Two schools that prefer to focus on their running games, Head Coach Skip Holtz and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (+5) are set to pay a visit to the UAB Blazers (-5) at Legion Field. ESPN+ is scheduled to televise the action and this pivotal CUSA game gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at UAB Blazers
Louisiana Tech is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 5 points in this CUSA game. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to spend $200 to win $100 back on the Blazers (-200). The Bulldogs are getting +170 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 46.5 points, and if one team gets out in front early, it’ll likely produce a solid live betting opportunity.
Sharp bettors are siding with the Bulldogs. The opening line was -6 and the game’s over/under hasn’t changed after it was set initially at 46.5.
Each of these teams has posted a positive return this season as the Bulldogs have gained 4.3 units and the Blazers are ahead 2.5 units.
The Bulldogs have gone 8-2 straight up (SU), including 5-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The Blazers are 7-3 SU overall and 4-2 SU in conference play.
When these two programs faced one another a year ago, UAB won by three touchdowns 28-7.
The Bulldogs are looking to get back on track after a 31-10 loss to Marshall last weekTheir defense allowed the Thundering Herd to eat up the clock by running for 192 yards on 45 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Obi Obialo logged a productive day for the Thundering Herd in that one with 146 yards on eight catches. Offensively, the Bulldogs completed 22-of-38 passes for 194 yards and one interception. Aaron Allen went 19-for-32 for 159 yards while Westin Elliott completed three-of-six for 35 yards and one interception. Justin Henderson (87 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Smoke Harris (nine receptions, 91 yards) and Malik Stanley (seven catches, 82 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
UAB just earned a 37-10 win over UTEP. The defensive unit held its ground in the victory, holding the Miners to just 222 passing yards and 90 yards on the ground. Jacob Cowing was a bright spot in the loss, recording 85 yards on five catches for UTEP. For UAB, Dylan Hopkins completed five-of-10 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. Jermaine Brown Jr. (116 yards on 22 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Hopkins (163 yards on 14 carries, one TD) mounted the running attack while Myron Mitchell (two receptions, 47 yards, one TD) and Austin Watkins (one catch, 45 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Louisiana Tech has run the ball on 50.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UAB has a rush percentage of 61.2 percent. The Bulldogs have rushed for 175 yards/game (including 165.5 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 25 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Blazers are totaling 156.3 rushing yards per game (173.3 in conference) and have 13 total rush TDs.
The Bulldogs offense has logged 282.3 yards per contest in the air overall (272.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 15 passing TDs so far. The Blazers have recorded 213.6 pass yards per outing (203 in the CUSA) and have 17 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana Tech has allowed 141.6 rush yards and 250.6 pass yards per game. The UAB D has given up 168.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 99.0 yards per game on the ground. The Blazers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.84 to opponents, while the Bulldogs have allowed a 5.55 ANY/A.
Offensively, Smith has amassed 2,483 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 65 percent of his 304 attempts with 14 passing scores and only four interceptions. He’s got a 7.72 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.24 over the last two games.
As a group, Justin Henderson, Smoke Harris and Isaiah Graham have combined to account for 388 total yards and five touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Dylan Hopkins has completed 8-of-20 passes for 134 yards, two TDs and one INT for UAB. His ANY/A stands at 5.95 for the season and 2.42 across his past two outings.
We also expect the UAB offense to spread things out this Saturday. Dylan Hopkins (211 rushing yards, one rush TD, zero receiving yards this season), Jermaine Brown Jr. (342 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Austin Watkins (734 receiving yards, five receiving TDs) have combined to account for 389 total yards and two touchdowns over the last couple of games.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. UAB Blazers NCAA Tip
SU Winner: UAB, ATS Winner: UAB, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Bulldogs offense has recorded nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Blazers have accounted for 10 such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while UAB has given up five such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UAB has created nine such runs.
- The Bulldogs defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Blazers have given up 10 such runs.
- The UAB defense has sacked opposing QBs 34 times this year. Louisiana Tech has registered just 19 sacks.
- Louisiana Tech has averaged 4.0 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.8 over its last two.
- UAB has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.2 over its last two.
- Over its last three matchups, UAB is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Louisiana Tech’s last game going into it was 54. The under cashed in the team’s 31-10 loss to Marshall.
- Over its last three matches, Louisiana Tech is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for UAB’s last matchup going into it was 42.5. The over cashed in the 37-10 win over UTEP.
