Saturday, December 3, 2016

LT Smith Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at LT Smith Stadium. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 7.5 point favorites. This season the Bulldogs are 8-4-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 9-3-0. The Hilltoppers have an over/under record of 6-6-0 and they are 5-7-0 against the spread.

Ryan Higgins finished with 246 yards through the air for Louisiana Tech last week. He completed 22 passes out of 39 attempts for a 56% completion percentage. The Bulldogs were led in rushing by Jarred Craft, who finished with 17 yards on 9 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 2 yards per carry. Trent Taylor was the team leader in receiving with a total of 119 yards and 10 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 12 yards per reception. As a team in that game Louisiana Tech got a total of 16 first downs. Of those first downs, 2 came on the ground while 12 came through the air. They ran 55 total plays for 254 yards for the game. The Bulldogs ran for 8 yards on 16 attempts.

Mike White finished with 233 yards passing for Western Kentucky last week. He went 16 for 27, resulting in a 59% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led on the ground by Anthony Wales, who finished with 110 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with an average of 8 yards per rush. Nicholas Norris led the team in receiving with 79 yards and 3 catches. He finished the game with an average of 26 yards per reception. Western Kentucky had 27 first downs total. 14 came from running the ball and 11 came from a pass. They ran 61 total plays for 462 yards for the contest. The Hilltoppers ran for 229 yards on 30 carries as a team.

Louisiana Tech scores 44 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 5th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 24.8 passes on 37.2 attempts for a 66.8 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 348 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 4th in college football. The Bulldogs run for an average of 169.1 yards per game on 30 attempts for an average of 5.6 yards per carry. That ranks them 75th in the nation. They also run 67.2 plays per contest and average 7.7 yards per play for an average of 517.1 yards per game, ranking their offense 7th overall this season. The Bulldogs average 25.1 first downs per game which ranks them 14th in the country. They accumulate 46.8 penalty yards per game via 4.9 penalties, which ranks 93rd in the nation.

Louisiana Tech allows 272.2 passing yards per game, ranking 113th in D-1, and they allow 30.6 points per contest on defense, which ranks 82nd. They give up 24.6 completions on 37.6 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 65.4. The Bulldogs allow 129.6 rushing yards per game on 36 carries for an average of 3.6 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 27th in the country. Louisiana Tech allows 401.8 total yards per game including 5.5 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 59th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.2 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.3 penalties for 58.9 yards per game, ranking them 95th among D-1 teams.

Western Kentucky averages 44 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 6th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 22 passes per game on 34.3 attempts for a 64.2 percent completion percentage. They throw for 329.8 yards through the air per game, ranking them 8th in Division 1. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 176 yards per game on 33.2 attempts for an average of 5.3 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 66th on the ground. They also run 67.4 plays per game and average 7.5 yards per play for a total of 505.8 yards per game, ranking them 13th in the country on offense. The Hilltoppers get an average of 23.8 first downs per game, which ranks 27th in the nation. They average 64.6 penalty yards per game via 6.5 penalties, ranking them 21st in college football.

Western Kentucky allows an average of 249 passing yards per game, which ranks 89th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 22.4 points per contest, which has them ranked 26th in the nation. They give up 22.1 completions on 37.6 attempts for a completion percentage of 58.8 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 106.9 rushing yards per contest on 33.5 carries for a 3.2 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 7th in the country. Western Kentucky allows 355.9 total yards per game for an average of 5 yards per play, which ranks 27th in D-1. They force 1.4 turnovers per contest and 6.9 penalties for 55.3 yards in each contest, ranking 77th in the nation.

Louisiana Tech Betting Trends

Louisiana Tech is 9-3-0 against the over/under this season

Louisiana Tech has an ATS record of 8-4-0 this season

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 6-6-0 against the over/under this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 5-7-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Louisiana Tech

10/28/16 WR Marcus Gaines Wrist out indefinitely
10/13/16 Backup RB Israel Tucker Knee out indefinitely

Western Kentucky

11/25/16 WR Nacarius Fant Knee out for season
10/18/16 WR John Brunner Personal left the team
10/01/16 RB D'Andre Ferby Shoulder out for season
10/01/16 DB Marcus Ward Knee out for season
09/06/16 RB Leon Allen Knee out indefinitely
08/27/16 QB Nelson Fishback Pectoral out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Western Kentucky -7.5

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