Two schools that like to run the football, Coach Dana Dimel and the UTEP Miners (+18) will be facing off against the UAB Blazers (-18) at Legion Field. This conference showdown will get underway at 1:00 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 is scheduled to have the TV rights. These teams met a year ago with the final result being a 19-0 victory for UAB.
Betting Preview: UAB Blazers vs. UTEP Miners
In this Saturday Conference USA game, UAB is getting picked as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 18 points. If they want to take the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to put down $1,500 in order to win $100 back on the Blazers (-1500). The Miners are getting +810 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 45 points. If UAB starts trailing early, it’ll probably generate a worthwhile live betting scenario.
The total hasn’t moved after being initially posted at 45. Having said that, the line opened at -21 so early action has swayed to the Miners.
The Miners are 3-5-1 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.1 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-5.
The Blazers have gained 1.4 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and also has an O/U record of 4-5.
The Miners are 1-8 straight up (SU), including 0-6 SU against CUSA opponents. The Blazers are 6-3 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
The Miners came up short to Charlotte 28-21 in a game where the defense allowed the 49ers to pass for 354 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 129 yards. Cameron Dollar had a productive day for the 49ers in that one with 157 yards on nine catches. Offensively, Kai Locksley completed 15 passes on 20 attempts for 215 yards, along with a score and a pick. Locksley (84 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) also spearheaded the running attack and was complemented by Treyvon Hughes (48 yards on 13 carries, one TD). Justin Garrett (six receptions, 40 yards, one TD) and Jacob Cowing (six catches, 145 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on November 9, Southern Miss knocked off this UAB team by a score of 37-2. The Blazers defensive unit allowed the Golden Eagles to run for 161 yards on 34 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Kevin Perkins had a good showing in the win, recording 94 rushing yards on six attempts for Southern Miss. For UAB, Dylan Hopkins completed 15-of-25 passes for 103 yards and two interceptions. Hopkins (-23 yards on 11 rush attempts) spearheaded the running game as Austin Watkins (four receptions, 74 yards) and Hayden Pittman (three catches, 14 yards) led the UAB pass-catchers in the loss.
UTEP has run the ball on 61.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UAB has a rush percentage of 59 percent. The Miners have rushed for 140.4 yards per game (including 130.8 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Blazers are totaling 134.4 rushing yards per game (137.4 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it appears the Blazers may be the more disruptive team in the trenches, as their offensive line has allowed only 12 sacks while the D-line has registered 32 sacks. The Miners offensive line has given up 29 sacks and their defense has got to opposing QBs on just nine occasions.
The Miners offense has tallied 166.6 yards/contest in the air overall (176.8 per game against conference opposition) and has five passing scores so far. The Blazers have produced 226.7 pass yards per game (224 against CUSA foes) and have 16 total pass TDs.
Defensively, UTEP has let opponents run for an average of 171.9 yards and pass for 262.4 yards per game. The UAB D has given up 163 yards per game to opposing passers and 100.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blazers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.94 to opponents, while the Miners have allowed a whopping 9.16 ANY/A.
Locksley has been more efficient than Hopkins lately, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 5.12for the year (and 4.81 over the last two games). Hopkins’ ANY/A is -1.94 for the year and 1.16 over his past two games.
UTEP Miners at UAB Blazers Betting Prediction
SU Winner: UAB, ATS Winner: UTEP, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The O/U for UTEP’s last game was set at 55. The under cashed in the team’s 28-21 loss to Charlotte.
- As a team, UTEP has averaged 4.0 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.6 over its last two.
- UAB has averaged 3.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 2.3 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost five fumbles this year.
- Over its last three matches, UTEP is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for UAB’s previous outing going into it was 49.5. The under cashed in the 37-2 defeat to Southern Miss.
- Over its last three matchups, UAB is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Miners offense has tallied three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Blazers have put up eight such plays.
- The UTEP defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while UAB has given up five such plays.
- The UTEP offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UAB has created six such runs.
- The Miners defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Blazers have given up eight such runs.
- The UAB defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 32 times this year. UTEP has produced just nine sacks.
