College football odds makers opened Alabama as a hefty 52-point favorite, with initial wagers on Florida Atlantic dropping the number to 49 ½. Football betting shops first posted a total of 57 ½, with early OVER acting lifting the digits a ‘hook’ to 58.
Tide rolls over ArkansasAlabama’s rushing game rushed for 225 yards in last Saturday’s win, reaching paydirt six times. Crimson Tide running backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon saw most of the action, uniting for 110 yards on 25 carries.
The Crimson Tide defense snagged a pair of interceptions while holding Arkansas to 137 total yards. Alabama allowed just 3-of-14 third-down conversions, giving the ball back to its offense for 31 minutes of possession.
The lopsided affair’s 52 points leaped above the total of 49 ½, making the OVER 2-1 in Alabama’s first three games. Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron connected on 11-of-16 passes while moving the chains for 22 first downs.
Owls blown away in GeorgiaFlorida Atlantic gave up a stretch of 42 unanswered points in
last week’s 56-20 defeat against the Georgia Bulldogs. The Owls held on for a cashed ticket as 41 ½-point road dogs, moving to a 1-2 ATS mark for the season.
Owls quarterback Graham Wilbert threw for 183 yards, tossing one touchdown and one interception. Wilbert’s mate Damian Fortner dashed for a team-high 81 rushing yards, reaching the end zone once on a 43-yard scamper.
The contest’s combined 76 points cashed OVER tickets by the third quarter, jumping above the total of 52 ½. Florida Atlantic’s defense gave up 716 total yards, while linebacker Adarius Glanton returned an interception for his squad’s final touchdown.
Back the Tide as home ‘chalk’Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (ET). The weather forecast in Tuscaloosa calls for an 88-degree afternoon with sunny skies and light winds.
I am laying the large number here with Alabama as part of the day’s college football action, looking for another stellar affair from McCarron and Co.
Alabama should be able to score at will here, especially considering that the Owls’ defense gave up some sizeable plays last week in Georgia. Florida Atlantic allowed three straight touchdowns from 35 or more yards out. It's certainly not going to get any easier against the top-ranked Crimson Tide.
Alabama is 6-1 ATS in its last seven spots that followed scoring more than 40 points in the team’s prior game, while the Owls come in with a 1-5 spread record in matchups that followed giving up at least 40 points. The pointspread cannot be made high enough for Florida Atlantic; they're 3-12 ATS in its last 15 road games – including a 2-5 mark in its last seven spots as a double-digit underdog.
Alabama should also look to keep its shutout streak going, generating its share of three-and-out’s and avoiding late ‘back-door’ touchdowns. Look for the Crimson Tide to put this away early, adding another cashed ticket to its 9-2 ATS record in their last 11 non-conference games.