Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech College Football Picks and Predictions 11/24/2018

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Joe Aillet Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers head to Joe Aillet Stadium to play the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday, November 24, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Louisiana Tech as 11 point favorites. The Hilltoppers are 5-6-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 5-6-0. The Bulldogs are 6-5-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 4-7-0.

Valuable Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 5-6-0 against the over/under

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 5-6-0 against the spread

Important Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are 4-7-0 against the over/under

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are 6-5-0 against the spread

Key Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

11/17/18 WR Jacquez Sloan Knee is out for season
11/12/18 QB Drew Eckels Shoulder is downgraded to doubtful Saturday vs UTEP
11/12/18 QB Steven Duncan None has been named the starter 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

Key Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Injuries

08/22/18 QB Elijah Walker Transferred has left team

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 121st in the country in points scored with 223. They have run 798 plays this year for 4,074 yards, which ranks them 52nd in Division 1 in total offense. The Hilltoppers average 5.1 yards per play, which is 114th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 233 1st downs this season, ranking them 55th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Western Kentucky has run for 1,444 yards as a unit, which ranks 109th in college football. They've run 389 times, averaging 3.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Hilltoppers have been penalized on offense 72 times for 641 yards so far this year, which has them 48th in the country in penalties. Drew Eckels has passed for 709 yards this year. He's completed 50 throws while attempting 99 passes for a completion percentage of 50.5%. His quarterback rating this season is 120.7. He averages 7.8 adjusted yards per throw and 7.2 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Western Kentucky is 80th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 319. They have given up a total of 4,689 yards on D, which is 92nd in D-1. The Hilltoppers are 97th in yards per play allowed with 6. Opponent offenses have completed 200 throws on 353 attempts against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defense this season, ranking them 65th and 85th in the nation. The Western Kentucky pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,666 yards in the air, which is 92nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 431 attempts for 2,023 yards this season, putting them in 88th place in the country against the run. The Hilltoppers have had 66 penalties for 684 yards on defense this year. That places them 99th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Western Kentucky is 116th in the country in punt returns with 10. They've totaled 48 punt return yards and average 4.8 yards per return, which is 117th in D-1. They have returned 32 kicks for 663 yards on special teams, which puts them 31st in kick return yardage. The Hilltoppers average 21 yards per kick return and they are 87th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 4,786. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have tried 17 field goals this year and made 10, which is 89th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 59%. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers kickers have made 92% of their extra points, going 23 for 25 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,285 yards on 61 punts, averaging 38 yards per punt. That ranks them 124th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Bulldogs have run for 1,459 yards as a team, which ranks 107th in college football. They've run 377 times, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have been penalized on offense 46 times for 420 yards so far this season, which has them 122nd in the country in penalties. They are 93rd in the nation in points scored with 275. They have run 769 plays this season for 4,099 yards, which ranks them 51st in Division 1 in total offense. Louisiana Tech averages 5.3 yards per play, which is 98th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 226 1st downs this year, placing them 71st overall as an offensive unit. J'Mar Smith averages 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 6.5 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 220 passes on 385 attempts for a completion percentage of 57.1%. His quarterback rating this year is 121.6. He has thrown for 2,593 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs rush defense has allowed 408 attempts for 1,692 yards this year, putting them in 55th place in D-1 against the run. Louisiana Tech has committed 55 penalties for 550 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 40th in college football. They are 45th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 255. They have surrendered a total of 3,923 yards on D, which is 43rd in the country. The Bulldogs are ranked 44th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Opposing offenses have completed 193 passes on 332 attempts against the Louisiana Tech defense this season, placing them 52nd and 64th in Division 1. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs pass defense has also given up a total of 2,231 yards through the air, which is 43rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have attempted 17 field goals this season and made 12, which is 54th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 71%. Louisiana Tech kickers have made 97% of their extra points, going 33 for 34 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,404 yards on 59 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That places them 78th in Division 1 in punting average. Louisiana Tech is ranked 122nd in the nation in punt returns with 8. They've accumulated 67 punt return yards and average 8.4 yards per return, which is 72nd in college football. They have returned 22 kicks for 403 yards on special teams, ranking 93rd in kick return yardage. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs average 18 yards per kick return and they are 98th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,568.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Hilltoppers +11

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