UAB at NIU Boca Raton Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/18/2018

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

FAU Football Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The NIU Huskies host the UAB Blazers at FAU Football Stadium on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The opening line for this game has NIU as 1 point favorites. The Huskies have an over/under record of 4-9-0 and they are 7-6-0 against the spread. The Blazers have an ATS record of 9-4-0 while their over/under record is 5-8-0.

Valuable UAB Blazers Betting Trends

The UAB Blazers are 5-8-0 against the over/under

The UAB Blazers are 9-4-0 against the spread

Important NIU Huskies Betting Trends

The NIU Huskies are 4-9-0 against the over/under

The NIU Huskies are 7-6-0 against the spread

Key UAB Blazers Injuries

12/02/18 OL Rishard Cook Illness is questionable Tuesday vs No Illinois
12/02/18 QB A.J. Erdely Shoulder is questionable Tuesday vs No Illinois
09/29/18 RB Kingston Davis Suspension is out for season
09/05/18 QB Dallas Davis Left Team is out for season

Key NIU Huskies Injuries

12/02/18 OL Christopher Perez Jr. Ankle is questionable Tuesday vs UAB
10/25/18 CB Albert Smalls Undisclosed is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The UAB Blazers have run for 2,716 yards as a team, which ranks 22nd in college football. They've run 584 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Blazers have been penalized on offense 85 times for 941 yards so far this season, which has them 32nd in the country in penalties. They are 47th in the nation in points scored with 381. They have run 894 plays this season for 5,205 yards, which ranks them 90th in Division 1 in total offense. The Blazers average 5.8 yards per play, which is 66th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 280 1st downs this year, placing them 34th overall as an offensive unit. A.J. Erdely averages 7.8 yards per pass attempt and 6.9 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 111 passes on 198 attempts for a completion percentage of 56.1%. His quarterback rating this year is 125.9. He has thrown for 1,539 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Blazers rush defense has allowed 437 attempts for 1,547 yards this year, putting them in 23rd place in D-1 against the run. UAB has committed 59 penalties for 572 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 29th in college football. They are 16th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 225. They have surrendered a total of 3,903 yards on D, which is 14th in the country. The Blazers are ranked 24th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Opposing offenses have completed 192 passes on 365 attempts against the UAB Blazers defense this season, placing them 23rd and 52nd in Division 1. The UAB pass defense has also given up a total of 2,356 yards through the air, which is 28th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The UAB Blazers have attempted 21 field goals this season and made 12, which is 82nd in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 57%. UAB Blazers kickers have made 98% of their extra points, going 47 for 48 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,259 yards on 56 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That places them 85th in Division 1 in punting average. UAB is ranked 59th in the nation in punt returns with 18. They've accumulated 196 punt return yards and average 10.9 yards per return, which is 41st in college football. They have returned 26 kicks for 514 yards on special teams, ranking 79th in kick return yardage. The Blazers average 20 yards per kick return and they are 47th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,915.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Huskies are 112th in the country in points scored with 269. They have run 926 plays this year for 4,225 yards, which ranks them 115th in Division 1 in total offense. The NIU Huskies average 4.6 yards per play, which is 126th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 250 1st downs this season, ranking them 76th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground NIU has run for 2,230 yards as a unit, which ranks 54th in college football. They've run 553 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. NIU has been penalized on offense 87 times for 831 yards so far this year, which has them 29th in the country in penalties. Marcus Childers has passed for 1,696 yards this year. He's completed 191 throws while attempting 335 passes for a completion percentage of 57%. His quarterback rating this season is 105. He averages 4.5 adjusted yards per throw and 5.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

NIU is 38th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 280. They have given up a total of 4,521 yards on D, which is 47th in D-1. The Huskies are 12th in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Opponent offenses have completed 255 throws on 450 attempts against the NIU defense this season, ranking them 115th and 122nd in the nation. The NIU Huskies pass defense has also surrendered a total of 3,097 yards in the air, which is 103rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 530 attempts for 1,426 yards this season, putting them in 16th place in the country against the run. The Huskies have had 72 penalties for 554 yards on defense this year. That places them 22nd in college football.

Special Teams Stats

NIU is 50th in the country in punt returns with 20. They've totaled 133 punt return yards and average 6.6 yards per return, which is 88th in D-1. They have returned 17 kicks for 277 yards on special teams, which puts them 118th in kick return yardage. The NIU Huskies average 16 yards per kick return and they are 120th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 4,635. The Huskies have tried 16 field goals this year and made 10, which is 95th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 69%. NIU kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 29 for 29 this season. Their punters have accumulated 3,332 yards on 83 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That ranks them 88th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Blazers/Huskies college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Blazers +1

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