UAB Blazers vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

The UAB Blazers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers hook up for a Conference USA game on Friday at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBSSN.

Updated on 11/08/2024

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UAB BLAZERS vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING PREDICTION

This is a very important game in Conference USA, as there are no longer divisions. These two teams, considered the favorites in the preseason polls, are looking to avoid a second league loss. Two losses, with North Texas and UTSA unbeaten in C-USA, would likely be the death knell for the losing team's conference playoff hopes, although aspirations can still be realized.

I once did a 5K in Bowling Green, and there is a reason WKU is called the Hilltoppers. It is a rather hilly place. It is also a very, very tough place to win football games if you're the opposition. However, Western Kentucky did fall to Troy in its most recent game at home, and the Hilltoppers are on a 1-2 SU slide. While that's true, Western Kentucky has been money all season, going 5-1 ATS in six games against FBS opponents, and this team has scored 27 or more points in all seven outings, while going for 35 or more on four different occasions. Hey, this is the alma mater of New England Patriots QB Bailey Zappe, after all.

UAB suffered a stunning 28-24 loss at Rice for its first conference loss, but rebounded nicely with a 41-14 shellacking of Middle Tennessee in Birmingham, before getting by Charlotte 34-20 on Oct. 15. It's a quick turnaround for the Blazers, who have scored 24 or more points in four straight, and five of six overall. This team has nice wins over MTSU, who beat Miami-Florida, and against Georgia Southern, a team which just took down previously unbeaten James Madison.

Score Prediction: UAB 34, Western Kentucky 30
Best Bet: UAB +2.5 (-108)
Best Bet: Over 57.5 (-105)

UAB BLAZERS vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING ODDS

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UAB BLAZERS vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Friday, Oct. 21, 2022
Matchup: C-USA
Venue: Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Time-TV: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. ET
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UAB BLAZERS BETTING ANALYSIS

This UAB offense has the tools to run away and hide from teams, literally. It ranks 8th in the country with 244.0 rushing yards per game, while posting 449.5 total yards per contest to check in 35th. It's a rather unbalanced attack, but opposing teams just haven't found a way to stop the run yet. RB DeWayne McBride has five straight 100-yard rushing performances since his debut Sept. 10 against Liberty, and he has scored at least one touchdown in each of those games, totaling 11 scores, or 2.2 rushing TD per contest. UAB is good for 34.5 PPG overall.

On defense, the Blazers are pretty stout, yielding just 17.3 PPG, but that will be put to the test against a high-octane WKU attack. The Blazers allow just 176.2 passing yards per game to rank 15th in the nation, and they are 20th in the country with 319.2 total yards per game allowed.

UAB is 7-3-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall, while going 6-2 ATS in the past eight road games. It is also 7-1 ATS in the past eight against winning teams, and 8-3-1 ATS in the past 12 conference tilts. For totals, the OVER is 4-1 in the past five inside the league.

The all-time series is tied 4-4, and UAB won the last meeting Oct. 17, 2020 in Birmingham by a 37-14 score. UAB has won four of the past five meetings, with the Blazers losing 20-13 in the most recent meeting in Bowling Green.

WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Hilltoppers sport the 19th highest scoring offense in the nation with 40.0 PPG, while posting 489.4 total yards (17th) and 344.9 passing yards (6th) per game. It doesn't run a lot, sitting in the middle of the pack with 144.6 yard per game.

On defense, WKU ranks 36th against the rush, so it should be able to at least slow McBride and UAB somewhat, allowing just 121.9 yards per game, or 36th in the country. It gives up 22.7 PPG, good for 46th in the nation.

Western Kentucky is 8-1 ATS in the past nine games inside Conference USA, while going 5-1 ATS in the past six games overall (all against FBS teams). The 'Toppers are also 5-1 ATS in the pat six against winning teams, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 games at home.

For totals, the OVER is 37-17 in the past 54 home games, while going 7-2 in the past nine games played on a Friday. The OVER is 7-2 in the past nine games played on a Friday.

UAB BLAZERS vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING TRENDS

• UAB is 7-3-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall
• UAB is 6-2 ATS in the past eight road games
• UAB is 8-3-1 ATS in the past 12 C-USA games
• UAB is 2-5 ATS in the past seven Friday games
• WKU is 5-1 ATS in the past six games overall
• WKU is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 home games
• WKU is 8-1 ATS in the past nine C-USA games
• WKU is 5-1 ATS in the past six vs. winning teams
• OVER is 4-1 in UAB's past five C-USA games
• OVER is 37-17 in the past 54 home games for WKU
• OVER is 7-3 in the past 10 vs. winning teams for WKU
• OVER is 7-2 in the past nine Friday games for WKU

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish