The Miners of UTEP (-20.5) are set to host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Sun Bowl. This CUSA showdown kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET and you can watch the action on ESPN 3.
Betting Preview: UTEP Miners vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech is the heavy road favorite and is currently giving up 20.5 points to UTEP. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 53.5 points. If one team catches a lucky break early, it will likely create a worthy in-game betting scenario.
The total has not moved after being initially posted at 53.5. Having said that, the opening line was 18.5 so has recently moved up to 20.5.
The surprising Bulldogs have gained 3.4 units so far and are 4-3 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 4-3.
The Miners have lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-3-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 2-4.
The Bulldogs have gone 6-1 straight up (SU), including 3-0 SU against conference opponents. The Miners are 1-5 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
When these two schools met a year ago, Louisiana Tech won by a touchdown 31-24.
Louisiana Tech enters this contest on a zero-game winless streak while UTEP has won each of its last zero. The Bulldogs are coming off a resounding 45-30 win over Southern Miss last week. J’mar Smith completed 14 passes for 325 yards, as well as a score and a pick. Justin Henderson (111 yards on 19 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Smith (22 yards on 12 carries, one TD) led the ground attack. Malik Stanley (eight receptions, 212 yards, one TD) and Cee Jay Powell (three catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
UTEP just suffered a 32-17 loss to FIU. The defense allowed the Panthers to eat up the clock by rushing for 185 yards on 32 attempts, including two rush TDs. Anthony Jones was on a different level for FIU, putting up 102 rushing yards and a score on 15 attempts, along with 61 yards on one catch. As a group, the Miners collectively completed 12-of-21 passes for 151 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Kai Locksley went seven-for-12 for 117 yards and one touchdown while Brandon Jones was five-of-nine for 34 yards and one interception. Treyvon Hughes (48 yards on 20 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Locksley (66 yards on 11 carries) spearheaded the running attack while Tre’Shon Wolf (four receptions, 44 yards) and Justin Garrett (three catches, 32 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Louisiana Tech has run the ball on 49.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UTEP has a rush percentage of 62.9 percent. The Bulldogs have rushed for 181 yards per game (including 170 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 16 scores on the ground this year. The Miners are averaging 139.3 rush yards per game (119 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
Judging by the numbers so far, it seems like the Bulldogs might own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, since their backfield has generated 5.2 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Miners have rushed for 3.6 yards per carry and allowed 5.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Bulldogs offensive scheme has tallied 287.6 yards/game in the air overall (275 per game against conference opposition) and has 11 passing TDs so far. The Miners have produced 156.3 pass yards per contest (167 against CUSA foes) and have three total pass scores.
Louisiana Tech has let opponents run for an average of 149.4 yards and throw for 257.3 yards per game. The UTEP D has allowed 223 yards per game to opposing passers and 187.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulldogs are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.39 to opposing QBs, while the Miners have allowed a whopping 8.5 ANY/A.
Smith likely has the advantage over Jones in this matchup, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 7.34for the year (and 11.84 over the past two games). Jones’ ANY/A is 4.24 for the season and 3.85 over his last two outings.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. UTEP Miners NCAA Tip
SU Winner: UTEP, ATS Winner: UTEP, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Louisiana Tech defensive unit has 12 sacks on the year while UTEP has just five.
- UTEP has lost one fumble this season while Louisiana Tech has lost five.
- The Bulldogs offense has created eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Miners have accounted for two such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while UTEP has given up six such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while UTEP has created eight such runs.
- The Bulldogs defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Miners have given up eight such runs.
- The Over/Under for UTEP’s last outing was set at 51. The under cashed in that 32-17 loss to FIU.
- In its last three matches, UTEP is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- Over its last three matchups, Louisiana Tech is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Louisiana Tech’s last game was set at 58. The over cashed in the team’s 45-30 win over Southern Miss.
- Louisiana Tech has averaged 6.2 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 6.9 over its last two.
- UTEP has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.1 over its past two.
