Thursday, October 6, 2016

Joe Aillet Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Joe Aillet Stadium. The opening line for this game has Louisiana Tech as 1 point favorites. This season the Hilltoppers are 1-4-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 1-4-0. The Bulldogs have an over/under record of 3-2-0 and they are 2-3-0 against the spread.

Mike White finished with 225 yards through the air for Western Kentucky last week. He completed 11 passes out of 13 attempts for a 85% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led in rushing by Anthony Wales, who finished with 87 yards on 7 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 12 yards per carry. Taywan Taylor was the team leader in receiving with a total of 146 yards and 7 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 21 yards per reception. As a team in that game Western Kentucky got a total of 23 first downs. Of those first downs, 11 came on the ground while 12 came through the air. They ran 52 total plays for 535 yards for the game. The Hilltoppers ran for 252 yards on 30 attempts.

Ryan Higgins finished with 191 yards passing for Louisiana Tech last week. He went 19 for 28, resulting in a 68% completion percentage. The Bulldogs were led on the ground by Jarred Craft, who finished with 146 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with an average of 11 yards per rush. Trent Taylor led the team in receiving with 121 yards and 10 catches. He finished the game with an average of 12 yards per reception. Louisiana Tech had 19 first downs total. 11 came from running the ball and 8 came from a pass. They ran 50 total plays for 387 yards for the contest. The Bulldogs ran for 196 yards on 22 carries as a team.

Western Kentucky scores 33.4 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 55th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 20.8 passes on 33.4 attempts for a 62.3 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 322 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 16th in college football. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 142.6 yards per game on 30 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. That ranks them 97th in the nation. They also run 63.4 plays per contest and average 7.3 yards per play for an average of 464.6 yards per game, ranking their offense 42nd overall this season. The Hilltoppers average 20.8 first downs per game which ranks them 77th in the country. They accumulate 68.4 penalty yards per game via 6.6 penalties, which ranks 27th in the nation.

Western Kentucky allows 258 passing yards per game, ranking 91st in D-1, and they allow 22 points per contest on defense, which ranks 41st. They give up 19.6 completions on 36.4 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 53.8. The Hilltoppers allow 102 rushing yards per game on 39.6 carries for an average of 2.6 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 15th in the country. Western Kentucky allows 360 total yards per game including 4.7 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 42nd in terms of yards per game. They force 1.2 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 8.6 penalties for 62.4 yards per game, ranking them 95th among D-1 teams.

Louisiana Tech averages 36 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 44th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 27 passes per game on 42 attempts for a 64.3 percent completion percentage. They throw for 347.2 yards through the air per game, ranking them 13th in Division 1. The Bulldogs run for an average of 172.6 yards per game on 29.6 attempts for an average of 5.8 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 68th on the ground. They also run 71.6 plays per game and average 7.3 yards per play for a total of 519.8 yards per game, ranking them 14th in the country on offense. The Bulldogs get an average of 26.2 first downs per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. They average 42.2 penalty yards per game via 4.4 penalties, ranking them 114th in college football.

Louisiana Tech allows an average of 289.4 passing yards yards per game, which ranks 111th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 29.8 points per contest, which has them ranked 81st in the nation. They give up 22.4 completions on 35.2 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.6 per game. The Bulldogs allow 155.4 rushing yards per contest on 38 carries for a 4.1 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 62nd in the country. Louisiana Tech allows 444.8 total yards per game for an average of 6.1 yards per play, which ranks 97th in D-1. They force 0.6 turnovers per contest and 5.6 penalties for 49 yards in each contest, ranking 40th in the nation.

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 1-4-0 against the over/under this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 1-4-0 this season

Louisiana Tech Betting Trends

Louisiana Tech is 3-2-0 against the over/under this season

Louisiana Tech has an ATS record of 2-3-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Western Kentucky

10/01/16 RB D'Andre Ferby Shoulder out for season
10/01/16 DB Marcus Ward Knee out for season
09/26/16 DL Nick Dawson-Brents Ankle expected to miss 3-4 weeks
09/20/16 OL Forrest Lamp Leg out indefinitely
09/06/16 RB Leon Allen Knee out indefinitely
08/27/16 QB Nelson Fishback Pectoral out for season

Louisiana Tech

09/15/16 DT Courtney Wallace Foot out indefinitely
08/30/16 DB Jarrell Jackson Dismissed has left team

Josh's Pick: Take Western Kentucky

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