The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (-2.5) and Southern Miss Golden Eagles will go at it on the turf at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. STAD is scheduled to have the TV rights and this CUSA matchup kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET. When these two schools faced one another last year, Southern Miss won by a touchdown 34-27.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Southern Miss Golden Eagles Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Louisiana Tech is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Bulldogs are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Golden Eagles are +120. Should one side can get out in front early on it’ll create a nice in-game betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 46.5 points.
The opening line was 3 while the total hasn’t moved after it was set initially at 46.5.
The Bulldogs are 5-5 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.0 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a decent under bet and have posted an O/U record of 4-6. The Golden Eagles have lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-4 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Bulldogs have gone 7-3 straight up (SU), including 5-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The Golden Eagles are 4-5 SU overall and 3-3 SU in conference play.
The Bulldogs hope to make it two in a row 28-13 victory over Rice last week in which J’mar Smith completed 21 passes for 314 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jaqwis Dancy (80 yards on 15 rush attempts, three TDs) led the ground attack. Adrian Hardy (10 receptions, 160 yards) and Teddy Veal (five catches, 43 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Southern Miss narrowly lost a 26-23 game to UAB. The team’s let the Blazers tally 207 yards through the air and 97 more on the ground. Kailon Carter had a productive outing, recording 92 yards on four catches for UAB. For Southern Miss, Tate Whatley completed 16-of-38 passes for 160 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Whatley (-42 rushing yards on 16 attempts) spearheaded the running game as Quez Watkins (seven receptions, 109 yards, one TD) and Tim Jones (three catches, 22 yards) led the Southern Miss pass-catchers in the loss.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each team sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Louisiana Tech’s run the ball on 50.3 percent of its offensive possessions while Southern Miss has a rush percentage of 48.5. Having said that, the Bulldogs have rushed for 139 yards/game (including 124 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 17 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Eagles haven’t been quite as successful. They’re logging 104 rush yards per game (105 in conference) and have six total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it appears the Bulldogs might be the more disruptive team in the trenches, as their offensive line has allowed only 24 sacks while their D-line logged 21 sacks. The Golden Eagles, on the other hand, have given up 14 sacks and their defense has forced only 24 sacks.
The Bulldogs offense has averaged 240 yards in the air overall (223 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Golden Eagles have produced 273 pass yards per game (267.5 in the CUSA) and have 17 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana Tech has allowed 164 rush yards and 201 pass yards per game. The Southern Miss D has allowed 175.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 110.4 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.14 to opponents, while the Bulldogs have allowed a 5.03 ANY/A.
Offensively, Smith is up to 2,254 passing yards this year, and has connected on 58 percent of his 313 attempts with 13 scores through the air and eight interceptions. He’s got a 6.00 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.05 over the last two games.
For the home team, Tate Whatley has connected on 23-of-47 passes for 252 yards, three TDs and one INT. Whatley’s ANY/A stands at a very poor 3.70 for the year and 2.89 over his past two games.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
SU Winner – Louisiana Tech, ATS Winner – Louisiana Tech, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Bulldogs offense has produced eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Golden Eagles have put up 11 such plays.
The Louisiana Tech defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Southern Miss has given up five such plays.
The Louisiana Tech offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Southern Miss has created five such runs.
The Bulldogs defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Golden Eagles have given up six such runs.
The Louisiana Tech defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 times this season. Southern Miss has produced just 18 sacks.
As a team, Louisiana Tech has rushed for 3.4 yards per attempt over its past three games and 3.8 over its last two.
Southern Miss has averaged 2.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 1.2 over its last two.
In its last three matchups, Southern Miss is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Louisiana Tech’s last game was 53. The under cashed in the team’s 28-13 triumph over Rice.
Over its last three contests, Louisiana Tech is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Southern Miss’ last match was set at 45. The over cashed in the 26-23 defeat to UAB.
Louisiana Tech has won five of its last six games SU, with a 42-point loss to Mississippi State on November 3rd accounting for the only defeat over that stretch.
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