Totals Of The Week: High-Low in Big Ten

The college football season heads into Week 12 and there are some highly intriguing total bets to consider. What makes these particular examples of total bets exciting is that two of the three games are huge national games with conference championship implications. Let’s take a look at the best totals for those bet online.

Michigan State Spartans at Ohio State Buckeyes

Total: 68½

The Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes play a very high-stakes game on Saturday. The winner gets the inside track to the Big Ten East Division championship and the College Football Playoff.

The significance of a game is hard to overstate when framed in that context. Ohio State just destroyed Purdue, roaring to life with a brilliant offensive first half.

That’s why the Buckeyes are big favorites, and it’s why the total for this game is so high.

Keep in mind that Michigan State beat Michigan 37-33 earlier this season, a 70-point game which has also contributed to the high total here.

However, Michigan State is without two of its top offensive linemen. The Spartans have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks.

The other thing to keep in mind is that Michigan State has often played Ohio State close in Columbus.

The Spartans upset Ohio State in 2015 when the Buckeyes were trying to make the College Football Playoff. Michigan State’s defense played a virtually flawless game.

This certainly has the potential to be a shootout, but Michigan State often drags Ohio State into the mud. Go with the under here.

A 35-31 game is an under. MSU’s defense should at least be able to do that much.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Penn State Nittany Lions

Total: 46½

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have never scored more than 10 points in any game against Penn State since they joined the Big Ten.

You can look it up, but here are the scores: 10 points in 2014, three in 2015, zero in 2016, six in 2017, seven in 2018, six in 2019 and seven last year.

In those games, Penn State scored more than 28 points twice. The highest point total in any of those games: 41, when the Nittany Lions beat Rutgers 35-6 in 2017.

That’s as complete a track record and a body of evidence as you could possibly hope for. Each of the last seven Penn State-Rutgers games have been under 41½ points, and here you’re getting a 46½ under in the sportsbook.

That creates a very obvious play for you.

Virginia Cavaliers at Pittsburgh Panthers

Total: 66

This is a game to monitor in the days before kickoff. Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong was injured a few weeks ago at BYU.

He was unable to play against Notre Dame last Saturday, with the hope that he would be able to go against Pittsburgh in a battle for the ACC Coastal Division championship.

The winner will play (in all likelihood) Wake Forest for the ACC title on Dec. 4 in Charlotte. As of Wednesday of game week, Armstrong has not yet been cleared to play, raising concerns he won’t be ready for this game.

Virginia could still give him the green light if his progress is sufficient. It is generally viewed that if Armstrong is able to play and be reasonably effective, this game should be a shootout with at least 75 to 80 points.

Without Armstrong, though, it’s a very different story for college football picks. Just keep tabs on Armstrong’s status.