Best over teams in college football
COVERS.com
Spread betting has been hard on college football bettors this year. Heavy favorites are losing each week, and cleaning out their backers’ accounts in the process. A look at the totals might help ease the pain. We’ve compiled a list of the five best over teams in college ball.
1. Rice Owls: 5-0 over/under (1-5 straight up)
The Owls had an over/under record of 13-2 last year. Despite oddmakers’ best efforts, they’ve started this season in the same fashion. Totals in recent Owls game have ranged between 54 and 65 ½ points, and yet their games have played over the total in every instance this season.
Defensive struggles have certainly played a role. Rice is third last in the nation with 520.8 yards allowed and 43.3 points per game against so far. While the defense has been poor, the offense has improved game by game (scoring 79 points in the last two contests) – a main reason why Rice is an over machine.
2. Tennessee Volunteers: 5-1 O/U (4-2 SU)
Tennessee has had an extremely tough schedule this year. Thanks to its powerful offense it has played over the oddsmakers’ totals in five of six games this season. The one exception was a 35-14 win over Georgia in Week 6 where the total was set at a lofty 56 ½ points.
The Volunteers offense is ranked 37th in the nation with 425.5 yards per game and is averaging 34.3 points. Senior quarterback Erik Ainge is the driving force and has thrown for 1,554 yards and 12 TDs already this season.
3. Ball State Cardinals: 5-1 O/U (4-3 SU)
A strong offense and a struggling defense has made Ball State one of the most consistent over teams in the country. The Cardinals have played over in five of six games this season despite totals ranging from 57 to 68 points in the last four contests.
The Cardinals’ defense ranks 88th in the nation with 426 yards allowed per game, while their offense is 27th with 455 yards gained per outing. But the real story is told in points for and against. Ball State is giving up an average of 26.6 points and scoring 35.3.
4. Western Michigan Broncos: 5-1 O/U (3-4 SU)
The first three games of the Broncos’ season were against West Virginia, Indiana and Missouri, so it’s not surprising they were totally outplayed and outscored. They have since recovered to win three of four games. Still, some poor defensive performances are partly responsible for a 5-1 over/under record.
Western Michigan’s defense is 94th in the nation with 434.6 yards allowed per game. The team is conceding an average 35 points per contest. Next up for the Broncos is a game at home against Ball State, a rematch of the game that went 19 points over the 51-point total last season.
5. Michigan State Spartans: 5-2 O/U (5-2 SU)
The Spartans have put together a decent season and are unlucky not to be undefeated and 5-1 O/U on the year. Two razor thin losses in Weeks 5 and 6 dropped their record to 5-2, while the 28-17 win over Bowling Green earlier in the season was just a field goal short of going over the total.
A powerful offense led by junior quarterback Brian Hoyer is the main force behind Michigan State’s tendency to go over. Hoyer has thrown for 1,476 yards and 11 TDs this season, leading an offense that ranks 19th in the nation in both yards (467) and points (36.9) per game.