UAB at Western Kentucky NCAA Football Picks Against the Spread 9/28/2019

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium

Tyler Johnston and the UAB Blazers go to L.T. Smith Stadium on Saturday where they'll take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. UAB opens this contest as 2-point favorites. The Blazers are 2-1-0 ATS and 1-2-0 when betting on the total. The Hilltoppers are 2-1-0 when wagering on the over/under and 1-2-0 against the spread.

Key UAB Blazers Injuries

08/06/19 CB Brontae Harris Foot is out for season

Key Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

09/17/19 QB Steven Duncan Foot is out indefinitely
09/06/19 RB Jakairi Moses Knee is out for season

The last time they played, the UAB Blazers went up against the South Alabama Jaguars and won by a score of 35-3. Running the show from under center for the Blazers was Tyler Johnston III who went 22/27 with 313 yards through the air and completed 3 TD's. He gave away 1 pick in the game. Spencer Brown paced the team on the ground for that contest. He had a long run of 22 yards and he tallied 2 touchdowns during the game. He ran for a total of 80 yards by way of 18 carries which means he ran for an average of 4.4 yards per run. Kendall Parham led the team in receiving yardage with a total of 107 yards on 3 catches. He notched an average of 35.7 yards per catch for that contest. The UAB Blazers ran the football 45 times and totaled 201 yards which earned them an average of 4.5 yards per carry. On the day, they totaled 73 plays which added up to 514 yards. On the day, the Blazers racked up 26 1st downs and they had a total of 4 penalties for 33 yards which tells us their heads weren't always in the game. When discussing the defense, UAB gave up 8 completions on 16 attempts for a total of 83 yards, and a completion percentage of 50.0%. In the game, they conceded a total of 190 yards but finished the game without a turnover. On the ground, the Blazers gave up 107 yards on 31 tries which gave them an average of 3.5 yards per attempt allowed.

The Blazers head into this matchup 3-0 for this season. They are in the middle of the pack in regard to scoring in the nation with an average of 30 points per contest, ranking them 68th in D-1. As a unit, they have an average of 153.3 yards on the ground per game which is 8th in the conference. For total yards, they currently sit at 10th in the conference and 105th in D-1 with 1,206 yards. The Blazers have one of the best defenses in Division 1, giving up 14 points per contest ranking them 1st in C-USA. When it comes to passing yards, the Blazers have conceded 746 yards. Opponents are completing 56.5% of the passes they throw against them and averaging 6.0 yards per try. In terms of yards on the ground, UAB is giving up 95.3 yards per contest ranking them 2nd in C-USA and 27th in college football. Opposing teams are running for an average of 3.1 yards per carry which has them at 3rd in Conference USA and 31st in the country overall. In total, they have allowed 286 rushing yards through 3 contests.

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In the last game they played, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers played the Louisville Cardinals and took the defeat by a score of 38-21. Gaej Walker led the team on the ground during the game. He had a long run of 7 yards but he never crossed the endzone by way of the rush. He ran for 41 yards via 14 carries which means he ran for an average of 2.9 yards per run. Joshua Simon led the team in receiving yardage with a tally of 77 yards on 1 catch. He earned an average of 77.0 yards per catch during the game. Taking the lead at quarterback for the Hilltoppers was Steven Duncan who went 25/47 with 245 yards passing and threw 3 TD's. He finished the game without throwing an interception. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers ran the ball a total of 23 times and earned a total of 43 yards giving them an average of 1.9 yards per attempt. In the game, the Hilltoppers earned 14 1st downs and they had a total of 5 penalties for 25 yards which is telling of how their week of practice went. Overall, they finished with a total of 70 plays which added up to 288 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Western Kentucky conceded 10 catches on 16 attempts totaling 205 yards, and a completion percentage of 62.5%. Against the run, the Hilltoppers conceded 210 yards on 51 attempts allowing their opponent an average of 4.1 yards per carry allowed. For this contest, they allowed 415 yards and forced 1 takeaway.

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The Hilltoppers head into this matchup 1-2. Western Kentucky hasn't done much to make teams fear their rushing game by averaging 108.3 yards on the ground per contest, which has them at 111th in D-1. As a unit, they have compiled a total of 325 rushing yards through 3 contests, so they are going to want to make some changes to the ground game if they want to make teams respect them. The Hilltoppers average 371.7 yards per game overall putting them 87th in college football and 9th in Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are giving up 29 points per game which puts them at 6th in C-USA and 84th in Division 1. In terms of points allowed, they have given up 87 points in total. In terms of yards on the ground, they are conceding 127 yards per game ranking them 51st in the nation and 4th in C-USA. This season, they have allowed a total of 381 yards rushing and 3 rushing TDs. Their passing defense is one of the middle of the road groups in Division 1. They are conceding 225 passing yards per game. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Hilltoppers currently sit at 6th in C-USA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Hilltoppers +2

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