CFB Handicapping: Warhawks vs Owls
No game on this final weekend features fewer victories than this Sun Belt matchup. That total is 4 with three of those belonging to the ULM Warhawks, who really spaced them out winning once each month.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs Florida Atlantic Owls
FAU Stadium – Boca Raton, Florida
Saturday December 3 – 4:00PM
Moneyline: ULM -290, FAU +245
Spread (ATS): ULM -7.5
Over/Under: 47.5
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
Louisiana-Monroe
That pattern is likely to continue with them as the favourite against Florida Atlantic. They are looking to close the season on a winning note after dropping their last game at home against rival Florida International.
Despite the poor record this team is pretty competitive in conference play. In fact, they blew out traditional conference heavies Troy and Middle Tennessee State while losing 3 games by 5 points or less. They are able to recruit athletes and as a result have a defense that is a shockingly 12th in the nation in rushing defense and 29th overall in yards against.
When ULM and FAU get together you can usually expect a close contest. ULM holds the edge with a 5-2 SU record in the series but 6 of those seven games have been decided by 4 points or less and the last 4 by a total of 9 points. Only two times has the spread been bigger than what we are seeing for Saturday and both time the games were tight. If anybody knows this series well, I am all ears as to why they are such close contests. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Florida Atlantic
FAU was winless until last week when they beat UAB at home. That got the monkey off their back in terms of a winless season so it will be interesting to see if they play with the same sort of urgency this weekend in their home and conference finale. FAU just might be the worst team in college football this season. Although at least their one victory was against a FBS opponent – sorry Akron.
The Owls are the second worst scoring team in the country and are averaging only 14 points per game – and that is after they exploded for 38 points against UAB last week. In Sun Belt play they scored more than 21 points just once so it is no surprise that they have struggled. Their best player on offense is senior back Alfred Morris. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in 5 straight and nearly broke 200 last week in the victory.
It is hard to predict how this one will go. FAU shcoked by winning last week so they have a bit of momentum. Nevertheless they are the inferior team. Also playing against the Owls is that in the series history the home team has lost every year except one – last year. Unless you are in some sort of Sun Belt pool you might want to find value somewhere else this week.
ATS Pick: FAU +7.5
Over/Under Pick: Under
Score Prediction: ULM 23 – FAU 20
