Game – Miami at Va Tech, starts approx 5:05 Pacific
Relevant CCLs (current consensus lines) - Game total 48 or 48.5, Miami team total 24.5 or 25
Picks
Game Under 48.5 for 2.5 units at -110 odds, or 2 units Under 48.5/-120 if your line is 48 and must buy up to 48.5 at -120
Miami team total Under 24.5> for 2 units, or one unit Under 24 (pass at < 24)
7 point side/total Teaser play (assumes teaser pushes do not result in teaser losses)
Under in Miami –VT game, teased up to 55 or 55.5, with Under in SD-Denver game (a 5:25 Pacific start) teased up to 58 or 58.5 for 2-3 units, depending on your lines
Support for Under picks in Mia-VT game
Both of these teams have storied pasts filled with glory, but they have each stepped aside from the spotlight as the programs try to get back to the level they once were. This becomes a big game from the standpoint that each team is 1-2 in conference play, but out of first place by just a single game – so the winner will be right in the race, while the loser may very well fall out of the race all together. And due to the importance of this contest, we expect a physical game, and that usually means defense. As usual, Virginia Tech has defended pretty well, and has not allowed more than 28 points to anyone all season, including Ohio State, East Carolina as well as Georgia Tech. VT is 0-2 to the Under, averaging 50 total ppg in their two home games TY vs decent opposition, with those two games (against East Caro and Ga Tech) producing 49 and 51 total points, respectively.
Miami has had wildly disparate results depending on the location of their games, going 4-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 22 points while dropping all three of their road contests by an average of 13 points. And Miami has been limited on the road offensively where they have scored just 20 points per game on the season, not surprising, given that stand-out freshman Brad Kaaya has thrown 11 touchdowns against three interceptions at home compared to five TDs and six picks on the road, while speedy wide-out Phillip Dorsett has recorded all six of his scores in Miami. Accordingly, Miami is 1-2 Under on the road TY (with those 3 road games having averaged 53.5 total ppg and all 3 of them against quality opposition). And over the years, both of these teams have brought the "D" under the Thursday night ESPN spotlight, with Miami at 5-12 to the UNDER, and the Hokies at 4-17 to the UNDER in Thursday Night contests. So based on the above, we believe this one stays UNDER, and getting a decent totals line of 48.5, will play Under 48.5 for 2.5 units, as well as (i) also playing Miami Under 24.5> for 2 more units on their team total and (ii) teasing the Under up even higher, to 55>, with.the Under in SD-Denver game (a 5:25 Pacific start), teased up to 58>.
GL if you decide to play these picks and the teaser.
Great Owl