The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Florida Atlantic Owls are ready to face off on the grass at FAU Stadium. STAD,FCBK will broadcast the action and this CUSA matchup is scheduled to get underway at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Florida Atlantic Owls Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Florida Atlantic is tabbed as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 18 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to put down $1,500 to win $100 back on the Owls (-1500). The Hilltoppers are getting +810 moneyline odds. If one side can create a bunch of points in the early stages it will create a nice live betting scenario. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
Odds have moved slightly from where they originally opened. The line opened at -18 and the game’s total was initially set at 55.5.
The disappointing Hilltoppers have lost 11.2 units so far and are 4-5 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under mark of 4-5. The Owls have lost 3.7 units this season. The team is 2-7 ATS and five of its games have gone over the total.
The Hilltoppers have gone 1-8 straight up (SU), including 0-5 SU against conference opponents. The Owls are 4-5 SU overall and 2-3 SU in conference play.
These two schools faced off a year ago with the final result being a 42-28 victory for Florida Atlantic.
The Hilltoppers are most-recently reeling from a 29-10 defeat to Middle Tennessee last week. The passing attack wasn’t where it needed to be as the Hilltoppers completed 16-of-47 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Drew Eckels went 12-for-32 for 195 yards while Steven Duncan completed three-of-14 for 61 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Joshua Samuel (28 yards on seven rushes) led the ground attack while Jacquez Sloan (four receptions, 89 yards) and Mik’Quan Deane (four catches, 38 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Florida Atlantic is coming off of a 49-14 win over FIU. As a group, the Owls collectively completed 10-of-16 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Robison went six-for-10 for 90 yards while De’Andre Johnson was four-of-six for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Devin Singletary (184 yards on 27 rush attempts, three TDs) and Kerrith Whyte, Jr. (165 yards on 17 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as Jovon Durante (four receptions, 55 yards, two TDs) and Ladante Harris (three catches, 21 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
Western Kentucky has run the ball on 47.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Florida Atlantic has an overall rush percentage of 59.9 percent. The Hilltoppers have produced 124 rush yards/game (including 117 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Owls are logging 245 rush yards per game (265 in conference) and have 27 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Owls might hold an edge in terms of efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has logged 5.4 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 4.4 to opponents. The Hilltoppers have recorded 3.6 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.6 to opponents.
The Hilltoppers offense has averaged 243 yards in the air overall (230 per game against conference opposition) and has 11 passing TDs so far. The Owls have put up 220 pass yards per outing (202.2 against CUSA competition) and have 10 total pass scores.
Western Kentucky has let opponents rush for an average of 183 yards and pass for 229 yards per game. The Florida Atlantic D has allowed 246.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 175.6 yards per game on the ground. The Hilltoppers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.62 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have given up a 7.29 ANY/A.
Offensively, Eckels is up to 709 passing yards on the year, and has completed 51 percent of his 99 attempts with three passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He has a 6.69 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.73 over the last two games.
Jacquez Sloan (426 receiving yards this season), Joshua Samuel (346 rush yards, one rush TD) and Lucky Jackson (432 receiving yards, three TDs) have each played key roles recently.
In the hosts’ locker room, Rafe Peavey has completed 5-of-8 passes for 32 yards, zero TDs and one INT. Peavey’s ANY/A sits at for the year and 1.93 over his last two outings.
We’re thinking the Owls will control tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. Willie Wright (316 receiving yards, two TDs this season) has contributed lately, but Devin Singletary (850 rush yards, 17 rush TDs) and Kerrith Whyte, Jr. (538 rush yards, five rush TDs, one receiving TD) have really been key factors in the Owls’ recent offensive gameplans.
Free NCAA Betting Tip: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Florida Atlantic Owls
SU Winner – Florida Atlantic, ATS Winner – Florida Atlantic, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Western Kentucky defensive unit has 16 sacks on the year while Florida Atlantic has 14.
Florida Atlantic has lost four fumbles this season while Western Kentucky has lost six.
The Hilltoppers offense has tallied nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Owls have put up six such plays.
Both defenses have allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Western Kentucky defense has given up 15 pass plays of 30+ yards while Florida Atlantic has given up 14 such plays.
The Western Kentucky offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Florida Atlantic has created 22 such runs.
The Hilltoppers defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Owls have given up 10 such runs.
The O/U for Florida Atlantic’s last match was set at 59.5. The over cashed in the team’s 49-14 victory over FIU.
Over its last three matches, Florida Atlantic is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matches, Western Kentucky is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Western Kentucky’s last game going into it was 53. The under cashed in the team’s 29-10 defeat to Middle Tennessee.
Western Kentucky has produced 4.5 yards per carry over its past three outings and 4.4 over its last two.
Florida Atlantic has averaged 5.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 6.8 over its past two.
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