In a battle featuring two teams that like to deploy their running games, Blazers of UAB (-15) are gearing up to host their CUSA foe Old Dominion Monarchs at Legion Field. The afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET and you can tune in to the action on ESPN+.
Betting Preview: UAB Blazers vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
In this Saturday Conference USA matchup, UAB has been projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 15 points. The Monarchs are also receiving +550 moneyline odds while the Blazers are -840. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 44.5 points, and if one team can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it will likely generate a nice betting opportunity in-game.
The Monarchs are down 3.5 units so far and 3-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 1-5.
The surprising Blazers are up 2.5 units this season. The team is 4-2 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Monarchs are a lousy 1-5 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against conference opponents. The Blazers are 5-1 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
Old Dominion enters this matchup on a two-game unbeaten streak while UAB has lost each of its last five. The Monarchs fell to Marshall 31-17 in a game where Messiah deWeaver completed eight-of-14 passes for only 100 yards and one touchdown. Darius Savedge (two receptions, 27 yards) and Blake Watson (one catch, 11 yards) shared the receiving duties.
UAB enters this one after just earning a 33-14 win over UTSA. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Roadrunners to rush for 126 yards on 36 attempts, including two rush TDs. Lowell Narcisse was a bright spot in the loss, recording 89 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts for UTSA. For UAB, Tyler Johnston III completed 17-of-26 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Lucious Stanley (92 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Johnston III (30 yards on 11 carries) led the ground game in the win while Austin Watkins (six receptions, 167 yards, one TD) and Kendall Parham (six catches, 82 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Each squad sports a remarkably similar (61-39) run-pass ratio on the season. The Monarchs have run for 104.7 yards per game (including 69 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have nine touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Blazers are logging 150.3 rushing yards per game (147.3 in conference) and have seven total rush TDs.
It appears that the Blazers should own an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has generated 3.7 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.0 to opponents. The Monarchs have ran for 2.7 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents.
The Monarchs offensive scheme has averaged 152.8 yards in the air overall (114 per game versus conference opposition) and has two passing scores so far. The Blazers have put up 250.5 pass yards per outing (252 against CUSA competition) and have 13 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Old Dominion has let opponents run for an average of 123.2 yards and pass for 208.2 yards per game. The UAB defense has allowed 168.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 96.5 yards per game on the ground. The Blazers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.24 to opposing QBs, while the Monarchs have given up a 6.55 ANY/A.
Offensively, Smartt is up to 712 passing yards on the year, and has completed 63 percent of his 111 attempts with one scores through the air and four interceptions. Smartt has a 3.36 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 0.92 over the past two games.
For the home team, Tyler Johnston III has completed 80-of-127 passes for 1,221 yards, 10 TDs and seven INTs. Johnston III’s ANY/A stands at 8.21 for the season and 10.27 over his last two outings.
These two CUSA foes did not get a chance to face each other last season.
Old Dominion Monarchs vs. UAB Blazers Betting Pick
SU Winner: UAB, ATS Winner: UAB, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- Old Dominion has produced 2.1 yards per carry over its past three contests and 2.1 over its last two.
- UAB has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.2 over its last two.
- UAB has lost three fumbles this season while Old Dominion has lost one.
- The Monarchs offense has created three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Blazers have accounted for eight such plays.
- The Old Dominion defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while UAB has given up four such plays.
- The Old Dominion offense has created six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UAB has created three such runs.
- The Monarchs defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Blazers have given up five such runs.
- The UAB defense has registered more than twice as many sacks as Old Dominion this year (20 versus nine).
