You've probably heard the storyline by now: The best offense in the country will take on the best defense in the country in tonight's Texas Tech-Gonzaga Elite 8 matchup.
That's certainly a deserving headline, but it's perhaps even more interesting when viewed from a betting perspective. One team is the best at scoring, the other is the best at preventing scoring, and oddsmakers are forced to somehow come up with an estimated total in the game.
Openers ranged from 136.5 to 140, depending on the sportsbook and the time at which it released the number. By early Saturday morning, most were settled around 137, but it's now up to around 140.
That's the fourth-lowest total for a Gonzaga game this year, and it ties the fifth-highest total for Texas Tech.
That movement hasn't just been a result of oddsmakers fussing with the total. They've been reacting to the bets from their sharp players.
Fifty-nine percent of bettors are on the over, and they've generated 67% of money. That discrepancy serves as a slight indication of sharp money, but the kicker comes from Sports Insights' Bet Signals.
They've triggered four steam moves on the over, and no conflicting signals on the under. Steam refers to heavy money coming over a short period of time on the same side, and is a sign of professional action across the market.
The most recent signal came at a total of 138 (11:45 a.m. ET), and shot the market-wide number up by two points. The Action Network's Sean Koerner set the number at 139, so it'll be interesting to see if the total continues its rise or finds its way back inside the 140 mark.
