Featured Game: South Florida Bulls vs. Miami Hurricanes (-17.5, 58)
Time: 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT
Television: CW
We’ve got two top-25 teams set to do battle in the Sunshine State this weekend, as #5 Miami welcomes #18 South Florida. The point spread says this is a rout in the making, but that’s not the number I’m concerned with.
I’m more focused on the total, which opened at 53.5 and has since drifted up considerably. I think there are a few reasons to believe defenses may do better than one might initially expect. For one, weather may be a factor. The forecast is calling for an 80% chance of rain, which may make it a bit harder for offenses to move the ball.
For another, while Miami’s offense put up 27 points against Notre Dame and 45 against Bethune-Cookman, it’s not like the Hurricanes are a juggernaut. Add in that USF has yielded just 23 points through two games and only scored one touchdown in last week’s upset at Florida, and I’m wondering why the heck this total has crept up.
That total of 58 is available on BetRivers and Bally Bet as of this writing (7 am Pacific on Friday). I may have leaned to the under even at the initial number of 53.5. Given that it’s gone up, and not in a small way, I’m even more confident.
Prediction: Under 58.
