NCAAF Week 4 Totals Tout Analysis: Your Over-Under Smörgåsbord

OK, so American-style football isn't exactly a big thing in Sweden, but it's still cool to dip into the language up there to sound suave and debonair about a buncha good stuff on offer this weekend.

The word itself has its origin in offering options for making open-faced sandwiches:

• Smör is Sweish for butter,
• Smörgås -- the å sounds like the oa in boat -- is a sandwich, and
• Bord is a table, so
• Smörgåsbord is a veritable feast of fixings for whatever nosh your heart desires.

 

And bork doesn't mean anything.

However, our buffet -- clearly, French for smörgåsbord -- of tasty totals touts could mean more meatballs for those who like to play the points.

Sometimes, helpful hints can be worth it.

 

Incidentally, hej då -- as the dudette said when re-boarding -- is casual Swedish for goodbye.

And now, it's time to say hej då to any lingering doubts you might have as to whether or not these nine college football best-bets will rack up pinball numbers in Week 4. Remember, check the lines for late movement.

 

Thu 19 Sep

Houston at Tulane: 63½

The Cougars average over 30 and allow an average of over 32. The Green Wave has a decent defense, but this figures to be a shootout.

Pick: Over
Result: Tulane 38 Houston 31 ... over covers

 

Fri 20 Sep

Air Force at Boise State: 50½

Both these squads have decent defenses. Opponents only average 15 against the Falcons, while Bronco opponents only average 16. This is hard to say about a usually wild Mountain West conference game, but it feels like an under game on the blue field in Idaho.

Pick: Under
Result: Boise State 30 Air Force 19 ... under covers

 

Sat 21 Sep

Central Michigan at Miami Florida: 50

The Hurricanes racked up 63 against Bethune-Cookman. Conversely, they've struggled to keep teams from scoring. The computer simulations think differently, but the view here is those fighting Chippewas should post just enough points to get the over in a blowout loss.

Pick: Over
Result: Miami Florida 17 Central Michigan 12 ... under covers

Western Michigan at Syracuse: 63½

Sadly for Dino Babers, the 'Cuse again looks to be a bad football team. In back-to-back losses to Maryland and Clemson, the Orange have allowed a combined total of 104 points.

The Broncos -- who owe thanks to Boise State for their helmet design -- average 40.7 points per game. This should go over by a mile.

Pick: Over
Result: Syracuse 52 Western Michigan 33 ... over covers

 

Colorado at Arizona State: 54½

Yes, the Buffs give up lotsa points and score losta points, but the Sun Devils showed at Michigan State that they've got an excellent defense. In fact, dudes might rival those of Utah and Washington in the Pac 12. Think under to cash.

Pick: Under
Result: Colorado 34 Arizona State 31 ... over covers

 

California at Ole Miss: 43½

The total seems low for a college game until we realize that the Golden Bears only allow 16.3 points per. The Landsharks aren’t back to their glory-day form, but Ole Miss only allows 20.3 points per.

Gotta buck the computer again on this one. I see it as another clash that figures to go under.

Pick: Under
Result: California 28 Ole Miss 20 ... over covers

Kentucky at Mississippi State: 50

All three of the Bulldogs' games have gone over. All three of the Wildcats' games have gone over. Both these teams will score points. How can this not be an over call?

Pick: Over
Result: Mississippi State 28 Kentucky 13 ... under covers

 

Tennessee at Florida: 52

The Volunteers are still trying to show they're better than they've looked, while the Gators lost Feleipe Franks for the season. However, understudy Kyle Trask looked pretty damn good in relief.

Dude could surprise a few teams with his prowess, but we're not thinking it'll be this week. Under all the way.

Pick: Under
Result: Florida 34 Tennessee 3 ... under covers

 

West Virginia at Kansas: 50½

This one always seemed to be a high-scoring lock. After all, this is the defense-optional Big XII here, but the sportsbooks always seem to ignore that in the early season. Looks like they've done it again.

The Mountaineers got their offense going in a 44-27 win over NC State in Week 3. The Jayhawks are improving rapidly under Les Miles, as evidenced by their dropping 48 on Boston College. Yeah … this goes over.

Pick: Over
Result: West Virginia 29 Kansas 24 ... over covers

***

Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey ... Today: 5-4

Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sportswriting, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sportswriter of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.