The UTEP Miners (+24) are set to face off against their CUSA nemesis Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium. ESPN+ has the TV rights and this afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
UTEP Miners vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Betting Preview
Louisiana Tech has been tabbed as heavily favored in this matchup and is currently giving up 24 points to UTEP. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 48.5 points, and it appears that there should be multiple decent live betting possibilities for this showdown.
The game’s total has yet to change after it was set initially at 48.5. Having said that, the opening line was -27 so has recently moved up to -24.
The Miners are 3-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.0 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-3. The Bulldogs are up 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-2 ATS and have an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Miners are 0-6 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against conference opponents. The Bulldogs are 4-2 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Miners are still looking for win No. 1 after a 27-24 loss to North Texas on October 6. Ryan Metz completed just 16 passes on 33 attempts for 313 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Quardraiz Wadley (65 rushing yards on 11 attempts) and the signal-caller Metz (37 yards on 10 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the loss. Warren Redix (seven receptions, 131 yards) and Keynan Foster (two catches, 76 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Louisiana Tech just put together a 31-3 win over UTSA. The team’s defense held its ground in the victory, keeping the Roadrunners to only 201 passing yards and 85 rushing yards. Blaze Moorhead had a good outing in the defeat for UTSA, posting 87 yards on six catches. For Louisiana Tech, J’mar Smith completed 25-of-36 passes for 309 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jaqwis Dancy (34 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) and Kam McKnight (42 yards on 10 carries, two TDs) handled the ground game in the win as Teddy Veal (seven receptions, 75 yards) and Adrian Hardy (five catches, 87 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
UTEP has run the ball on 61.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 58.1 percent across possessions in conference play. Louisiana Tech has an overall rush percentage of 49.8 percent, and has kept it on the ground 52.9 percent of the time when facing CUSA opponents. The Miners have rushed for 159 yards per game (including 129 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have eight touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Bulldogs are logging 143 rushing yards per game (118 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
The Miners offensive scheme has logged 157 yards/game through the air overall (228 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Bulldogs have recorded 269 pass yards per game (215.3 against CUSA competition) and have 11 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, UTEP has allowed 208 rush yards and 189 pass yards per game. The Louisiana Tech defense has allowed 188.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 158.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulldogs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.04 to opponents, while the Miners have given up an 8.10 ANY/A.
Offensively, Metz has put up 386 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 47 percent of his 49 attempts with two scores through the air and four interceptions. He has a 3.89 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.95 over the last two outings.
J’mar Smith has completed 115-of-191 passes for 1,458 yards, 10 TDs and five INTs for Louisiana Tech. His ANY/A stands at 6.83 for the season and 4.55 over his past two games.
These two teams faced off last year with the final result being a 42-21 victory for Louisiana Tech.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: UTEP Miners vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
SU Winner – Louisiana Tech, ATS Winner – UTEP, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Louisiana Tech defense has created 16 sacks on the year while UTEP has just nine.
Louisiana Tech has lost five fumbles in 2018 while UTEP has let six get away.
The Miners offense has registered four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bulldogs have accounted for five such plays.
The UTEP defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Louisiana Tech has given up two such plays.
The UTEP offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Louisiana Tech has created seven such runs.
The Miners defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bulldogs have given up eight such runs.
The O/U for Louisiana Tech’s last game was 47. The under cashed in that 31-3 victory over UTSA.
In its last three matches, Louisiana Tech is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three contests, UTEP is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for UTEP’s last game was set at 54. The under cashed in the team’s 27-24 loss to North Texas.
UTEP has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.6 over its last two.
Louisiana Tech has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 2.9 over its past two.
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