averages 32.5 ppg. At 35.9 ppg, Ole Miss averages even more. Admittedly, the Baylor defense is solid. However, its not dominant like a Georgia or Alabama defense. The Bears still gave up double-digits in points in each of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Rebel defense is mediocre, at best. The Rebels allowed at least 14 points in all 12 games this season. Even Austin Peay scored 17 against them. Ole Miss coach Kiffin is known for his tendency to play aggressively. He doesn't mind rolling the dice on fourth down. That'll often lead to points, for and against. On the season, they allowed an average of 25 ppg. Six of the past nine Sugar Bowls have seen at least 54 points scored. Last year's game produced 77 points. They likely won't get that many this year but they'll get "enough." Go with the Over.

I'm playing on Iowa/Kentucky UNDER the total. We saw some lower-scoring games yesterday and I expect that to continue for this afternoon's Citrus Bowl. This O/U line is low for good reason; Iowa can have real trouble scoring. The Hawkeyes managed only three points last game. That's three times in their last seven games that they scored seven or less. While the offense is far from dominant, the Hawkeyes defense is typically solid. Kentucky got involved in a couple of high-scoring games down the stretch. However the Wildcats are also capable of playing stingy defense. They've allowed 21 or fewer points in each of their last three games. Earlier, they held Florida to 13 and South Carolina to 10. Look for a low-scoring, defensive affair.

I'm playing on Georgia/Michigan UNDER the total. Naturally, both offenses are very good. The defenses are arguably even better though. Prior to the Alabama game, the Bulldogs were giving up nothing. No other team, except for the Crimson Tide, scored more than 17 against them. For the season, they allowed an average of only 9.5 points. The Michigan defense was also stout. They closed the season by limiting Iowa to three points. On the season, the Wolverines allowed an average of only 16.1 points. The Wolverines are going to run the ball but that's going to be tough against a Georgia defense which will be loading up against the run. The Bulldogs are also going to be running the ball regularly. That's going to help keep the clock moving and ultimately lead to a low-scoring affair. The UNDER is 4-1-1 the last six times that Georgia was off a SU loss and the UNDER is also 6-1 the last seven times that the Bulldogs were favored in a bowl game. Look for those stats to improve this evening. 

I'm playing on WSU/CMU OVER the total. The Chippewas can score points with the best of them. They scored more than 30 points in each of their final five games. The defense allowed 30 or more points in three of those games, too. In two games against teams from Power Five conferences, they allowed 34 and 49 points. The Cougars offense really got clicking towards the end of the year. WSU scored 40 and 44 points in its final two games. The last time that they faced a team from outside the Pac 12, they won 44-24. The OVER is 4-0 the past four times that the Cougars were listed as favorites. Look for those stats to improve this afternoon. 

I'm playing on Houston/Auburn OVER the total. Cougars vs. Tigers. This is the second lowest O/U line of today's five bowl games. I feel that it'll prove to be too low. The Tigers are without some players, who opted out. That won't prevent them from scoring though. They come in with a chip on their shoulder. The Tigers averaged 29.6 ppg, despite facing SEC defenses. Having just fired his offensive coordinator, and now taking over the Auburn play-calling, Bryan Harsin is obviously going to want his offense to make him look good. The Tigers are going to need to score, as the Cougars will surely be doing so. Houston averaged more 37 ppg. Like Auburn, the Cougars come in with a chip on their shoulder. Before being held to 20 points by Cincinnati, the Cougars had scored more than 30 points in eight straight games and at least 28, in 11 straight. Look for this one to prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on UNT/Miami Ohio OVER the total. Kent State's game (52-38 final) against Wyoming reminded us how high-scoring these games with MAC teams can be. Speaking of Kent State, that's the team which Miami Ohio faced in its most recent game. That one finished with 95 points, a 48-47 final. Over its final six games, Miami scored 34, 24, 33, 45, 34 and 37. North Texas can also really put points on the board. The Mean Green scored 45 in their last game and 49 in their previous one. They've scored 20 or more in eight straight games, 30 or more in five of those. UNT is vulnerable to giving up big plays and Miami is capable of connecting on them. On the other side, the Redhawks are going to have real trouble slowing down the Mean Green. Expect another shootout.

I'm playing on Army/Missouri OVER the total. While the Knights stalled in the Navy game, they're now facing a less capable defense. I expect them to bounce back with a much better offensive showing this afternoon. Prior to scoring just 13 at Navy, Army had scored 31, 33 and 63 points, in its previous three games. The only other time this season that the Knights scored 14 or less was in their loss at Wisconsin. They bounced back and scored 56 their next time out. Unfortunately, for Army fans, they gave up 70 in the same game. The Tigers do not have a good defense. That's not just because they play in the SEC either. They gave up at least 23 points in every single game this season, an average of 34.7 ppg. The offense can score though. Despite their schedule including the likes of Georgia, the Tigers average 29.7 ppg. While it should be mentioned that Brady Cook will be Missouri's starting QB, I don't expect it to change what the Tigers do. The last time that the Knights were in the Armed Forces Bowl, they scored 70 points. Look for another relatively high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Kent State / Wyoming OVER the total. There should be plenty of points in this afternoon's bowl game. Seven of Kent State's last eight games finished with greater than 60 points. They scored 30 or more themselves in seven of those. Five of those finished with more than 84! Wyoming just gave up 38 points to Hawaii. So, the Flashes figure to have another big day. The Cowboys should too, however. They scored 44 or more points three different times this season. All three of those opponents, that they scored 44 or more against, were "bowl teams," too. They scored 44 against Utah State, 45 vs. Ball State and 50 vs. NIU. So, they should absolutely be able to put up another big number against a porus KSU defense which allowed an average of 35.1 ppp, 125th worst in the country. Kent State also gives up 467 ypg, 123rd worst. Expect plenty of fireworks.

I'm playing Army/Navy OVER the total. This is a very low O/U line. I believe it'll prove to be too low. It's true. Historically, this has been a low-scoring series. We're working with a lower O/U line than any of the recent meetings though. The last 10 have all ranged between 36 and 55.5. This year, Army is very tough to stop. The Knights average 35.5 ppg. In fact, both offenses come in with momentum. While I'm not saying they will, either is capable of going over the very low number by itself. The Knights have scored 31, 33 and 63 their past three games. Meanwhile, Navy scored 38 and 35 in its last two games. Army games avg 58.3 points on the season. Navy games average 50. The 'under' streak comes to an end this afternoon. 

I'm playing on Michigan/Iowa UNDER the total. While both teams have been involved in a few relatively high-scoring games recently, I'm expecting points to be hard to come by in this one. Both defenses are outstanding. They allow 17.3 and 17.2 ppg, respectively. That ranks each in the top 10 in the country. They're both top 15, in terms of yards allowed per game, too. The Hawkeyes, who were held to only seven points twice this season, figure to have some trouble scoring. The Wolverines allowed 27 points last game. However, that was against Ohio State. They held their three previous opponents to an average of just 14 points. On the season, they allowed 18 or fewer points in nine of 12 games. No team has scored more than 27 against Iowa all season long. These teams last met in 2019. The score was 10-3. Their previous meeting before that had a score of 14-13. With a heavy dose of the run, from both teams, helping to chew up the clock, expect another low-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on LA Tech/RICE UNDER the total. Its been a disappointing season for both these teams. Each would like to close it out with a win. Both teams having been involved in some recent high-scoring games and both having been profitable 'over' teams on the season. Those results have worked in our favor by helping to provide a generously high total. I feel that it'll prove to be too high. Keep in mind that both teams currently have serious issues on offense, starting at QB. I successfully played against the Bulldogs in their last game. They were favored by -15.5 points. Yet, they scored only 19 in total. That was a home game against one of the worst defenses in the league, a Southern Miss team which had given up more than 500 yards against North Texas, less than two weeks before. These teams didn't play last year but they did in both 2018 and 2019. Those games had O/U lines of 53 and 48.5. The final combined scores were 41 and 43. (In the 43-point game, nine points came in OT.) Look for this one to also prove to be lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on the OVER in the Egg Bowl. The Rebels have been on an 'under' streak. However, the Bulldogs have been on an 'over' streak. I expect the Bulldogs' streak to be the one which continues. The Bulldogs scored 55 themselves last week. True, that was against a weak opponent. However, the previous week they scored 43, at Auburn. They're averaging more than 40 ppg their last five. While the offense is potent, the Miss. State defense is nothing special. The Bulldogs have allowed 28 or more points six different times, allowing more than 30 each of their past two games against an SEC opponent. The Rebels can score, too. They've scored 27 or more in each of their past three games and 20 or more in every game this season. On the season, they're averaging 36.4 ppg. That's Top 20 in the country. Last year, when these teams met, the O/U line was 70.5. We're working with a considerably lower number here. Expect it to prove to be too low. 

I'm playing on CSU/Hawaii OVER the total. These teams have a history of playing high-scoring games. Both teams will see this as a winnable game and a chance for their offense to "get healthy. I expect the high-scoring trend to continue this evening. Five meetings since 2012 have had O/U lines of 52, 58, 57.5, 64.5 and 58. None of them proved high enough. The games had final combined scores of 69, 63, 71, 72 and 78. The most recent was the 78 point game and the most recent here at Hawaii was the 72 game. The Rams have seen each of their last two games finish above the total. Including those results, the OVER is now 4-0 their last four in November. While the Warriors last two games finished below the total, their previous two both finished in the 80s. Neither defense is playing well. The Warriors gave up 465 yards last game The Rams defense has given up 986 total yards its last two games. With both teams essentially playing only for pride, there's no need to "play it safe." Expect plenty of offensive fireworks. 

I'm playing on FSU/BC OVER the total. These teams had an O/U line of 64.5 when they last met. That wasn't enough as they combined for 69 points. Saturday's O/U is considerably lower. I believe it'll prove to be too low. The Boston College offense came to life in a big way last week. The Eagles combined with Georgia Tech for 71 points, scoring 41 themselves. The Seminoles, meanwhile, combined with Miami for 59 points. Off that 31-28 win, they've now allowed a minimum of 28 points in three straight games. Note that the Noles have seen the OVER go 6-1 the last seven times that they were off a victory. Yet, its the Eagles which are small favorites. That's noteworthy as the OVER is 11-2 the last 13 times that BC was listed as a home favorite. Look for both teams to have success moving the ball, the final combined score finishing above the relatively low number. 

I'm playing on Texas A&M and Ole Miss OVER the total. Six of the last seven meetings between these teams had O/U lines of 62 or greater. A look at this season's Ole Miss games shows that the lowest O/U line was 66.5. We're working with a considerably lower O/U number Saturday and I feel that it'll prove to be too low. While the Aggies got into a low scoring game vs. Auburn last week, they'd scored 44, 35 and 41 points in their previous three. These teams combined for 745 yards of offense last season after compiling 944 the previous year. The previous year they had 782 yards and the year before that they combined for 832. Expect both teams to have success moving the football, the final combined score proving higher than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on BC/GT OVER the total. Last year's game had an O/U line of 57.5 and finished with 75 points. The Eagles scored of those. I expect them to have another big day on offense. Boston College has faced some fairly stingy defenses recently. This isn't one of them. In their last five games, the Jackets have allowed 52, 27, 48, 26 and 33 points. Georgia Tech can score though. The Jackets have scored 30 or more in three of their past four and they've scored 40 or more three times this season. The OVER is 4-0 the past four times that GT played in November and I expect those stats to improve Saturday afternoon. 

I'm playing on Clemson/Louisville OVER the total. This is a relatively low O/U line. I feel that it'll prove to be too low. I felt fortunate to cash my 'over' ticket in last week's Clemson game. If you saw the final play, you'll know what I'm talking about. Still, Clemson was moving the ball. I expect the Tigers to have success against a Cardinal defense which gave up 28 points last week and which has allowed 34 or more points four times. Consider that the last four meetings between these teams all had O/U lines in the 60s. Now, we've got one in the 40s. Those four games had combined scores of 78, 68, 93 and 55.  All four of those games would have finished above this evening's low number. The OVER is also a perfect 4-0 the past four times that the Cardinals were listed as home underdogs. Expect those stats to improve. 

I'm playing on VTech/BC OVER the total. These teams combined for 54 points last year. The O/U line was 62. In 2018 and 2019, the games between these teams also both produced greater than 50 points. They had combined scores of 52 at VT and 63, here at Boston College. Those O/U lines were 56.5 and 57. Tonight, we're working with a considerably lower O/U number. I feel that it'll prove to be too low. Admittedly, the Boston College offense has struggled. That's a big reason why we've got the low O/U number. There's more talent here than those recent numbers suggest. They struggled against NC State in their last game here but in their previous home game, the Eagles dropped 41 points on Missouri. That was one of three games this season where BC has scored more than 40. An ESPN home game provides the opportunity for the offense to show the world that it can still move the ball. I expect the players to seize that opportunity. Remember, VT has allowed 28 or more points in three of its past four, including 41 to Syracuse. Stopping the Hokies may be a different matter though. The Eagles have allowed 28 or more points four different times this season. Look for both teams to have some success on offense and for the OVER to improve to 6-1 the past seven times that The Hokies were road favorites. 

I'm playing on CMU/WMU UNDER the total. We were reminded last night that these MAC games can get high-scoring. We're working with a very high O/U line for this one though. In fact, I looked at the O/U lines from that past 10 meetings between these teams and this one is considerably higher than any of them. I feel that it'll prove to be too high. The Broncos managed just 15 points against Toledo last time out, a 34-15 loss. That same Toledo team, which limited WMU, just gave up 52 points (to EMU) last night. The Broncos have now scored 28 or less in seven of their eight games, 24 or less in six of those. The Chippewas are off a very high-scoring game last time out. However, their previous three games had all finished below the total and their previous four games all finished with 58 or fewer combined points. Note that the UNDER is 4-0 the past four times that they threw for 280 or more yards in their previous game. While last year's game at Central Michigan was high-scoring, the last one here at Western Michigan was not. Including that 45-point game, four of the past five meetings finished with fewer than 64 combined points. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Eastern Michigan/Toledo OVER the total. These teams combined for 73 points last season. The previous year, they combined for 71 points. (Nine came in OT.) I'm expecting another relatively high-scoring affair Tuesday. Toledo has been on an 'under' streak. However, the Rockets scored 34 against an arguably much stingier team (Eastern Michigan allows 393.3 ypg, Western Michigan allows 320.8 ypg) last game and they should put up at least that many once again. They may need more than that though, as the Eagles just scored 55 (themselves) in their last game. That 55-24 road win was the heels of a 38-31 loss. Note that the OVER is 4-1 the past five times that the Eagles were off a pointspread victory. The OVER is also 6-1 the last seven meetings in Toledo. Look for this one to prove higher-scoing than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on FSU/Clemson OVER the total. The Tigers have been involved in some low-scoring games of late. That's helped in keeping this O/U line relatively low. I feel that it'll prove to be too low. The Seminoles scored 59 points (themselves) last week. They've scored 33 or more in each of their past three games. Yet, it's Clemson which is favored by more than a TD. If the Noles are scoring, that means that the Tigers are going to need to put up a big number of their own, if they want to compete and win. Considering that the Noles have allowed 20 or more in six of seven games and 30 or more in four of those, I feel that the Tigers absolutely will be able to "put up a big number." The Tigers scored 45 and 59 points (themselves) the last two meetings in the series. With the Noles off a 59-point effort, note that the OVER is 4-0 the past four times that FSU had scored 40 or more points in its previous game. Expect a high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on South Carolina/Texas A&M OVER the total. This is a low O/U line. I believe it'll prove to be too low. After a slow start, the Aggies have hit their stride  on offense. They have the potential to go over this total by themselves. (They scored 48 themselves at South Carolina LY.) In their last two games, they scored 41 (against Alabama!) and 35 at Missouri. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks have given up 40 and 45 in their last two road games. While the Aggies will put up a big number, the Gamecocks should also contribute. They've hit double-digits in every game, including 13 at Georgia and they're averaging 21.9 ppg on the season. Last season's game had an O/U line of 58. We're working with a considerably lower O/U number here which is providing excellent value. With the OVER a perfect 6-0 the past six times that the Gamecocks were road underdogs, all six of those games producing a minimum of 53 points, look for this one to prove higher scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Wisconsin/Purdue OVER the total. This is a very low O/U number. In fact, I looked back at the last 18 meetings between these teams, dating back to 1998. This is the by far the lowest O/U number of any of them. While I respect the defenses, I believe it'll prove to be too low. The last time (Nov. 2019) that these teams met, they combined for 69 points. The last time they met here (Nov 2018) at Purdue, they combined for 91 points. Needless to say, both games finished above the total. I say this one also proves higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Kent State / Western Michigan to finish OVER the total. The Kent State offense put up 48 points last game but the defense gave up 38. The Golden Flashes also allowed 37 points the last time that they were on the road. Now, they face a Western Michigan team which also has plenty of offensive firepower. The Broncos gave up 45 points last time out and more than 300 passing yards. The last meeting between these teams produced 68 points. That game finished 'over' the total and so did their previous meeting. I like what I saw (633 total yards, more than 400 through the air!) from the Kent State offense last week but the defense gave up 549 yards. The Broncos are a tougher opponent and they're going to be in an angry mood. I expect both teams to put up a big number as this one turns into a track meet. 

I'm playing on Alabama/Texas A&M UNDER the total. These are two of the best defenses in the country. The Tide have been putting up big offensive numbers, week after week. This is still a relatively young offense though and now they're on the road against arguably the most talented defense which they've faced. Of course, the Tide are still going to score. However, I don't expect them to score as easily, or as many points, as they've been doing. The Alabama defense is considerably more experienced than its offense and has already held three teams to 14 or fewer points. In other words, the Aggies, who have already scored 10 points twice themselves, figure to have a difficult time scoring. Winning this game won't be easy for the Aggies, obviously. That said, they've got a talented defensive front and and offensive line that appears to be coming around. They're going to be doing everything they can to chew up the clock and keep the Tide offense off the field. In the end, I look for this one to prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting, the UNDER improving to 5-1 the Aggies' last six games. 

I'm playing on SJ State and New Mexico State to finish OVER the total. I successfully played on the Spartans to finish 'over' the total in their very first game of the season, back in late August. They scored 45 points for me that day, nearly going over the total themselves. Since that time, however, they've seen their next three games all stay below the number. Those results have absolutely worked in our favor, as they've kept this O/U number lower than it easily could have been. Note that all three of those were on the road. Now, they take a big step down in class, while also returning home. I expect them to put up a very big number. Indeed, the Aggies are not a good defensive team. Since giving up 30 and 28 points in their first two games, they've gotten worse. Over their last three games, they've given up 34, 35 and 41 points. The Aggies did manage to score 25, 43 and 21 themselves in those games. All three finished with greater than 58 points. The teams have met three times since 2010. All three of those games finished above the number. Look for this one to do the same. 

I'm playing on FSU/Syracuse OVER the total. When these teams met last (2019) the O/U line was 60. The previous year, their game had an O/U line of 69. We're working with a much lower number this week. I feel that it'll prove to be too low. The Seminoles had no problem moving the ball last week, as they racked up more than 450 yards against Louisville. Really, they could have easily scored more than they did. The problem was that they allowed more than 30 points for the second straight week. Dating back to last year, the Noles have allowed seven of their past eight opponents to score more than 30 points. The only one that didn't was 1-AA Jacksonville State. Syracuse is off a relatively low-scoring (45 points) game vs. Liberty. However, that one could have easily been higher-scoring; the points dried up late. In their previous game, the Orange scored 62 points, all by themselves. Six of the past seven meetings between these teams have produced more than 50 combined points. Expect this one to do the same. 

I'm playing on Iowa/Maryland OVER the total. While both teams have played well defensively, this is a low O/U number. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. Both offenses have plenty of weapons; each offense brought back a lot from last year. The Hawkeyes have scored 34, 27, 30 and 24 points. That's been enough as their opponents haven't been able to keep up. Keep in mind that they were favored by more than three TD's in each of their last two games though. Now, they face the most capable team they've faced since upsetting instate rival Iowa State. I believe that the Terps will put up a big enough number that the Hawkeyes are going to need to score more than they've had to. Keep in mind that Maryland has scored 30, 62 and 67 in its three home games. When Iowa visited here in 2014, the O/U line was 45.5. The teams combined for 69 points. Look for history to repeat itself, as this one proves higher-scoring than many will be expecting.

I'm playing on Colorado/ASU OVER the total. This is a very low total. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. Keep in mind that last year's game had an O/U line of 49 and finished with 65 combined points. In fact, each of the last 10 meetings between these teams produced a minimum of 47 combined points. None of those games had an O/U line this low. That leads one to question WHY this O/U line is so low. That's, in large part, due to Colorado's offensive futility. While its true that the Buffaloes have indeed struggled to score, that's not going to continue. It helps that the Colorado offense won't have to contend with ASU's defensive end Travis Moore, who got hurt in the BYU game. That's the second defensive lineman that the Sun Devils have lost. ASU's offense has no problems though. Already averaging 31.7 ppg, the Sun Devils now get back running back Chip Trayanum (as well as return specialist D.J. Taylor.) Four of the last five meetings here have finished above the number. Additionally, the OVER is 5-1 the last six times that the Buffaloes were listed as underdogs. Expect those stats to improve Saturday night. 

I'm playing on Army/Miami Ohio UNDER the total. The Knights have seen all three of their games finish above the total thus far. I expect that to change Saturday afternoon. Miami allowed just seven points last game, a 42-7 win. As per usual, Army is going to run the ball. The Redhawks won't be able to stop the Knights ground game but their veteran linebackers will make things more difficult than Army's first few opponents. The Redhawks, who know full well what to expect Army to bring to the table, are among the leaders in their conference at making tackles for losses. Note that the UNDER is 8-1 the past nine times that the Redhawks were off a SU victory. I see those stats improving here. Look for the clock to keep moving and the final score to prove lower than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Marshall/Appalachian State UNDER the total. These teams combined for only 24 points when they faced each other last season, a 17-7 win for Marshall. The Thundering Herd check into this year's rematch off a high-scoring game against East Carolina. However, that's not typical for them. In their first two games, the Herd allowed just seven and 10 points. App. State is also a stingy team. Despite playing at Miami (and also having faced East Carolina) the Mountaineers have allowed just 19, 25 and 10 points. Off a 44-10 blowout victory, note that the UNDER is a perfect 5-0 the past five times that the Mountaineers were off a win of 20 or more points. Expect another relatively low-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on stanford/usc OVER the total. I played against the Cardinal last week. So, I was happy to see them score only seven points. That was a very early starting time though and I believe that worked against Stanford. Tonight, the Cardinal are back in the Pacific Time Zone and I'm expecting a much better offensive effort. Note that the OVER is 5-0 the past five times that the Cardinal had scored less than 20 points in their previous game. After scoring just 17 in its first game of 2019, the Cardinal played USC in their next game. That game had an O/U line of 44 and finished with 65. Next, after scoring six against Oregon, the Cardinal combined with OSU for 59. After a 16-point effort against UCLA, the Cardinal combined with Arizona for 72. A 13-point showing at Colorado was proceeded by a 71-point game at WSU. Finally, after a 20-pt offensive line vs Cal, the Cardinal combined with ND for 69. You get the idea. I'll also mention that the OVER is 8-1 the past nine times that USC had allowed less than 20, in its previous game. Expect those stats to improve this evening. 

I'm playing on Boise/Utep UNDER the total. While they came up short against UCF, the Broncos are tough on both sides of the ball. Stepping down in class, they're big favorites against UTEP for a reason. While the Broncos will score, I believe that they're going to emphasize shutting down the Miners and dominating defensively, more than running up the score offensively. UTEP has played well so far against inferior opponents. The Miners' running game has impressed and they've done a good job of getting pressure on opposing QBs. They'll be doing everything they can to run the ball in an effort to chew up the clock and keep the Boise offense on the sideline. With the Miners coming in undefeated, note that the UNDER is 7-1 the past eight times that Boise hosted a team with a winning road record. I say the UTEP offense struggles to score and this one proves lower-scoring overall than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on ND/FSU UNDER the total. We've already seen some serious defensive battles. This one figures to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. The Irish allowed just 19.7 ppg last season. They'll be stingy again. On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame returns only three offensive starters. Six players they are replacing were draft picks. Needless to say, there will be some adjustments that need to be made early in the season. The Seminoles have plenty of returning starters and should be improved on both sides of the ball. It's still going to be tough to consistently move the ball against the ND defense though. Last year's meeting did finish above the total. However, that wasn't in the first week of the season and the Irish had an offense which had returned its QB and every starter on its offensive line. This year, we're working with an even higher O/U number than last year, too. Both teams played a low-scoring game to start their season last year. ND beat Duke 27-13 while FSU lost 16-13 to Georgia Tech. More of the same this evening. 

I'm playing on WVU/Maryland UNDER the total. This O/U number has climbed from its opener. I believe that's helping to provide us with plenty of line value. The Mountaineers should put up quite a few points this year, as they've got plenty of weapons on offense. Their defense is also excellent though and will be tough to score against. Last year, WVU held opposing teams to 291.4 ypg, #4 in the country. With nine returning defensive starters, the Terps will also be stingy this season. The UNDER is 5-1 the last six times that the Terps were underdogs, 6-1 their last seven games overall. The UNDER is also 4-1-1 in WVU's last six, as the road team. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on MSU/Northwestern UNDER the total. We saw a high-scoring game in the Big Ten last night but I'm expecting a considerably lower-scoring affair. Recent meetings between these teams have finished above the total. They've also had lower O/U lines than this one though. While last year's game finished with 49 points, the Wildcats lost a lot on offense from last year. They'll be working with a QB and lost their top four receivers from last year. With the offensive line a strength, that should translate to a lot of running the ball in this one. Also, the Wildcats will rely on their defense. They allowed a mere 15.9 ppg from last year and will be stingy once again. While the Spartans are experienced on offense, keep in mind that they only averaged 18 ppg last year. The Spartan defense is also fairly experienced with five of their top six tacklers returning. Expect it to translate to a low-scoring opener. 

I'm playing on East Carolina / Appalachian State UNDER the total. While both offenses have some threats, these are two experienced defenses. ECU QB Ahlers is an exciting player but I expect him to have some trouble against a stingy Mountaineer defense. Inside linebackers Jackson and Cobb each had more than 90 tackles last season. Each added some sacks while Jackson also had a couple of picks. On offense, the Mountaineers will feature a heavy dose of the run, which will help to chew the clock up. Remember, Peoples just ran for over 300 yards in App. State's bowl win back in December. While the Pirates defense has admittedly struggled in recent seasons, Coach Houston has a defensive background and this is now his third year. That said, ECU should be better defensively this season. Note that the UNDER is 4-1 the past five Pirate September games. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Southern Utah and SJ State OVER the total. The Spartans were a profitable 'under' team last winter. Seven of their last eight games, including each of their last five, finished below the total. This is a new season though and a relatively low number. Importantly, a closer look shows that things weren't as bleak offensively as all those 'unders' makes it sound. Yes, the Spartans struggled to score in their New Year's Eve Bowl game against Ball State. They scored 30 or more in each of their final four regular season games though and 28 or more in each of their last six. This year, the offense brings back nine starters and will be playing behind a veteran offensive line. A game against Southern Utah provides an opportunity to immediately get healthy offensively and get rid of the bad taste from the Ball State loss. While SJ State will put up a big number, the Thunderbirds aren't without offensive talent. They'll contribute. QB Miller started all six games last season and threw for 1700+ yards and 15 TDs. They've got an NFL prospect (Braxton Jones) on the offensive line. Running back Duckett is solid and Oregon transfer JR Watts brings speed at the WR position and an opportunity to beat the Spartans deep. Look for the final score to prove higher than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Ohio State / Alabama OVER the total. I successfully played on the 'under' in Alabama's win over Notre Dame. That one stayed comfortably below the total which has helped to keep this O/U line a little lower than it easily could have been. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. When I played on the 'under' in Alabama's last game, it was largely because I respected the Notre Dame defense. While I wasn't sure that they would score that many points, I felt strongly that the Irish would do everything that they could to slow the game down and to try and keep the Alabama offense off the field. The Buckeyes, however, are an entirely different team. After putting up 49 points against Clemson, they believe that they've got the type of offense that can trade points with the SEC champs. Rather than try and slow the game down, they're going to try and outscore the Tide. If you watched their game against Clemson, you saw that they were very aggressive; there was no taking their foot off the gas. They kept throwing and attacking and looking to put up more points. Of course, they're going to need to score A LOT if they want to compete with an Alabama offense which arguably ranks among the best of all-time. Prior to the Irish game, Alabama had scored more than 40 in 10 straight games, including more than 50 in each of its previous three. Expect an extremely high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on ND/Alabama UNDER the total. Obviously, the Alabama offense is really, really good. However, this is also a very high O/U line and this Notre Dame defense is a lot better than many realize. No, the Irish won't be able to stop the Tide. But they should be able to slow them down better than most other teams. Remember, that ND ranked in the top 25 in both points allowed and yards allowed, despite having to face Clemson twice. Speaking of Clemson, Notre Dame's most recent game with the Tigers had an O/U line of 57 and finished with just 44 points. While the offense gets all the headlines, as per usual, the Alabama defense is also loaded with stars. While their last game was high-scoring, the Tide have been alternating between 'unders' and 'overs' their past six games, dating back to Halloween. Expect that 'pattern' to continue as this one proves lower-scoring than most will be expecting, the final combined score staying beneath the generously high number. 

I'm playing on Florida/Oklahoma UNDER the total. As you may have heard, the Gators' offense has taken a pretty major hit. They'll still have their star QB but he'll be without his top FOUR receiving options. Those four guys (receives Grimes, Toney, Copeland and tight-end Pitts) combined for 2778 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Obviously, that's significant. Meanwhile, the Sooners defense is better than the recent editions that have been beaten up by SEC teams. OU has allowed a mere 57 points its last four games. That's actually their best defensive stretch, in terms of points allowed, in the past six years. While the Sooners led the Big 12 with 36 sacks, the Gators led the SEC with 33. Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins said this of the Sooner defense: 'After suffering those two losses early in the season, the defense definitely turned it up. I definitely feel that switch. We've got great players all over the field. A lot of guys who have kind of been in it, took a lot of reps in this defense over the last two years. So we're a confident group. We play hard, play fast.'' Look for this one to prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Hawaii/Houston OVER the total. The last time these teams met was in the Hawaii Bowl in 2003. They brawled at the end of a wild 54-48 (3-OT) win by the Warriors. That was a long time ago. However, I'm expecting another high-scoring affair, this Christmas Eve. While it hasn't played in awhile, Houston has scored 83 points its last two games. I expect the explosive Cougars to have plenty of success against a suspect Hawaii defense which allows 420 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, the Cougars, have given up 133 points over their past four, an average of more than 33 points allowed per game. Hawaii scored 38 points its last game after allowing 35 in its previous game. The Warriors, too, should have success on offense, facing a Houston defense which allows an average of 32.6 ppg. All things considered, I feel this number, which has come down a bit from its opener, is a little low. While they won't match the 2003 bowl, I look for this one to prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Memphis/FAU OVER the total. These teams have very different stats. FAU games have been low-scoring, the reason we're working with quite a low O/U number. Yet, Memphis games have averaged more than 61 points. While the Owls did have some low-scoring games, they come into this one off a high-scoring 45-31 loss. They've scored 24 or more in three of their last four and I expect them to have success against a supsect Memphis defense. The Tigers played 10 games this season. Nine of those produced a minimum of 56 points. FAU saw last year's bowl game finish with a score of 52-28, a game which finished above the number by double-digits. Look for this one to also prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Nevada/SJ State OVER the total. Last year's game between these teams produced a whopping 79 points, a 41-38 Nevada win. I'm expecting another shootout for tonight's game, which will be played in Las Vegas. Note that the last three meetings between these teams, played in the state of Nevada, have all finished with greater than 70 combined points. Nevada is led by the top QB in the conference. Carson Strong has thrown for more than 2300 yards and 21 TDs. No other QB in the conference is close, in terms of TDs. That said, Spartan QB Nick Starkel has also quietly been getting it done. He doesn't make mistakes and has the best passer rating in the conference. Nevada, which put up 37 points last game, is going to throw the ball a lot, the best passing attack that the Spartans have faced. That will lead to big plays when the passes connect and time stoppages when they don't. The Spartans put up 35 points last time out though, the third time in the last four games that they're scored at least 34. Don't be surprised when both teams top 30, the final combined score finishing above the relatively low number. 

I'm playing on FAU/Southern Miss OVER the total. This is a very low O/U number and I believe that it'll prove to be too low. Note that last year's O/U line was 56.5. Southern Miss allows more than 32 ppg and has given up more than 50 on a couple of occasions. The Owls put up 38 in a win against rival FIU, so they've got an offense capable of exploiting the vulnrable Golden Eagle defense. While there were a couple of duds mixed in there, Southern Miss has still scored 20 or more points in seven of its nine games. Last year's game saw 51 points scored. Look for this one to prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Hawaii/SJ State OVER the total. This game was originally supposed to be played at San Jose. However, with the covid restrictions in Santa Clara county, it was moved to Hawaii. It'll be the earliest start time for a game in Hawaii in nearly 20 years. The change of venue suits me just fine. In fact, I like it. The Spartans were going to score, regardless of where the game was played. They've scored 34, 28 and 38 points the past three games. The 28 came against a stingy SD State defense. The Spartans will put up a big number against a Hawaii defense which has allowed more than 30 points in four of its past five games. Now, with the game being played at Hawaii, the Warriors will also score. In three games here, they've averaged 32 ppg. These teams have played three straight 'overs' against each other and the past two years, the games have finished with 82 and 85 points. Expect another high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Miss. State / Ole Miss OVER the total. In a battle of Mike Leach against Lane Kiffen, each known for their offensive mindsets, we can expect plenty of points in this one. Ole Miss games are averaging more than 80 points this season. The Rebels score 41 ppg and the allow 40.9. The Bulldogs haven't played in nearly as many high-scoring games. However, they're coming off a relatively high-scoring affair against Georgia. QB Will Rogers was 41 of 52 for more than 300 yards. On the other side, however, the Bulldogs gave up more than 400 yards (and 4 TDs) through the air. The Rebels have scored more than 50 in b2b weeks, throwing for nearly 1000 yards. They may well exceed the 50 mark again with the Bulldogs chipping in plenty of their own. 

I'm playing on Kentucky/Florida UNDER the total. Kentucky couldn't stop Alabama last week, giving up 63 points. While the Gators also have a potent offense, I expect the Wildcats to do a better job at slowing them down. Certainly, the Cats will be doing everything they can not to get embarrassed like that again. Keep in mind that Kentucky has still held three of five opponents, one of them Georgia, to 14 or fewer points. This will be the second time that the Wildcats played the second of b2b road games. The first time, they combined with Missouri for just 30 points. The Florida defense has been making some strides. Facing a Kentucky team which has scored just three points, in two of its last three games, will be a great opportunity for the "D" to really gain some confidence. Note that the last five meetings have all finished with 55 or fewer combined points. Going back further finds that this is a higher O/U line than any of the past 12 games between these teams. Look for it to prove to be too high. 

I'm playing on USC/Utah OVER the total. The Trojans can and will score. Utah should be able to do so, too. Kyle Whittingham had this to say of his team: "... We have some good things going for us on offense with very few new players and it being a veteran group. We expect to be productive on offense. The key is also how quickly this defense can come around ..." Indeed, the Utes lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball. Nine starters are gone from last year's defense. The Trojans will take advantage by putting up a big number. The OVER is 4-0-1 the last five in the series. Expect another high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Purdue/Minnesota OVER the total. These teams have both faced some stingy opponents thus far, particularly last time out. Purdue comes off a game against Northwestern while Minnesota had to contend with Iowa. Both those teams are allowing less than 15 ppg, their defenses currently ranking among the nation's leaders. Neither of these teams are quite as stingy though, so both offenses will have a chance to "get healthy." Purdue did put up a respectable 31 points (at Illinois) in its lone road game. The Gophers, meanwhile, scored 85 points in their two games before Iowa, 44 against Maryland and 41 against Illinois. On the other side of the ball, it should be mentioned that the Gophers lost a ton on defense from last year and that's led to them allowing 35.8 ppg, worst in the Big Ten. Minnesota racked up nearly 500 yards of offense in winning last year's game by a 38-31 score. That one finished well above the total and I look for tonight's game to also prove higher-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Tulane/Tulsa OVER the total. Tulsa scored only 28 points last time out. However, in its previous three games, the Golden Hurricane tallied 34, 42 and 34. Facing what I still believe to be a porous Tulane defense, I expect them to "bounce back" with a huge offensive outburst. They're going to need to, in order to keep up with a Tulane offense which is firing on all cylinders. The Green Wave have been favored in their past few games and they've played sound defense in winning those. They've now allowed 27 or fewer points all six times that they were favored. However, the numbers tell a different story when Tulane has been an underdog. The Green Wave have been underdogs three times this season and they allowed 51, 37 and 49 points. The Green Wave topped 30 in each of those games themselves, making for a perfect 3-0 OVER mark when they've been underdogs. Those games finished with 85, 71 and 80 combined points, respectively. After scoring 38 in three straight games, the Green Wave have now quietly scored more than 30 points in seven straight games, including 66 in one of those. Last year's game finished with 64 points, bringing the OVER to 5-1 the past six in this series. Those five "overs" had combined scores of 64, 90, 77, 79 and 69. Expect another high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Buffalo/BG UNDER the total. Six of the past eight meetings between these teams have fallen below the number. While last year's game was not one of them, we're working with a higher O/U number this season. (Last year's game had a final score of 49-7 and the O/U line was 53.5.) In a game where I expect the home team to struggle scoring, I feel that the bigger number is providing us with very fair value. I won with the Bulls last week but I also won a free play on their game to go 'under' the total. In both cases, I mentioned how the Buffalo defense was really stingy last season and that the Bulls had brought back a lot of players on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulls would go on to hold Miami Ohio to just 10 points and only 258 total yards. That was against the defending MAC champs. Now, they face a much worse Bowling Green team, one which scored just three points in its opening game against Toledo. Indeed, the Falcons are likely going to have trouble scoring in this one. Last week, the Bulls "aired it out," their QB enjoying a record day. Even so, the game stayed below the total. Facing an inferior opponent, I expect the Bulls to place a bigger emphasis on the ground game in this one. The Bulls are likely to put up quite a few points but not enough to get over this number; I've already noted I don't expect them to get much help from the Falcons. Look for the final combined score to prove lower than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on UNLV/SJ State OVER the total. I won with the 'under' in the Rebels' first game. I also won with the 'under' in the Spartans' last game. However, in both those cases, the opponent was San Diego State. In both cases, the reason I was playing the 'under' was because I respected the SDSU defense and expected the Aztecs to slow the game down. I also mentioned that UNLV was learning a new offense. Things are different now though. The Spartans offense is quietly pretty potent. San Jose State scored 28 against SD State and they scored 38 points in their game before that. The Spartans should put up a big number against a porous UNLV defense which has allowed 34, 37 and 40 points. On the other side of the ball, the Rebels have been learning the offense and scoring more and more points each time out. They started by scoring only six in the game against the Aztecs. That was followed by 19 vs. Navy and 27 last time out. Last year's meeting had a score of 38-35. The year before had a score of 50-37. Expect another high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Boise/CSU UNDER the total. The Broncos have been going 'over' the total so far this season but I expect that to change tonight. Off their worst home loss in 24 years, the Broncos are going to be looking to improve defensively. The last time (9/15/18 vs. OSU) that they lost a regular season game by double-digits, they responded by holding Wyoming to 14 points, a 34-14 victory. The Cowboys had 0 points at halftime and seven going into the fourth. I say that the Broncos come out and dominate defensively right from the opening whistle, once again. Dating back to last season, the Rams have seen six of their past eight road games stay below the number. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Akron/Ohio OVER the total. Given their recent history and given the way both teams' opening game played out, I feel that this O/U line is a little low. Akron gave up 58 points its opening game, a 58-13 loss. Ohio combined with Central Michigan for 57 points. However, that one could have easily been higher-scoring, as they already had 40 by halftime; only three fourth quarter points were scored. Still, Ohio QB (Kurtis) Rourke now has a game under his belt after replacing his brother. Nathan. He'll be salivating at a chance to light up the porous Zips' defense. The last three meetings between these teams have averaged 67+ points. Akron's last visit here had an O/U line of 57. Yet, the teams combined for 77, a 49-28 win for Ohio. I expect a similar result from these instate rivals this evening. 

I'm playing on WSU/OSU UNDER the total. These teams have had some recent shootouts and they played a crazy 54-53 game against each other last year. However, that may not even get half that many here. This year, both these teams brought back a lot more production on the defensive side of the ball than on the offensive one. The Cougars have a brand new offense, as they're making the move from the "Air Raid" to the "Run-And-Shoot." While that may prove better in the long run, a brand new offense with a lot of new players can't be expected to click in its very first game. Expect more running plays to help chew up the clock. As for the Beavers, they lost QB Jake Luton to the NFL. That's never easy to replace an NFL quality quarterback. All things considered, this number is generously high. 

I'm playing on SJ State/SD State UNDER the total. The UNDER is 5-1 the past six meetings in this series, 2-0 the past two seasons. Those games both had O/U lines of 45.5 yet finished with 29 and 44 points, respectively. We're working with a higher number this evening and I feel thats providing us with excellent value. Yes, SJ State has been throwing the ball well. Yes, both offenses are capable; the reason for the higher O/U number. However, the Aztecs bring an extremely stingy defense to the table. They've allowed seven points and six points. Thats partly due to the opponents they've faced but not entirely. The 200 yards that they're allowing per game ranks #1 in the nation. While I expect the Spartans to have trouble scoring, they have played relatively well on the defensive side of the ball. They're allowing 13.5 ppg. SJ State has scored just 23 points combined, its last three visits here. All three games stayed below the total. I'm expecting another relatively low-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on Utah State/Nevada UNDER the total. This O/U number has climbed from its opener. While Nevada does have a dangerous offense, I feel that generously high number is providing us with excellent value. Last year's game had an O/U line of 59 and finished with just 46. Utah State isn't nearly as dangerous on offense this year though. Not yet, anyway. The Aggies are averaging only 10 points through two games, having scored 13 and seven points. Facing a Wolf Pack defense which gave up just 19 last game, the Aggies figure to have real trouble scoring once again. Nevada Coach Norvell had this to say about Utah State losing QB Jordan Love to the NFL "It's hard to lose a quarterback of that caliber and play with the same type of productivity. It's difficult to replace a player that good." Love's replacement, Jason Shelley is just 27 of 48 with more INTs than TDs. As for Nevada, though it hasn't slowed them down yet, the Wolf Pack are without senior WR Elijah Cooks. Though they are strong through the air, I expect the Pack to get a lead and to lean on the run game, helping to chew up the clock and keeping the final combined score below the fairly big number. 

I'm playing on Ohio/Central Michigan UNDER the total. We typically think of MAC games as being high-scoring. Many of them are. However, recent games between these teams have not been. In fact, the last four meetings have all finished with less than 50 combined points. Both teams ranked in the top half of the MAC last year, in terms of total defense. This year, both teams returned more production on the defensive side of the ball. Both defenses returned most of their tacklers from last year. Both offenses are breaking in new QB's. That said and with this being the first game of the season, some early offensive rust won't surprise. All things considered, this number is generously high. 

I'm playing on SDSU/Utah State UNDER the total. At first glance, this O/U number may look a little low. However, with both teams expected to chew up the clock with frequent running plays, I'm expecting a low-scoring affair and feel that the number could easily be even lower. I won with the 'under' in last week's SDSU game. The Aztecs were stingy defensively, as I expected. They held the Rebels to just six points and 186 yards. UNLV had just 25 yards (and 0 points) at halftime! Part of that dominant performance stemmed from the fact that UNLV was very young and outmatched. However, it was also due to the fact that the Aztecs defense is really good. I expect the Aggies, who managed only 13 points and 203 yards in their opener, to also have trouble scoring against them. On offense, the Aztecs typically don't do anything too fancy. They ran the ball 46 times last week. In last week's analysis I noted the following: "...The Aztecs have more talent on offense but they've also got a new offensive coordinator. QB Carson Baker noted that he wasn't going to try and do too much out of the gate: 'I'm just going to be a distributor this year' ..." To their credit, the Aggies also kept running the ball last week. They had 43 rushing attempts. Look for yards and points to be tough to come by, the final combined score proving lower than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Hawaii/Wyoming UNDER the total. These teams combined for just 30 points in their last meeting. Their previous game also produced less than 50. Not surprisingly, both those games stayed below the number. On a chilly night in Laramie, I'm expecting another relatively low-scoring affair this evening. In winning its opener, Hawaii played stingy defense and ran the ball frequently. Senior defensive back Eugene Ford, who had two INTs, noted: "All the credit goes to my defensive) line. Them boys were getting after that quarterback... all the credit goes to them, but it felt good." Overall, the Hawaii D had four takeaways. On the other side, dealing with the conditions and having missed some practice time, Hawaii figures to keep it fairly. Likewise with Wyoming, which lost its starting QB to a broken leg last week. While the final numbers didn't look good (37-34 OT loss) the Wyoming defense did have eight tackles for a loss (3 sacks) last week. All things considered, I feel this number is generously high and I look for this one to prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on South Alabama/Georgia Southern OVER the total. The Eagles are favored in this matchup. However, if they're going to win, they're going to need to score. That's because the Jaguars have scored 30 or more in back-to-back games. Last week, they put up 38 against LA-Monroe. While the offense struggled to score on the road, at ranked Coastal Carolina, the Eagles scored 41 the last time they played at home. They've got a strong rushing attack which should help them move the ball with relative ease against a porous South Alabama run defense. The last meeting between these teams, here at Georgia Southern, had an O/U line of 55 and finished with 61. Look for this one to also prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on UNLV/SDSU UNDER the total. This number came up a bit from where it was earlier in the week; I believe we're getting excellent value. UNLV is learning a new offense and is likely going to have trouble scoring. The Aztecs have more talent on offense but they've also got a new offensive coordinator. QB Carson Baker noted that he wasn't going to try and do too much out of the gate: "I'm just going to be a distributor this year ..." The UNDER is 7-2 the last nine meetings between these teams, a perfect 4-0 the past four seasons. Last year's game had an O/U line of 44.5 but finished with a score of 20-17. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Nebraska/OSU UNDER the total. This total has climbed from its opener. I feel that the number is generously high. Yes, the Huskers have a fairly experienced offense. However, that same offense couldn't move the ball against OSU  Last year's game between these teams saw the Buckeyes win 48-7. That was at Nebraska, a game which had been highly anticipated as a possible test for the Big Ten champs. Instead, it marked the third time in four meetings that Nebraska scored 14 or fewer points. The Buckeyes pounded the ball on the ground (368 rushing yards) while playing great defense. They'll be looking to employ a similar strategy here. With both teams playing their first game, I look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than expected. 

I'm playing on Georgia/Alabama UNDER the total. All the talk is and will be about Saban. I'm more interested in the game being played on the field. We've come to know Alabama as an elite defensive team, over the years. The Tide are more known for their offense these days though, as they've got some elite players on that side of the ball. Georgia, on the other hand, has one of the best defenses in the entire country. Alabama still has plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. The Tide defense is going to be very motivated, too. Both to show that Georgia isn't the only elite defense in this game and to show that they're much better than we saw last week. The Alabama offense hasn't faced a defense like this one though. Georgia coach Kirby Smart said this of his defense: "The atmosphere that's been credited on defense here is we're not letting them score." Last week, they limited Tennessee to less than one yard (-1) on the ground and 0 points, in the second half. The Bulldogs will be doing everything they can to chew up the clock when they're on offense. The last time that these teams met in October, the O/U line was 50.5 and they combined for 48. Look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Kentucky/Tennessee UNDER the total. Entering the season, some ranked Kentucky's defense as third best in the SEC. Considering the number of strong defenses in the conference, that was saying something. While the experienced defense took a couple of weeks to get going, the Wildcats come off an outstanding defensive effort. In fact, they held Mississippi State to just two points. The Bulldogs only points came on a safety. Pretty good given that the Bulldogs entered that game with the SEC's top passing attack (468 yards per game) and the No. 2 offense (516.0). On the other side of the ball, despite the score, the Kentucky offense was pretty dismal. In fact, Kentucky managed a mere 157 yards of offense. While they struggled at Georgia, the Vols limited Missouri to a mere 12 points in their lone home game. Last year's meeting produced 30 combined points. The year before saw just 31 points scored. Expect another relatively low-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on BYU/Houston UNDER the total. With all due respect to the offenses, I believe this number will prove to be too high. While the BYU Cougars have been putting up a lot of points, they've also been very stingy defensively. In fact, they're only allowing an average of 11 points per game. None of their opponents have scored more than 20. The Cougars have only played one game. Though they did give up a lot of points, they actually only allowed 211 total yards. Indeed, Tulane scored two early defensive TD's which changed the outcome of the game and made Houston's points allowed look worse. The last meeting between these schools had an O/U line of 62.5 but finished with 57. I believe both defenses are better than they're being given credit for and I look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on MTSU/FIU OVER the total. Both teams are coming in hungry for their first win. Both believe that they can get it and both are going to keep fighting the entire way. Last season's game had an O/U line of 57.5 and saw 67 points scored. The Blue Raiders scored 50 of those. Including that result, since 2014, five of six meetings in the series have finished above the total. Middle Tennessee State QB Asher O'hara has enjoyed success against the Panthers in the past, particularly burning them with his legs. Two years ago, he came in to replace an injured Brett Stockstill. He rushed for 85 yards and a TD. Then, in last season's romp, he rushed for 159 yards and two TDs. He shold be poised for another fairly big game against an FIU team which allowed 36 points and more than 500 yards in its lone game. Note that the Liberty QB did whatever he wanted to them, both through the air and on the ground. Yet, the Panthers are favored for a reason. They scored 34 in their lone game and are coming in hungry to avenge last year's embarrassing loss. Expect both teams to move the ball and score plenty of points in this one, the final combined score finishing above the total for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. 

I'm playing on NC State/UVA UNDER the total. I believe that this number is generously high. True, the Wolfpack have been involved in some shootouts, which has led to this high number. A game against Virginia figures to be different; I expect a heavy dose of the run from the Cavs, who are averaging a healthy 167.5 yards on the ground, to help keep the clock moving. These teams have met five times since 2006, most recently in 2018. Those five games had combined scores of 56, 39, 42, 53 and 21. None of the O/U lines were anywhere close to as high as this one. The Cavs saw last week's game finish with 64 points. However, that was against a powerful Clemson team which put up 41. The Wolfpack saw last week's game finish over the total. However, that was with a much lower O/U line. That one still finished with less than 60 points and would have fallen below this higher number. Look for this one to prove lower-scoring than expected, the final combined score staying beneath the generously high number. 

I'm playing on Houston/Tulane UNDER the total. Here's an excerpt of what I said prior to last year's game: "The Green Wave have a lot going for them here. They're off an absolute blowout (58-6) of Missouri State. That lopsided game allowed them to rest starters in the second half, preparing for this one. It was also at home, meaning no travel for the short week. On the other hand, Houston is off an emotional and hard-fought loss against Washington State. The Cougars left it all on the field for that one and may well experience a letdown because of. Note that they're 4-9 ATS the past couple of seasons, off an ATS cover, 0-1 ATS when off an ATS cover where the team lost SU as an underdog. Tulane is 9-4 ATS over the years, off a home blowout win of 28 or more. The home team has had the advantage in this series of late. Expect that to be the case again this evening..." Tulane ended up rallying for a 38-31 win. That was enough to send that game over the posted total. This year, we're working with a slightly higher O/U number but I'm expecting a much lower-scoring affair. Yes, Tulane has shown an ability to score. The Green Wave have a couple of future NFL players on defense though and figure to be improved on that side of the ball. Likewise for the Cougars. Dana Holgorsen brought in transfers on defense that will make them better on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, having not played a real game yet, the Cougar offense could be a little rusty out of the gate. Look for it to all add up to a much lower-scoring game than we saw last season. 

I'm playing on Tulsa/UCF UNDER the total. The Knights come in determined to get some payback from last season's 34-31 loss. While they'll probably get their revenge, I feel that it'll come in the form of an improved defensive effort. Last season, the Golden Hurricane dropped 34 points on them. I don't expect the Knights to allow that to happen again. Consider that Tulsa has only been able to play one game and that it managed only seven points, while allowing just 16, in that one. As for the Knights, yes, they do indeed have a potent offense. They've scored 49 and 51 in their two games. I believe that Tulsa's defense is somewhat better than the two they have faced though. The Hurricane moved to a 3-3-5 scheme a couple of years ago and are much better defensively since doing so. Last season, they allowed less than 400 yards per game for the first time since 2012. This year's defense didn't return a ton of 'starters' but did return a lot of players with experience. As defensive coordinator Joseph Gillespie pointed out: "I don’t know that we're quite as green as what on paper it would look like. We've got a lot of guys who got not just a little bit of playing time, but a great deal of experience on the football field." Look for the Tulsa defense to slow down the Knights just enough to keep the combined final score beneath the generously high number. 

I'm playing on G-Tech/Syracuse OVER the total. The Yellow Jackets gave up 49 points themselves last week, that game hitting the 70 mark. Syracuse, obviously, isn't UCF. However, I still think that this number will prove to be too low. The reality is that these are probably the two worst tams in the conference. Or, at least, two of the worst. When facing stiffer competition, they're both likely to have trouble scoring at times. However, a game against a fellow "lightweight" provides an opportunity for both offenses to get healthy. These teams have only played twice since 2004. In both cases, G-Tech scored more than 50 points. I say they combine for more than 50 on Saturday afternoon, the final combined score finishing above the relatively low number. 

I'm playing on Iowa State/UL Lafayette UNDER the total. The Cyclones managed only three first half points in last year's opener. I won't be surprised if they're slow to get going again here. The Cajuns were solid defensively last season. On offense, they're going to try and run the ball regularly. Not only will that help to chew up the clock but the Cyclones defensive line and linebackers are more than capable. Last year's opening final score of 29-26 was deceiving as it went to 3-OT periods. I don't think we'll see OT in this one and I'm expecting a relatively low-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on BYU/Navy UNDER the total. BYU is nearly always stingy and with plenty of experience on that side of the ball, that should again be the case. The Cougars return seven starters on that side of the ball and several others who got plenty of playing time. Not always known for its defense, Navy is also expecting to be relatively stout this season. Coach Niumatalolo noted: ''We're counting on our defense to be our strength. As we get our quarterback group going, we're going to rely on our defense a lot. I have total faith in the them.'' The offense, a work in progress, has been hindered by a late start, shorter practices and safety protocols, due to the pandemic. While the Cougars return QB Wilson, he loses his receiving weapons. His tight-end (last year's leading receiver) got hurt and his three top receivers from last year are all gone. Look for points to prove harder to come by than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on MTSU/Army OVER the total. These teams were supposed to face other opponents; Army was to face Bucknell while the Blue Raiders were set to square off against Duke. The world and schedule changed though and this game was quickly thrown together. Not ideal for MTSU as it doesn't get as much of a chance to prepare for Army's unique attack as it normally might have. The Knights averaged 37 ppg last season. They're fired up about the season and I expect them to have no trouble scoring against a relatively porous MTSU defense. Its on the other side of the ball where Army figures to have problems. The Army defense lost a couple of bigtime players in LB Cole Christiansen and DB Elijah Riley, both of whom signed as free agents with NFL teams. Its more than that though as the Army defense must also learn an entirely new system. As coach Monken admitted: "New defensive coordinator, new defense staff. That's a challenge for our guys on that side of the ball to learn the system, the terminology, assignments. We're working through it, but there's growing pains.'' They're going to have trouble containing MTSU's Asher O'Hara. Meanwhile, the Raiders also lost a number of important players on the defensive side of the ball and they were bad defensively to begin with. They ranked 113th against the run and 101st against the pass. Expect a high-scoring affair. 

I'm playing on South Alabama/Southern Miss UNDER the total. The Jags don't win many road games. In fact, they're 0-12 under Steve Campbell, when playing on the road. So, I'm reluctant to back them. Yet, I do expect them to fight hard and I'm not confident laying the big number with the Eagles, either. Instead, I believe that the value lies with the total. The Golden Eagles still have their star QB (Abraham) but he lost some weapons. Indeed, three of their top four offensive playmakers have moved on. Perhaps more importantly, they're learning new systems with a new offensive (and defensive) coordinator. That's significant given that they got less practice time than normal. They'll very likely win but I don't expect them to put up a huge number in the process. Look for the final combined score to prove lower than expected. 

I'm playing on Clemson/LSU UNDER the total. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for both QBs and both offenses. That said, this is an extremely high O/U number and I also highly respect both defenses. Clemson held a potent Ohio State offense to 23 points to get here. That was a Buckeye team which came into that game averaging 48.7 ppg and 531.6 yards per game. Meanwhile, Clemson was held to 26 points. Prior to that game, Clemson had allowed 17 or fewer points in eight straight games. Over that 8-game span, they allowed a total of only 78, an average of less than 10 per game. LSU did allow some points (28) to Oklahoma but keep in mind that in its previous two games, it held Georgia and A&M to only 10 and 7. Did you know that the UNDER is a perfect 7-0 the past seven times that Clemson played with two or more week's worth of rest in between games? (Last year's final game did go OVER with 60 points but the Tigers weren't playing with as much rest.) During that span, the UNDER is also 2-0 when the (Clemson) Tigers played a game with O/U line of 63 or more and 4-0 when they were off four or more consec. ATS wins. Meanwhile, the UNDER is also a perfect 6-0 over the years when LSU was off three straight ATS victories, when favored by seven or more points. There will be plenty of scoring. Just not enough to reach this very big O/U number. 

I'm playing on Southern Miss / Tulane OVER the total. These teams used to face each other on a yearly basis, the annual "Battle For The Bell." That series ended in 2010 with Southern Miiss winning by a 46-30 score in the final game. I expect another high-scoring affair when these old foes reunite on Jan. 4th. Tulane doesn't play much defense. Over their last five games, the Green Wave allowed 37, 34, 29, 26 and 41 points. They did score 20 or more in all five games, however, topping the 30 mark in three of them. All five games saw at least 50 points scored and they averaged 63. On the season, Tulane games averaged 60.7 ppg. While the Golden Eagles did finish the season on an 'under' streak, they also allowed at least 28 in each of their final two games and they scored 37 and 36 in their two previous games before that. Its worth mentioning that the OVER is 6-2 the past eight times that the they've been listed as neutral field underdogs. Having gone 0-2 SU/ATS their final two, its also noteworthy that the Golden Eagles have seen the OVER go 4-1 the past five times that they'd failed to cover each of their past two games and a 2-0 OVER mark when they were off b2b SU losses. As for the Armed Forces Bowl itself, its been very high-scoring of late. In 2015, this bowl had a score of 35-34. The next season, the score was 55-36. That was followed by a 48-45 game and a 42-35 one after that. Last season's game had a score of 70-14. With both offenses having success, look for this one to also prove higher-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Boston/Cincy OVER the total. While the Bearcats have indeed been profitable for 'under' bettors, the opposite is true of the Eagles. Even with its last two games staying below the total, Boston College has still seen the OVER go 8-4 on the season. Thats what happens when you have a porous defense though. The Eagles give up 31.7 ppg and a whopping 480.3 yards per game. They're even worse defensively when playing away from home, as they allow 33.7 ppg and 510.2 ypg. When facing some weaker defenses earlier in the season, the Bearcats put up big numbers. They scored 52 against Marshall, 38 against Houston, 46 against ECU and 48 vs. UConn. They'll be licking their chops at the prospects of facing BC. While they have trouble stopping the other team, the Eagles can score. They average 30.9 ppg. Note that the OVER is 2-0 in BC neutral site games the past couple of years. Even though the majority of Cincy games did fall below the total, the OVER was 2-1 when they were favored in the -3.5 to -10 range. Look for those stats to improve as this afternoon's game proves higher-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Wisconsin/Oregon UNDER the total. These are two of the top defenses in the country. Wisconsin ranks 10th with 16.1 points allowed per game. Oregon ranks 8th, allowing just 15.7 ppg. Last time out, the Ducks limited Utah to only 15. In terms of total yards, the Badgers rank 8th, allowing just 293.5 ypg. The Ducks aren't too far behind; they allow 329.6 ypg. The Badgers have seen the UNDER go 10-6 the past 2+ seasons, when playing a game with an O/U line in the 49.5 to 56 range. During that span, the Ducks have seen three of five stay below the total, when playing a game with an O/U line in that range. With the Ducks listed as small underdogs, its also worth noting that the UNDER is 8-4 the past dozen times that they were getting points. Look for points to prove hard to come by, the UNDER improving to 6-1 the past seven times that Wisonsin was off two or more consecutive ATS wins. 

I'm playing on Wyoming/Georgia State OVER the total. While the Cowboys enter on an 'under' streak, they're facing a defensively-challenged Georgia State team. On the season, the Panthers allow a whopping 36.1 ppg, second worst in the Sun Belt. Indeed, this will be one of the weakest defenses which Wyoming has faced. The Cowboys will have a big day on offense. However, the Panthers can score themselves. They average 32.4 ppg and aren't going to go down quietly. Note that the OVER is 5-1 the past six times that the Panthers were of a conference road loss. This season, the OVER was 3-0 when they were off a road loss overall. Expect the OVER to improve to 6-1 the past seven times that Wyoming played with two or more week's of rest in between games. 

I'm playing on UVA/Florida UNDER the total. This O/U line has climbed a bit from its opener. I believe it'll prove to be too high. The Cavs come in on an 'over' streak, which has helped in terms of line value. They haven't faced a team like this one lately though. In their final three games, the Gators allowed 0, 6 and 17 points, an average of less than eight per game. Those three teams averaged a mere 211 ypg. For the season, the Gators are allowing an average of just 14.4 ppg and 299.6 ypg. The UNDER is 3-1 the past four times that Florida scored 37 or more in its previous game. Note that the UNDER is also 2-0 when the Gators played on a neutral field. After getting crushed by Clemson, the Cavs will be focused on avoiding a similar fate. Expect the UNDER to improve to 5-2 the past seven times that they were off a bye. 

I'm playing on Memphis/PSU OVER the total. While I certainly respect the Nittany Lions' defense, the offense is pretty good too. The Lions averaged 34.3 ppg this season. They know they're going to need to score a lot in this one as the Tigers average 40.5 ppg. When playing away from home, Memphis averages a whopping 43 ppg and 524.3 ypg. The OVER is 5-2 the past seven times that Memphis was an underdog and 4-1 the past five times that the Tigers played with two or more week's rest in between games. Likewise, Penn State has also seen the OVER go 4-1 the past five times that it played with two or more week's rest in between games. Expect those stats to improve as this afternoon's final combined score proves higher than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on AF/WSU UNDER the total. This is a very high O/U line and I believe it'll prove to be too high. Obviously, the Cougars are a high-scoring team. The Huskies held them to 13 points in the Apple Cup though and I believe that Air Force will also have some success in slowing them down. The Falcons held Wyoming to six points last time out. They've limited three of their past five opponents to 13 or fewer points and none of those five teams scored more than 22. Note that the UNDER is 2-0 the past couple of times that Air Force played with two or more week's worth of rest in between games. The UNDER is also 3-0 when AF was off b2b double-digit conference wins. The Cougs were underdogs three times this season and two of those games stayed below the number. This one will too. 

I'm playing on UCF/Marshall UNDER in the Gasparilla Bowl. These teams have a history as they faced each other 11 times as members of CUSA, from 2002-2012. Seven of those 11 games finished below the total. Working with  generously high number and with both defenses in fine form, I look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. Keep in mind that Marshall games averaged 48.9 points this season. The Herd will try and run and keep the clock moving and to keep the UCF offense on the sidelines as much as possible. It won't be easy though as the Knights are playing stingy defense right now. In fact, the Knights allowed a mere seven points in their last game, their fourth straight 'under.' Note that the UNDER is 13-7 the last 20 times they were off a home win, 9-4 when that win came by 17 or more. While Marshall allowed 27, it has still allowed an average of only 17 points its past four games. Go with the Under. 

I'm playing on CMU/SDSU OVER the total. The Aztecs were an 'under' team this season which has led to a very low O/U line for Saturday's game, currently the lowest of the bowls, in fact. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. While SDSU may have played low-scoring games, the Chippewas saw their games average a healthy 58.7 points on the season. The Chippewas personally scored 45 or more in three of their last four and 38 or more in five of their last seven. (They got at least 20 in all seven.) Over the years, the OVER is 2-0 when the Aztecs have been neutral field favorites of seven or fewer points. Also, the Chippewas have seen the OVER go 2-0 over the years, when playing a game with an O/U line of 42 or less. Looking at recent New Mexico Bowl scores and we find the last four have all produced a minimum of 43 points. They had scores of 52-13, 31-28, 23-20 and 45-37. This one also proves higher-scoring than most will be expecting. 

I'm playing Army/Navy OVER the total. This O/U number fell when it came out and we're now working with a nice low total. While I'm aware these teams have been involved in low-scoring games of late, I believe that it'll prove to be far too low. Navy scored 56 all by itself last time out. That was the second time in four game that the Midshipmen reached that number. They've scored 35 or more in six of their past seven (averaging 39.3 on the season) and could realistically score enough by themselves to send this one OVER the number. They won't need to though; the Knights have been scoring even more points than them lately. In its last three games, Army has scored 63, 47 and 31, while averaging 575 yards of offense in those games. Last time out, the Knights allowed 52 against Hawaii. All things considered, this number is too low. 

I'm playing on Georgia/LSU UNDER the total. When these teams met last year, the O/U line was 50 and they combined for 52. We're working with a little higher number here, which I feel is providing excellent value. With all due respect to Alabama, this is the best defense that LSU will have seen. Indeed, the Bulldogs have one of the best defenses in the entire nation. They allow 10.4 ppg (#2 in the country) and 257.1 ypg, #4 in the country. Seven of the Bulldogs' eight SEC games stayed below the number. LSU can also be pretty stingy. Just ask the Aggies. Last week, the Tigers held Texas A&M to seven points and a measly 169 total yards. Speaking of that blowout, the Tigers have seen the UNDER go 9-3 when off a double-digit conference win and they've got a 4-1 UNDER mark when off b2b double-digit conf. wins. Expect those stats to improve Saturday afternoon, as points prove hard to come by the entire way. 

I'm playing on Cincy/Memphis OVER the total. These teams just faced each other. The O/U line was 60 and they combined for 58. That was a tough loss for 'over' bettors though, as they already had 37 by halftime. This one should see the scoring continue the entire way. Prior to scoring "only" 34 in last week's game, Memphis had scored 47, 42, 54, 45 and 49 points in its previous five games. The Bearcats scored 46 and 48 in their first two November games. So, they can put up big numbers, too. They know they'll need to here. Memphis conference games are averaging 69.2 ppg on the season. Look for both teams to trade points, the OVER improving to 5-1 when the Tigers were off a home win. 

I'm playing on Oregon/Utah UNDER the total. The days of the Pac-12 featuring wide open high-scoring games are largely gone. Remember the Ducks of a few years back? It seemed like they always getting involved in high-scoring games. Times have changed. The Ducks check in off a 24-10 win. They've held four of their last eight opponents to 10 or fewer points. On the season, they're allowing an average of 15.7 ppg. The Utes? They're even stingier. They allow a mere 11.2 ppg. Thats the third best mark in the country behind Clemson (10.1) and Georgia (10.4). The 241.6 yards allowed per game ranks #3, behind Ohio State and Clemson. They've allowed seven or fewer points in five of their last seven games. The UNDER is 8-3 when the Ducks have been underdogs the past 2+ seasons, a 2-0 UNDER mark when they've been underdogs on a neutral field. With points proving hard to come by, expect those stats to improve Friday night. 

I'm playing on Washington/Washington State UNDER the total. Last year's game had an O/U line of 50 and produced only 43 points. The previous year, these teams combined for 55 points. That O/U line was also 50. Here, however, we're working with an extra couple of touchdowns, as this is a significantly higher O/U line. I believe that it'll prove to be too high. The Huskies' last two games had scores of 19-7 and 20-14. Of course, the Cougars' last couple of games were much higher-scoring. However, the UNDER is 3-0 the past couple of seasons when they were off b2b games where they scored 42 or more points and 4-1 when they were off a game where they both scored and allowed 30 or more. With the UNDER also a perfect 5-0 the past five times that the Huskies had failed to cover three of their previous four, look for this one to prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. 

I'm playing on Mississippi State / Ole Miss OVER the total. Ole Miss gave up 58 points last game, scoring 37. In their previous game, the Rebels scored 45 points. In their last two games against teams that weren't Alabama, the Bulldogs have scored 54 and 45 points. The last meeting between these teams here produced 59 points but the O/U line was in the mid 60s. We're working with a much lower number here, which is providing excellent value. The Rebels have seen the OVER go 7-1 the past eight times that they played a road game with an O/U line in the 56.5 to 63 range. That includes a 2-0 OVER mark when playing on the road with an O/U line in that range. With both teams successfully moving the ball, expect those stats to improve Thursday night. 

I'm playing on SDSU/Hawaii OVER the total. Last year's game had an O/U line of 53 but produced 61 points. This year's O/U line is even lower, providing additional value; I'm expecting another high-scoring affair. Games here at Hawaii have been extremely high-scoring, to say the least. On the season, the Warriors average 36.2 ppg (507.7 ypg) here while allowing an average of 36.5 ppg and 473.2 ypg. Thats roughly 73 points and 1000 yards of offense per game. The last three games here have had combined scores of 82, 79 and 82. While the Aztecs did allow just seven points last time out, the OVER is 2-1 the past couple of seasons, when they were off a game where they allowed nine or less. Look for plenty of points from both teams in this one, another shootout in Hawaii. 

I'm playing on Wyoming/CSU OVER the total. Last season's game produced 55 points but I expect an even higher-scoring game here. The Rams average 33 ppg (while allowing 38.6) on the road. The Cowboys average 33 ppg at home. While three of the Ram's last four games did indeed finish below the total, ALL four of those games still produced at least 54. This one will too. Go with the Over. 

I'm playing Toledo/Buffalo UNDER the total. These teams saw last year's game stay below the number by double-digits. The Rockets managed a mere eight first downs for the game. I look for this one to also prove lower-scoring than many will be expecting. The Bulls lost their last game and that typically results in them playing a lower-scoring game next time out. The UNDER is 6-2 the past eight times that they were off a conference loss, 1-3 ATS the past four times that they were off a conference ATS loss. Going back further finds the UNDER at a profitable 22-11, excluding pushes, when the Bulls were off a road loss in MAC play. With Buffalo allowing an average of only 292.8 yards per game, ninth best in the entire country, I expect Toledo to again have trouble moving the ball, the final score again staying below the total. 

I'm playing the OVER in the Bowling Green/Ohio game. The last time these teams met here, they combined for 78 points, Ohio winning 48-30. A similar score tonight won't surprise. The Falcons are not good defensively. Their last three opponents, not named Akron, have scored 38, 49 and 44 points against them. They allow an average of 34.3 ppg in MAC play, to go along with 465.7 yards. Consider that the Bobcats have scored 34 or more points in four of their last five games. While they won't be able to stop Ohio, playing at home, the Falcons should at least be able to score some points. They've scored 20 or more in each of their last three here, 35 in their most recent. The OVER is 6-2 the past eight times that the Falcons were off a loss of six or fewer points, 3-0 the last three. Expect offensive fireworks. 

I'm playing on LSU/OLE Miss UNDER the total. With LSU's high-scoring game against Alabama fresh in everyone's memories, we're working with a low O/U number here. I believe that it'll prove to be too low. Note that the last two meetings both finished above the total but that was because those O/U lines were lower. Both would have stayed beneath this year's higher number. Prior to the Alabama game, LSU had seen its two previous games finish below the number. Obviously, we all saw that LSU has a big time QB. However, a banged-up offensive line should lead to a somewhat more conservative gameplan. As for the Rebels, they've seen the UNDER go 3-0 their last three overall and 4-1 in their home lined games this season. Last game, they allowed just three points. The UNDER is 5-1 the last six times they were listed as home underdogs. Expect those stats to improve here. 

I'm playing on Fresno State/SDSU OVER the total. I lost my big total on the Aztecs' "over" last week. However, that won't stop me from making the same play here. The Aztecs allowed 17 points to Nevada, UNLV and San Jose State in their last three. They're going to allow more than than against a Fresno team which scores a lot more than either of those three teams. The Bulldogs have scored 56, 31, 41 and 35 their last four games. In other words, the Aztecs are going to need to score a lot more if they want to keep up. Every single Fresno game has produced a minimum of 47 points. Overall, Bulldog games are averaging 66.7 points on the season. The OVER is a perfect 5-0 in Bulldog conference games. With such a low number, expect those stats to improve Friday night. 

I'm playing on Bowling Green/Miami Ohio OVER the total. When these teams met at Bowling Green last year, the O/U line was 55. They combined for 61. When they met here at Miami, the previous year, the O/U line was 51. They combined for 66. Tonight, thanks to some recent 'unders,' we're working with a lower O/U number. Once again, I feel that it'll prove to be too low. The Redhawks scored 24 and 23 their last two games. Both were on the road. In their last three home games, they've scored 27, 34 and 48. Thats an average of 36.3 ppg. The Falcons have played at some tough venues, which has led to their road scoring average being very low. However, they scored 35 points last time out. That'll provide confidence and I feel that they'll have more success this evening against a Miami defense which gave up 76 in a game this season. The OVER is 3-0 in Miami Ohio home games, every one of them exceeding tonight's line. Expect those stats to improve.