UAB vs Florida Atlantic Odds
| UAB Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 +100 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | -135 |
| Florida Atlantic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -120 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | +110 |
If I was scripting the teams I wanted to meet in the Conference USA Championship game, there is no better matchup than Florida Atlantic and UAB. In fact, they may be two of the best mid-major squads in the country.
The Owls should be in the NCAA Tournament already, but the Blazers need the automatic bid to play in The Big Dance for the second straight season.
I’m not seeing any value betting a side in what should be a close contest. However, I do like backing UAB another way.
My best bet is to take the Blazers to fly over their team total of 75 or better.
If you haven’t seen Jordan “Jelly” Walker play, you need to tune into this game. The star guard came into the conference tournament ranked third in the nation in scoring, averaging 23.3 points per game.
In the previous meetings this season, Walker led the team with 21 points en route to UAB scoring 86 in a loss in Boca Raton, Florida. He then returned from an injury absence in the rematch and helped the Blazers give the Owls their second loss of the season in an 86-77 triumph.
Walker's fine scoring has continued into the C-USA Tournament, where he is averaging 29.5 PPG to go along with four assists per game. He is the primary reason why coach Andy Kennedy’s team has topped this team total in wins over Rice and North Texas.
I understand this is UAB's third game in three days, but this total just feels low for a UAB program that has scored more than 75 points in 17 of 22 conference games. If you remove the contests that Walker was injured, the record for this bet cashing improves to 17-1.
Over the course of the entire season, this same play would have gotten to the window in 82% of UAB's games.
Yes, Florida Atlantic boasts a solid defense, but the Blazers were able to go over this total against a Mean Green squad that can defend and plays at a slow tempo.
I like UAB to repeat as C-USA Champions, but I’ll stick with the team total as my best bet in the title game.
