The UAB Blazers are entering the Conference USA Championship Game as underdogs against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. This afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 1:30 p.m. ET and CBS Sports Network will broadcast the action.
UAB Blazers at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Middle Tennessee is labeled as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Blazers are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Blue Raiders are -140. Multiple good in-game betting possibilities may be unveiled during this showdown, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 45 points.
The line opened at -3 while the total hasn’t moved since it opened at 45.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this year as the Blazers have gained 2.8 units and the Blue Raiders are up 6.0 units.
The Blazers have gone 9-3 straight up (SU), including 7-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The Blue Raiders are 8-4 SU overall and 7-1 SU in conference play.
The Blazers lost to Middle Tennessee 27-3 in a thumping where the passing game left much to be desired as A.J. Erdely completed just nine-of-20 passes for 90 yards and one interception. The Blazers rushed for just -1 yards as a team in the defeat.
Middle Tennessee is coming off of a 27-3 win over UAB. The team’s defense did its job in the victory, limiting the Blazers to only 90 passing yards and -1 rushing yards. Kailon Carter was a bright spot in the loss for UAB, recording 49 yards on two catches. For Middle Tennessee, Brent Stockstill completed 22-of-29 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Chaton Mobley (52 yards on 14 rush attempts) mounted the ground attack in the win while Ty Lee (seven receptions, 100 yards, one TD) and Zack Dobson (four catches, 30 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
UAB has run the ball on 64.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Middle Tennessee has an overall rush percentage of 52.1 percent. The Blazers have rushed for 207 yards/game (including 192 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 30 scores via handoffs this year. The Blue Raiders are putting up 136 rush yards per game (148 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Blazers should hold an advantage when it comes to RB efficiency, as their running backs has generated 4.7 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.5 to opponents. The Blue Raiders have ran for 3.7 yards per carry and allowed 4.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Blazers offensive scheme has averaged 196 yards through the air overall (181 per game against conference opposition) and has 13 passing scores so far. The Blue Raiders have recorded 247 pass yards per outing (243.8 against CUSA competition) and have 26 total pass TDs.
Defensively, UAB should have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 121 yards and pass for 166 yards per game. The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed 219.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 154.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blazers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.62 to opposing QBs, while the Blue Raiders have given up a 5.22 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Johnston III is up to 504 yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 29-of-57 attempts with four passing scores and five interceptions. He’s got a 5.88 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.17 over the last two games.
Brent Stockstill has managed to complete 242-of-349 passes for 2,559 yards, 23 TDs and five INTs for Middle Tennessee. His ANY/A stands at 7.11 for the year and 7.70 over his past two games.
These two teams faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 25-23 win for UAB.
RELATED: Week 14 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: UAB Blazers at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
SU Winner – UAB, ATS Winner – UAB, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The UAB D has 40 sacks on the year while Middle Tennessee has just 34.
Middle Tennessee has lost eight fumbles in 2018 while the UAB offense has lost four.
Each team has produced seven pass plays of 40+ yards. The Blazers have have made 21 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Blue Raiders have accounted for 16 such plays.
The UAB defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has given up 11 such plays.
The UAB offense has created 21 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has created 12 such runs.
The Blazers defense has allowed 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Blue Raiders have given up 19 such runs.
The O/U for Middle Tennessee’s previous outing going into it was 51.5. The under cashed in the team’s 27-3 win over UAB.
Over its last three games, Middle Tennessee is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, UAB is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Middle Tennessee has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -11-point defeat to Kentucky on November 17th accounting for the one loss over that stretch.
The Over/Under for UAB’s last game was 51.5. The under cashed in the team’s 27-3 defeat to Middle Tennessee.
UAB has averaged 1.9 yards per rush attempt across its last three games and 1.7 over its last two.
Middle Tennessee has averaged 3.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.2 over its past two.
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