The Utep Miners and Utsa Roadrunners will go toe-to-toe on the dome at the Alamodome. The matchup is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ has the TV rights.
UTEP Miners at UTSA Roadrunners Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, UTSA is tabbed as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 11 points. The Miners are also receiving +325 moneyline odds while the Roadrunners are -450. Based on how things are shaping up, this showdown will probably offer some in-game betting possibilities.
The Miners are 1-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.0 units so far. The team has recorded an Over-Under mark of 1-2. The Roadrunners have lost 2.0 units this season. The team is 0-4 ATS and three of its games have gone over the total.
The Miners have gone 0-4 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any CUSA competition yet. The Roadrunners are 1-3 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Miners came up short to New Mexico State 27-20 in a matchup where their defense allowed the Aggies to eat up the clock by running for 155 yards on 34 rush attempts. Offensively, Kai Locksley completed 10-of-16 passes for 194 yards, along with a score and a pick. Locksley (64 yards on 27 rush attempts, one TD) also led the running attack and was complemented by Quardraiz Wadley (111 yards on 20 carries). Warren Redix (four receptions, 24 yards) and Terry Juniel (two catches, 80 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
UTSA is coming off of a 25-21 win over Texas State. Cordale Grundy completed 19-of-35 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Jalen Rhodes (76 rushing yards on 17 attempts) and B.J. Daniels (38 yards on 12 carries) spearheaded the running game while Greg Campbell Jr. (seven receptions, 71 yards) and Gavin Sharp (five catches, 26 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
UTEP has run the ball on 62.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UTSA has a rush percentage of 49.1 percent. The Miners have run for 174 yards/game and have five scores on the ground this year. The Roadrunners are totaling 97 rush yards per game and have two total rushing TDs.
The Miners offense has averaged 121 yards in the air overall and has only one passing scores so far. The Roadrunners have recorded 165 pass yards per outing and have four total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, UTEP appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 255 rush yards and 163 pass yards per game. The UTSA defense has allowed 286.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 136.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Miners are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.40 to opponents, while the Roadrunners have given up an ugly 9.98 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Locksley has put up 371 yards this season, and has connected on 29-of-61 attempts with one passing scores and two interceptions. He’s got a 3.30 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 3.06 over the last two games.
The Miners will probably try to control the pace by feeding their running backs early and often. The tagteam of Quardraiz Wadley (250 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Treyvon Hughes (95 rush yards) have delivered in the UTEP offensive scheme.
Cordale Grundy has connected on 53-of-101 passes for 471 yards, two TDs and two INTs for UTSA. His ANY/A stands at a terrible 3.17 for the season and 4.33 across his past two games.
The Roadrunners should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. Along with Greg Campbell Jr. (167 receiving yards), Jalen Rhodes (104 rush yards) and B.J. Daniels (152 rush yards, two rush TDs) have gotten a lot of action recently.
When these two teams met last year, UTSA emerged victorious by a score of 31-14.
Free Prediction: UTEP Miners at UTSA Roadrunners
SU Winner – UTSA, ATS Winner – UTSA
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The UTSA D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times this season. UTEP has registered seven sacks.
UTSA has lost four fumbles in 2018 while the UTEP offense has lost five.
The Miners offense has registered two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Roadrunners have accounted for zero such plays.
Both teams have allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards. The UTEP defense has given up five pass plays of 30+ yards while UTSA has given up nine such plays.
The UTEP offense has created six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UTSA has created four such runs.
The Miners defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Roadrunners have given up four such runs.
UTSA was favored by 8 points in its previous outing and the Over/Under going into it was 48.5. The under cashed and UTSA failed to cover in that 25-21 win over Texas State.
In its last three games, UTSA is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three games, UTEP is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
UTEP was getting 6 points in its last game and the O/U was 51.5. The under cashed and UTEP failed to cover in the 27-20 loss to New Mexico State.
UTEP has rushed for 4.61240310077519 yards per attempt over its past three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
UTSA has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 3.6 over its last two.
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