The most popular bet on Friday's four-game college football slate? The over in Marshall vs. Boise State (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Eighty percent of bets on the total have landed on that side, and it's pretty easy to understand why the public is so in sync.
Aside from the obvious appeal of rooting for a high-scoring game, both of these teams are coming off games that went over last week's totals, scoring a combined 92 points in their season openers.
In response to the heavy backing, this number now sits at 57 after opening anywhere from 55 to 56.5.
Marshall vs. Boise State Sharp Report
But despite the line movement, sharps were pretty disinterested in this total in the early going. It wasn't until sportsbooks began listing numbers at 57 or higher that the pros finally stepped in.
Three Sports Insights Bet Signals — which track and record instances of sharp action in the market — have been triggered on this under during the past 24 hours, coming at lines of 57.5 and 57.
As a result, sportsbooks have hit a roadblock, and some have even shifted the total back to 56.5.
The 20% of bettors on the under have generated 26% of actual money, which provides a little more insight into this line movement — or recent lack thereof.
On one hand, books are rooting for the under and are therefore hesitant to make it harder for that bet to lose. On the other, they've got confirmation from their respected customers that this total has reached a range that makes the under a smart bet.
If they do decide to nudge the total up once again, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see wiseguys pounce on what they believe is an inflated number.
