LA TECH 19.5 UTEP (56.5)
Implied Projected Score: La Tech 38 UTEP 18.5
MEGALOCKS LINE – La Tech 23
The Game
It’s a battle of a couple of 1-3 C-USA teams on Saturday as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs try and win on the drop in class against UTEP. The Miners have struggled since an opening week win vs New Mexico St. The Bulldogs have had a tough schedule so far and are coming off back-to-back road losses vs Texas Tech and MTSU. They only lost to Arkansas on the road by 1 point in week one with their back-up QB.
The Match-Up
La Tech offense vs UTEP defense
The Bulldogs have been lighting up the scoreboard. After being held to 20 points on the road vs Arkansas they have put up 53,45,34 the last three games. QB Ryan Higgins has made some mistakes but had a fine game overall last week throwing for over 500 yards vs MTSU. Star WR Trent Taylor had 17 receptions for 210 yards and 2 TDs. The run game is purely complementary.
The Bulldogs should put up video game numbers against a defense that offers little pass rush and has ZERO interceptions on the season. If the game starts out well for La Tech, back-up QB J’Mar Smith proved he is more than capable by almost beating Arkansas and throwing for over 200 yards.
UTEP offense vs La Tech defense
The Miners ground and pound identity is slipping away. They have a fantastic RB in Aaron Jones, but the OL has not been blocking as well as they should, and the passing game has given no reason for defenses to do anything other than stack the box and play the run. As a result, Jones is often bottled up, but he also hits some big ones. We expect him to have over 100 yards in this game but not sure it is going to matter that much in the end.
UTEP has had a ton of trouble at QB this season. Zach Greenlee has played through, and IS playing through, a lot of different injuries. Ryan Metz has not found his stride. Overall, the passing game has been dormant and we have a hard time seeing UTEP scoring enough to keep close. The La Tech defense has been awful, but keep in mind MTSU and Texas Tech are really powerful passing teams. They held Arkansas to 20.
MEGA Mini-Bites
UTEPs schedule gets a lot easier after this game so do not sleep on them later in the season….La Tech can still make some noise in C-USA….It all starts this week….Skip Holtz is 7-4 ATS L2Y as a home favorite…..Last time UTEP came here (2014) the Bulldogs laid the wood 55-3.
Summary
Louisiana Tech gets a breather. Yes, that does not mean everything, but the stars seem aligned for this game. The Bulldogs are going to score a bunch of points and it is hard to imagine UTEP keeping up. It will not be 55-3, but it should be a comfortable win.
Conclusion
Official play: La Tech -19.5 -110