It’ll be a SBC-CUSA showdown as the No. 20 Appalachian State Mountaineers are considerable favorites against the UAB Blazers in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Kickoff for this criticalgame is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET and ESPN has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: UAB Blazers vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
In this Saturday game, Appalachian State is tabbed as the big favorite and is currently giving up 17 points. If they are wanting to take the moneyline, gamblers would currently need to spend $1,400 in order to win $100 back on the Mountaineers (-1400). The Blazers are getting +780 moneyline odds. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 48 points, and if one side can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it’ll likely create a worthwhile betting scenario in-game.
Odds have shifted a bit from where they were first posted. The opening line was -18 and the game’s over/under was placed originally at 47.5.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Mountaineers have recorded 4.0 units while the Blazers are up 3.5 units.
The Mountaineers have gone 12-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Blazers are 9-4 SU.
The Mountaineers just got a 45-38 win over Louisiana on December 7. Zac Thomas completed just nine-of-17 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Darrynton Evans (73 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Thomas (25 yards on 13 carries) mounted the running attack. Thomas Hennigan (four receptions, 50 yards) and Evans (two catches, 63 yards, two TDs) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Two weeks ago, Florida Atlantic took care of this UAB team by a score of 49-6. As a group, the team collectively completed eight-of-19 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions. Tyler Johnston III went four-for-11 for 42 yards and one interception while Dylan Hopkins was four-of-seven for 42 yards and one interception. Spencer Brown (65 yards on 18 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Johnston III (59 yards on seven carries) mounted the running attack as Austin Watkins (three receptions, 43 yards) and Hayden Pittman (two catches, 13 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Each team sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Appalachian State’s run the ball on 61.8 percent of its offensive possessions while UAB has a rush percentage of 63.3. Having said that, the Mountaineers have produced 229.2 rush yards/game and have 34 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Blazers haven’t been quite as successful. They’re putting up 159.3 rushing yards per game and have 16 total rush TDs.
The Mountaineers offense has averaged 206.3 yards in the air overall and has 28 passing scores so far. The Blazers have put up 193.6 pass yards per game and have 18 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Appalachian State has allowed opponents to run for an average of 136.2 yards and pass for 199.7 yards per game. The UAB D has allowed 186.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 107.2 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Mountaineers have given up an ANY/A of 4.80 to opposing QBs, while the Blazers are yielding an ANY/A of 5.16.
Offensively, Thomas has put up 2,250 passing yards this season, and has connected on 184-of-301 attempts with 22 scores through the air and only five interceptions. He has a 7.42 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 9.89 over the past two outings.
The Mountaineers have tried to maintain tempo by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. Along with Thomas Hennigan (583 yards, four TDs), Darrynton Evans (1,241 rush yards, 15 rush TDs, 166 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Marcus Williams Jr. (557 rush yards, five rush TDs) have been big focal points in the offensive gameplans for Appalachian State.
In the other locker room, Dylan Hopkins has connected on 38-of-73 passes for 464 yards, three TDs and five INTs. Hopkins’ ANY/A sits at a horrendous 3.15 for the season and 2.50 over his last two outings.
The Blazers will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. Along with Kendall Parham (608 receiving yards, six receiving TDs), Spencer Brown (416 rush yards, four rush TDs) and Lucious Stanley (342 rush yards, six rush TDs, one TD) have gotten plenty of touches recently.
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. UAB Blazers Free Pick
SU Winner: Mountaineers, ATS Winner: Mountaineers, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- Appalachian State, as a team, has averaged 5.4 yards per rush attempt across its past three games and 5.2 over its last two.
- UAB has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.9 over its last two.
- UAB has lost six fumbles this season while Appalachian State has let three get away.
- The Mountaineers offense has recorded 14 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Blazers have accounted for 12 such plays.
- The Appalachian State defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while UAB has given up eight such plays.
- The Appalachian State offense has created 36 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while UAB has created 11 such runs.
- The Mountaineers defense has allowed 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Blazers have given up 14 such runs.
- The UAB defense has tallied 43 sacks on the year while Appalachian State has just 30.
