Missouri St vs. Delaware Recap: Over 42.5 Clears Before Halftime

Delaware beat Missouri State 61-38 on Tuesday night in a game that was close for two and a half quarters and then was not. Missouri State led 28-24 at halftime and 35-31 after Connor Lair's 1-yard run at 10:33 of the third. Delaware answered with 30 straight points: Nick Minicucci threw two more touchdowns, ran for one, and Jo Silver added a 3-yard score. Both of our plays were settled well before then. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Over 42.5 total points (-179 DraftKings / -170 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: These two teams combined had gone over 42.5 in 18 of their last 20 games and 11 of 12 this season. - What happened: The game finished with 99 points, 56.5 over the line. It was over before halftime: Tucker Smack's 33-yard field goal at 2:16 of the second quarter made it 24-21 Delaware, 45 total. The first half alone produced 52 points. - Worth watching: Both offenses moved the ball, with 482 total yards for Delaware and 431 for Missouri State. When two teams with this kind of scoring profile meet, a low alt total is the cleaner way in than the main number, since it leaves room for a slow quarter.

Missouri State over 18.5 team points (-360 DraftKings / -350 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Missouri State scored 19+ in 8 of its last 10 games and 4 of 6 this season. - What happened: Missouri State scored 38, 19.5 over the line, and cleared it in the second quarter. Lair's 15-yard run and J.J. O'Neal's 47-yard interception return made it 14 in the first quarter, and Henry Belin IV's 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Myers at 4:49 of the second got the Bears to 21. - Worth watching: Seven of those 38 points came from the defense, and the Bears added only 10 points after halftime. The passing game is the engine: Belin threw for 337 yards, and Myers caught 11 balls for 242 and 2 touchdowns.

How the game played out

Minicucci completed 20 of 29 passes for 225 yards and 5 touchdowns with 1 interception, and he scored on a 1-yard run. Delaware ran 42 times for 232 yards, led by Silver with 101 yards on 13 carries, and held the ball for 34:43. The Blue Hens converted all 5 of their fourth-down tries. Missouri State turned it over 3 times and was flagged 12 times for 100 yards, and its offense managed 3 points after Lair's second touchdown.

Trends to watch

• Myers had 242 receiving yards on 11 catches with a long of 47. He and Jmariyae Robinson combined for 21 catches, so Belin's targets are concentrated, which makes Myers' receiving lines worth a look.
• Delaware's run game produced 232 yards at 5.5 per carry. Silver and Kaderris Roberts, who had 58 yards on 8 carries, both had big gains, and that volume is worth tracking on rushing props.
• Missouri State ran only 23 times for 94 yards. In this one the offense leaned almost entirely on Belin's arm.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. Learn more about totals and alt lines, or see today's college football board.