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The University of Alabama at Birmingham (4-2) will travel to Western Kentucky to take on the Hilltoppers (4-3) on Friday night. Both teams are second in Conference USA at 2-1. The Blazers of UAB are winners of three of their last four, including a 34-20 home win last week against Charlotte. UAB dominated the ground game with 279 rushing yards. Junior RB DeWayne McBride carried the bulk of the load, going for 137 yards on 29 carries. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers also emerged victorious last Friday, grabbing a 35-17 road win at Middle Tennessee. Western Kentucky used a balanced offensive attack to outgain their opponents in yards, 443-291.
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UAB Blazers vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Odds
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Tale of the Tape
Head Coach Tyson Helton enters his fourth year at the helm at Western Kentucky. The former University of Tennessee offensive coordinator has enjoyed success with the Hilltoppers, highlighted by 2021 WKU QB Bailey Zappe setting the NCAA single-season record in passing yards (5,967) and passing touchdowns (62). Like Zappe, Helton again turned to the transfer portal, picking up former West Florida QB Austin Reed. Reed is the conference leader in all major passing categories and fourth in the country in passing touchdowns with 21. The Hilltoppers offset their passing game nicely, averaging 4.7 yards per rush.
The Hilltoppers' defense has been stout against the run, leading the conference in rushing yards allowed and average yards per rush. The 3.2 yards per rushing attempt allowed is the lowest in C-USA. However, the secondary doesn't share the same success as the front seven. Opponents average almost 40 passing attempts and 243 air yards per game, both in the bottom half of the conference.
UAB is vying for its fifth straight winning season since returning to the gridiron in 2017. The Blazers were on a hiatus from 2015-2016 due to the school shutting down the program over funding. Bryant Vincent enters his first year as head coach after taking over for his predecessor Bill Clark. The Blazers' offense is led by returning QB Dylan Hopkins. Hopkins has had a successful career at UAB, tossing 24 touchdowns to only nine picks in 19 games. The Blazers' signal-caller tops the conference in passer efficiency, while the offensive unit is second in the C-USA in rushing yards per game at 243. Running back Dewayne McBride is pacing 1,686 rushing yards for the year, which would set a new UAB single-season record.
The UAB defensive unit is one of the best in today's game. The Blazers are in the top 20 in all of FBS with average yards allowed per play and average yards per game. However, the strength of their schedule plays a significant factor in defensive dominance. Per Sports Reference, the Blazers have had the 13th easiest schedule amongst the 131 bowl-eligible teams.
UAB Blazers vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Prediction
It's no secret that Western Kentucky is rewriting the record books regarding the vertical passing game. The Hilltoppers have a realistic chance of accumulating 100 passing touchdowns over the past two years come the season's end. Meanwhile, UAB houses the best running back in the conference. The team as a whole has been a model of consistency over the last six seasons. It will be a tough ask for the Hilltoppers to stop the tough-nosed Blazers offense and their veteran leadership at quarterback. The scoreboard at Houchens Industries-L.T Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, should be lit up early and often in a matchup of C-USA star power.
Prediction: Over 58.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
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