Outkick Bets: A 4-Piece of Pickins

It’s never too early to get these weekend picks in and we have a dandy of a slate to watch this weekend. Big games, some silly-large spreads and a few totals that are total money. So, shall we?

LOUISIANA TECH @ UAB, UNDER 48.5 (-112)

This is a much needed game for UAB. With unbeaten UTSA on the schedule in a couple of week, the Blazers have got to get back to being the Blazers to keep pace in the C-USA Western title race. This could be a bit of a get well game for them since their loss to Rice a couple of weeks ago. Time to prepare and a sporty offense for Louisiana Tech has bought us a few more points to hide under this week and we made need them, but I think we will settle on the UNDER and cash another UAB m-UNDER in the process.

ILLINOIS @ MINNESOTA, UNDER 44.5 (-118)

I have had a hard time getting that nine overtime masterpiece out of my mind. It's quintessential B1G football and typical of Illinois this season. Their last four games haven't seen a total top 38 and now they are battling a Gophers team that is quietly on a 4-game winning streak since an embarrassing loss to Bowling Green. They stand 6-2 and control their pathway to get to Indianapolis for the B1G Championship. Minnesota has gone under in four of their last six games and Illinois has gone over the total just once all season… in their second game of the season. I think we see a rock fight where Minnesota pulls away but it takes a minute and we go UNDER.

WAKE FOREST @ NORTH CAROLINA, UNDER 77.5 (-106)

Guys we are killing this trend. It's literally just a philosophical trend of my own that needs no ginormous explanation. We go and find the largest total on the board, make sure it's over 75 and then slam the UNDER. It's worked all year for us and I do not want to change the mojo here. The fact is, the numbers that go over into the 80s and 90s are usually totals that are bet in the 50s and 60s. On Wednesday Night, in the glorious MACtion matchup of Kent State vs. Northern Illinois, that total ended at 99 but the closing total was 72. Plus, these two are 3-0 to the UNDER of totals above 70.

OHIO STATE (-14.5) @ NEBRASKA

Since their Oregon loss, Ohio State has found itself a rhythm that’s been pretty damn impressive. Last week was their first game decided by less than three touchdowns since that loss, a streak that was 5 games trying. Nebraska has had three straight tough, one-possession losses and it’s about time to release the rest of the air out of that Cornhusker ballon. Ohio State, big.