The UTSA Roadrunners and Southern Miss Golden Eagles are ready to do battle on the turf at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Fans are able to catch the action live on ESPN+ and this conference game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: UTSA Roadrunners at Southern Miss Golden Eagles
In this Saturday Conference USA matchup, Southern Miss has been projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 17 points. If they want to take the moneyline, bettors would currently have to spend $1,400 in order to win $100 back on the Golden Eagles (-1400). The Roadrunners are getting +780 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 44.5 points, and if one team can get out in front early, it will probably create a decent live betting scenario.
The sharp action is siding with the Golden Eagles. The line initially opened at -16 while the game’s O/U was originally placed at 45.
The Roadrunners have lost 1.0 unit so far in 2018 and are 1-6 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 4-3.
The Golden Eagles have lost 2.4 units this season. The team is 3-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-3.
The Roadrunners have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
When these two squads met a year ago, Southern Miss earned the win 31-29.
The Roadrunners fell to Louisiana Tech 31-3 in a blowout where the passing attack left much to be desired as Cordale Grundy completed only 17-of-38 passes for 191 yards and one interception. Grundy (60 rushing yards on 11 attempts) also led the ground attack. Blaze Moorhead (six receptions, 87 yards) and Marquez McNair (four catches, 54 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Southern Miss just lost a one-sided 30-7 game to North Texas. The team’s defense allowed the Mean Green to rush for 165 yards on 33 attempts, including three rush TDs. Jalen Guyton put up a productive outing in the win, recording 124 yards on seven catches for North Texas. For Southern Miss, Jack Abraham completed 29-of-42 passes for 318 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Trivenskey Mosley (73 yards on 11 rush attempts) led the running game as Jordan Mitchell (12 receptions, 135 yards) and Tim Jones (seven catches, 69 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
UTSA has run the ball on 48.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Southern Miss has a rush percentage of 44.2 percent. The Roadrunners have rushed for 99.9 yards per game (including 103.7 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have five touchdowns on the ground this year. The Golden Eagles are totaling 98.6 rushing yards per game (94.0 in conference) and have two total rush TDs.
The Roadrunners offensive scheme has averaged 155.7 yards in the air overall (143.7 per game versus conference opposition) and has six passing scores so far. The Golden Eagles have recorded 318.6 pass yards per contest (373 in the CUSA) and have 12 total pass TDs.
Defensively, UTSA has allowed 117.6 rush yards and 253.4 pass yards per game. The Southern Miss D has allowed 191.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 131.6 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.15 to opposing QBs, while the Roadrunners have allowed a 7.71 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Grundy is up to 957 yards this year. The signal-caller has connected on 53 percent of his 197 attempts with five scores through the air and three interceptions. He has a 3.88 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 2.69 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, Jack Abraham has completed 106-of-149 passes for 1,366 yards, 11 TDs and four INTs. Abraham’s ANY/A sits at 8.17 for the season and 4.25 over his past two games.
UTSA Roadrunners vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Southern Miss, ATS Winner: Southern Miss, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The O/U for UTSA’s previous game was 47. The under cashed in the team’s 31-3 defeat to Louisiana Tech.
- As a team, UTSA has rushed for 3.7 yards per attempt across its last three outings and 3.6 over its last two.
- Southern Miss has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and only 1.9 over its last two.
- Southern Miss has lost five fumbles this season while UTSA has lost six.
- In its last three games, UTSA is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Southern Miss’ last match going into it was 53. The under cashed in the 30-7 defeat to North Texas.
- In its last three matchups, Southern Miss is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Southern Miss has lost four of its last five games SU, with an 18-point win over Rice on September 22nd accounting for the only victory over that stretch.
- The Roadrunners offense has registered one pass play of 40+ yards, while the Golden Eagles have accounted for seven such plays.
- The UTSA defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Southern Miss has given up four such plays.
- The UTSA offense has created five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Southern Miss has created three such runs.
- The Roadrunners defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Eagles have given up four such runs.
- The UTSA defense has 19 sacks on the year while Southern Miss has just five.
