When you think of key numbers in football betting, 3 and 7 are probably the pair that pop into your mind first — which makes sense. As field goals and touchdowns are the most common scoring forms, those two numbers are the most common margins of football victories.
A bit further down the list comes the number 17, but from the way sharps have been approaching tonight's UCF vs. Tulsa spread, you'd think a 17-point margin in tonight's game was already confirmed by a time traveler.
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Central Florida vs. Tulsa Sharp Betting Report
7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Opening numbers for this game varied quite a bit, as the earliest books to market posted -12.5 in favor of the Knights, but were immediately pushed upward. As more shops joined the party, openers came in around the two-touchdown mark and beyond, with the majority of books finally opening after the spread had been pushed all the way up to -16.
Sharps — who were likely the ones hammering the early numbers — still weren't over their love for UCF, however. Between Monday and Tuesday, our Sports Insights' Bet Signals triggered three instances of professional action on the Knights causing market-wide movement at lines of -16, -16.5 and -17.
That caught the attention of oddsmakers, who furthered the line movement up to -17 and even -17.5 … which opened the floodgates for pro action to come in on Tulsa.
Since Wednesday, six SI Bet Signals have hit Tulsa, five of which have come at +17.5, driving this line back to its settling point of +17.
In total, five signals have hit UCF — with none coming at a number greater than 17 — and seven have been triggered on Tulsa — none inside of 17. Given that, it shouldn't come as much surprise to see sharp action strike again should this line move off the key number.
As far as the reception from bettors as a whole, 69% of tickets have landed on the Central Florida, though they've generated just 51% of actual money, meaning more big bets have come in on the dog.
The total has seen its fair share of pro money as well, and it's actually been much more one-sided, reflected by the line moving in just one direction (for the most part).
After an initial half-point move from 70.5 up to 71 — perhaps a result of the over's popularity (60% of bets) — it's been all downhill as this line has fallen back to 68.5.
Three SI Bet Signals have hit the under, with none going the other way, convincing oddsmakers to move this line against the popular side.
Sharp angles: Central Florida (-16.5 or better), Tulsa (+17.5 or better), Under (moved from 71 to 68.5) [In New Jersey? Bet now at PointsBet]
