In a battle of two schools that prefer to run the football, Coach Dana Dimel and the UTEP Miners are getting 17 points as they prepare to welcome the UAB Blazers to Sun Bowl. This conference game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPN+. These programs met last year with the final outcome being a 28-7 win for UAB.
UAB Blazers vs. UTEP Miners Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, UAB is getting picked as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 17 points. If they want to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to lay down $1,400 in order to win $100 back on the Blazers (-1400). The Miners are getting +780 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 48 points. If UAB gets behind in the early stages, it will probably create a solid in-game betting opportunity.
The opening line was 17.5 while the total hasn’t changed since it opened at 48.
The profitable Blazers have gained 3.4 units so far in 2018 and are 6-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 1-5. The Miners have lost 3.0 units this season. The team is 4-3 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Blazers are 6-1 straight up (SU), including 4-0 SU against conference opponents. The Miners are 0-7 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
The Blazers are coming off a 29-21 victory over North Texas last week. A.J. Erdely completed 14 passes for only 189 yards. Spencer Brown (100 rushing yards on 25 attempts, three TDs) and the signal-caller Erdely (23 yards on 14 carries) mounted the ground attack. Andre Wilson (two receptions, 39 yards) and Donnie Lee (two catches, 35 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
UTEP just dropped a 31-24 game to Louisiana Tech. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Bulldogs to eat up the clock by running for 169 yards on 31 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Teddy Veal put up a productive showing in the win for Louisiana Tech, recording 103 yards on 11 catches. As a group, the Miners collectively completed 19-of-33 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Ryan Metz went 11-for-17 for 164 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Brandon Jones was seven-of-15 for 98 yards. Metz (28 rushing yards on 12 attempts) handled the running game while Keynan Foster (four receptions, 84 yards, one TD) and Warren Redix (three catches, 48 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
UAB’s run the ball on 66.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UTEP has a rush percentage of 59.8 percent. The Blazers have produced 228 rush yards per game (including 189 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 21 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Miners are putting up 147 rush yards per game (110 in conference) and have 10 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it seems like the Blazers could own an advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has generated 5.0 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.8 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Miners have tallied 3.7 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 5.3 to opponents.
The Blazers offensive scheme has averaged 201 yards in the air overall (203 per game against conference opposition) and has seven passing scores so far. The Miners have recorded 175 pass yards per outing (246.7 against CUSA foes) and have five total pass TDs.
Defensively, UAB appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 137 rush yards and 164 pass yards per game. The UTEP D has allowed 184.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 202.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blazers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.45 to opposing QBs, while the Miners have allowed a 7.48 ANY/A.
Offensively, Erdely is up to 1,096 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 81-of-143 attempts with five scores through the air and five interceptions. He has a 6.09 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 10.61 over the last two games.
As a group, Xavier Ubosi, Spencer Brown and Andre Wilson have combined for 474 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Ryan Metz has connected on 19-of-36 passes for 263 yards, one TD and three INTs. Metz’s ANY/A stands at a terrible 2.48 for the season and 6.91 over his past two outings.
As a trio, Warren Redix, Keynan Foster and Quardraiz Wadley have collectively accounted for 460 total yards and three touchdowns the last two games.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: UAB Blazers vs. UTEP Miners
SU Winner – Blazers, ATS Winner – Blazers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Miners have made eight pass plays of 30+ yards while the Blazers have produced 13 such plays.
The UAB defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while UTEP has given up five such plays.
The UAB offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while UTEP has created 12 such runs.
The Blazers defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Miners have given up 15 such runs.
The UAB defense has twice as many sacks as UTEP this year (26 versus 13).
UAB has produced 4.7 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.4 over its last two.
UTEP has averaged 3.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.7 over its past two.
Over its last three contests, UTEP is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for UAB’s previous game was set at 53.5. The under cashed in the team’s 29-21 victory over North Texas.
Over its last three matchups, UAB is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for UTEP’s last matchup going into it was 51. The over cashed in the 31-24 defeat to Louisiana Tech.
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