LA Tech Bulldogs (2-6) vs. UAB Blazers (5-3)
November 6, 2021 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: UAB Blazers -13 ; Over/Under: 50.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UAB Blazers meet the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Saturday in week 10 Conference USA college football action from Protective Stadium. Louisiana Tech is coming off a matchup versus Old Dominion. In that one, the Bulldogs took a rough three-point defeat. As for UAB, they had a bye last weekend. The Blazers last appeared in a loss to Rice. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Louisiana Tech started out their year at 2-2, beating Southeastern LA and North Texas while otherwise falling in close games to MS State and SMU. After that came losses to NC State 34-27, UTEP 19-3 and UTSA 45-16.
In last weekend’s matchup versus Old Dominion, the Bulldogs kept pace for the entire game, ultimately losing 23-20. QB Austin Kendall put up 253 yards with one touchdown, and Marcus Williams led the rush on 42 yards and a score. Smoke Harris added 63 receiving yards on seven grabs.
Over on the UAB side, they posted a 3-1 record over their first four games, beating JSU, North Texas and Tulane alongside a blowout loss to Georgia. The Blazers have gone 2-2 since, beating Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic while falling to Liberty and Rice.
In the 30-24 loss to Rice back on October 23, the Blazers had a one-point lead after the first quarter but quickly lost it. QB Dylan Hopkins put up 318 yards with a TD and a pick, while DeWayne McBride rushed eight times for 95 yards and a pair of scores.
The Bulldogs are 3-8 ATS versus a team with a winning record and 1-4 ATS in their last five overall. LA Tech is 1-5 ATS in their last six on turf as well.
Meanwhile, the Blazers are 13-3 ATS versus a team with a losing record and 4-1 ATS in their last five conference games. UAB is also 2-5 ATS in their last seven at home.
PICK: I’m going to try UAB here. The Blazers have been scoring fairly well so far this year, with 24 or more points in six of their eight games. UAB posted 445 total yards and 8.2 yards per play in the Rice matchup, but only had 15 first downs, a 2-of-9 rate on third-down tries, two turnovers and 10 penalties. All of those mistakes added up.
As for Louisiana Tech, they matched up pretty evenly with ODU, ultimately falling in a game that was tight the whole way. The Bulldogs posted 5.1 yards per play and 6-of-16 on third-downs but only held the ball for 24:10 and couldn’t get their defense off the field. We’ll see if they can get tighter on that side of the ball in this weekend’s game.
