UTEP at Western Kentucky College Football Picks and Predictions 11/17/2018

Saturday, November 17, 2018

L. T. Smith Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The UTEP Miners travel to L. T. Smith Stadium to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 7 point favorites. The Miners have an ATS record of 5-5-0 while their over/under record is 5-5-0. The Hilltoppers have an over/under record of 4-6-0 and they are 4-6-0 against the spread.

Valuable UTEP Miners Betting Trends

The UTEP Miners are 5-5-0 against the over/under

The UTEP Miners are 5-5-0 against the spread

Important Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 4-6-0 against the over/under

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 4-6-0 against the spread

Key UTEP Miners Injuries

10/23/18 QB Ryan Metz Concussion is out indefinitely
10/16/18 FB Winston Dimel Shoulder is out indefinitely
10/14/18 LB Dylan Parsee ACL is out for season
09/01/18 OL Derron Gatewood Leg is out for season
08/29/18 OL Greg Long Undisclosed is out for season
07/28/18 LB Jayson VanHook Academics is out for season

Key Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

11/11/18 QB Drew Eckels Shoulder is questionable Saturday vs UTEP
11/11/18 WR Jacquez Sloan Knee is questionable Saturday vs UTEP
10/27/18 OL Cole Spencer Knee is out for season
09/20/18 RB Marquez Trigg Transferred has left team
08/08/18 RB Jakairi Moses Knee is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The UTEP Miners are 124th in Division 1 in points scored with 189. They have run 643 plays this season for 3,113 yards, which ranks them 109th in the nation in total offense. The Miners average 4.8 yards per play, which is 122nd in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 163 1st downs this year, placing them 125th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground UTEP has run for 1,361 yards as a team, which ranks 103rd in the country. They've run 376 times, averaging 3.6 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Miners have been penalized on offense 59 times for 473 yards so far this season, which has them 70th in the nation in penalties. Kai Locksley has thrown for 935 yards this season. He has completed 82 passes on 160 attempts for a completion percentage of 51.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 99. He averages 5.8 yards per pass attempt and 4.5 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

UTEP is 92nd in the nation in points allowed on defense with 314. They have surrendered a total of 3,938 yards on D, which is 72nd in Division 1. The Miners are ranked 102nd in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Opposing offenses have completed 168 passes on 270 attempts against the UTEP Miners defense this season, placing them 42nd and 26th in the country. The UTEP pass defense has also given up a total of 2,047 yards through the air, which is 42nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 376 attempts for 1,891 yards this year, putting them in 93rd place in D-1 against the run. The Miners have committed 58 penalties for 542 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 62nd in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

UTEP is ranked 27th in the nation in punt returns with 20. They've accumulated 120 punt return yards and average 6 yards per return, which is 105th in college football. They have returned 22 kicks for 427 yards on special teams, ranking 77th in kick return yardage. The Miners average 19 yards per kick return and they are 121st in the country in all-purpose yards with 3,660. The UTEP Miners have attempted 11 field goals this season and made 7, which is 112th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 64%. UTEP Miners kickers have made 95% of their extra points, going 20 for 21 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,410 yards on 63 punts, averaging 38 yards per punt. That places them 115th in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Hilltoppers have run for 1,113 yards as a team, which ranks 119th in the nation. They've run 305 times, averaging 3.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Hilltoppers have been penalized on offense 63 times for 569 yards so far this year, which has them 58th in the country in penalties. They are 125th in Division 1 in points scored with 183. They have run 640 plays this year for 3,301 yards, which ranks them 74th in the nation in total offense. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers average 5.2 yards per play, which is 107th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 190 1st downs this season, ranking them 94th overall as an offensive unit. Drew Eckels has completed 50 throws while attempting 99 passes for a completion percentage of 50.5%. He has passed for 709 yards this year. He averages 7.8 adjusted yards per throw and 7.2 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 120.7.

Defensive Statistics

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers rush defense has given up 353 attempts for 1,658 yards this season, putting them in 72nd place in the country against the run. They have had 57 penalties for 564 yards on defense this year. That places them 77th in Division 1. Western Kentucky is 86th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 303. They have given up a total of 3,721 yards on D, which is 52nd in the nation. The Hilltoppers are 81st in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Opponent offenses have completed 165 throws on 294 attempts against the Western Kentucky defense this season, ranking them 37th and 52nd in the country. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,063 yards in the air, which is 44th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have tried 14 field goals this year and made 7, which is 111th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 50%. Western Kentucky kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 19 for 19 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,897 yards on 51 punts, averaging 37 yards per punt. That ranks them 125th in the NCAA in punting average. Western Kentucky is 119th in the country in punt returns with 8. They've totaled 38 punt return yards and average 4.8 yards per return, which is 116th in D-1. They have returned 29 kicks for 590 yards on special teams, which puts them 35th in kick return yardage. The Hilltoppers average 20 yards per kick return and they are 114th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 3,929.

Who will win tonight's Miners/Hilltoppers college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Miners +7

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