The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-9.5) and Charlotte 49ers will do battle on the turf at Jerry Richardson Stadium. ESPN+ is scheduled to broadcast the action and the daytime game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Charlotte 49ers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, Western Kentucky is projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 9.5 points. The Hilltoppers are also receiving -370 moneyline odds while the 49ers are +290. Should one side catches a lucky break early on, it would likely create a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The Hilltoppers are down 3.6 units so far and 4-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 1-4. The 49ers are down 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-3 ATS and the over’s hit in three of their games.
The Hilltoppers are 1-4 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The 49ers are 2-3 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Hilltoppers are looking to get back in stride after a narrow 20-17 loss to Marshall on September 29Their defense allowed the Thundering Herd to run for 113 yards on 33 rush attempts. Tyre Brady torched the defense in that one with 162 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. On the offense, Steven Duncan completed 24 passes for 263 yards, along with one TD and an interception. Lucky Jackson (five receptions, 41 yards) and Quin Jernighan (five catches, 39 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Charlotte just fell 28-7 to UAB. The defense let the Blazers rush for 116 yards on 34 attempts, including three rush TDs. Spencer Brown put up a productive outing for UAB, accounting for 68 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. For Charlotte, Chris Reynolds completed 17-of-25 passes for 194 yards and one interception. Benny LeMay (83 rushing yards on 14 attempts) mounted the running attack while Rico Arnold (six receptions, 101 yards) and Mark Quattlebaum (three catches, 49 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Western Kentucky has run the ball on 49.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Charlotte has a rush percentage of 60.1 percent. The Hilltoppers have produced 117 rush yards per game and have four scores on the ground this year. The Niners are totaling 127 rushing yards per game (120 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.
The Hilltoppers offense has averaged 261 yards through the air overall and has seven passing TDs so far. The Niners have produced 211 pass yards per contest (198.0 in the CUSA) and have six total pass scores.
Defensively, Western Kentucky should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 163 yards and pass for 220 yards per game. The Charlotte defense has allowed 241.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 102.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Hilltoppers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.70 to opposing QBs, while the Niners have allowed a staggering 8.79 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Duncan is up to 283 yards this season, and has connected on 61 percent of his 44 attempts with one scores through the air and two interceptions. He’s got a 4.10 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.03 over the past two outings.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Western Kentucky in this one. Joshua Samuel, Lucky Jackson and Mik’Quan Deane have combined for 383 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the last two outings.
Chris Reynolds has completed 65-of-101 passes for 771 yards, three TDs and two INTs for Charlotte. His ANY/A sits at 5.70 for the season and 6.10 across his last two outings.
Benny LeMay, Rico Arnold and Victor Tucker have combined to account for 445 yards from scrimmage the last two outings.
When these two teams faced one another a year ago, Western Kentucky knocked Charlotte off easily 45-14.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Charlotte 49ers
SU Winner – Western Kentucky, ATS Winner – Western Kentucky
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Western Kentucky defense has sacked opposing QBs nine times this year. Charlotte has registered eight sacks.
The Charlotte offense has lost five fumbles in 2018 while Western Kentucky has lost four.
The Hilltoppers offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the 49ers have accounted for five such plays.
Both teams have allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Western Kentucky defense has given up nine pass plays of 30+ yards while Charlotte has permitted 11 such plays.
The Western Kentucky offense has created one rushing play of 20 or more yards, while Charlotte has created five such runs.
The Hilltoppers defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the 49ers have given up five such runs.
Charlotte was favored by 15 points in its last match and the Over/Under was set at 52. The under cashed and Charlotte did not cover in the 28-7 loss to UAB.
In its last three matches, Charlotte is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
In its last three games, Western Kentucky is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Charlotte has lost four of its last five games SU, with a three-point victory over Old Dominion on September 13th accounting for the only win over that stretch.
Western Kentucky was getting 4 points in its last game and the Over/Under was 51.5. The under cashed and Western Kentucky covered in the 20-17 defeat to Marshall.
Western Kentucky has produced 3.66086956521739 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.5 over its last two.
Charlotte has averaged 2.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.0 over its last two.
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