Free NCAA Football Prediction: Middle Tennessee vs. UAB Odds
Looking for Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. UAB Blazers free picks? College football betting sees the Blue Raiders taking on the Blazers on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game predictions like this Blue Raiders Blazers free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. UAB Blazers
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-2) vs. UAB Blazers (2-2)
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: Protective Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Midd Tenn +9.5 / UAB -9.5 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Blue Raiders +310 / Blazers -340
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 52.5
Week 6 college football sees the Blue Raiders and Blazers meet at Protective Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, AL.
The Blazers are favored by -9.5 points in this Conference USA matchup, and the total has slowly fell to 52.5 over the days leading to kickoff. If you checked out last week’s preview for the UAB game against Rice, you enjoyed cashing that total by a point as we snuck that in nicely. Well, I did, so I hope you took advantage of it. Let’s see what we have in store for this weekend’s game in Birmingham.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Does that say +9.5? Okay, listen, there are those times you see a line and it makes sense, and then you see this number and I have to question the line setters here. I know Middle Tennessee has had odd success against Miami in the history of the program, and yes, they did upset the Canes in big fashion, 45 – 31.
Is going into Miami to face the Hurricanes any less intimidating than a trip to Birmingham to face UAB? It’s been 4 years since they last met, so the only people who really even remember the pair of 2018 meetings are the two head coaches and a few staff members. That makes mentioning the history between the programs pointless to consider as a factor here.
Well, I know over the years that the UAB defense is usually pretty sound under Bill Clark, but Rick Stockstill has his defense among the leaders in forcing turnovers this season. Ranked 5th in the nation in takeaways, the Blue Raiders defense also ranks 30th against the run.
That’s where the good numbers stop, however, because stopping the opponents passing game has been an issue thus far. Middle Tennessee sits all the way back in the 120th position of the rankings when it comes to defensive passing stats, but luckily UAB is not a passing team. This game is going to come down to the wire as I see a close game coming our way.
UAB Blazers
Bill Clark knows defense, and it’s been a strength of his program over the 7 years that he has been holding the whistle on the sidelines here in Birmingham. UAB ranks 13th against the pass allowing only 161.8 YPG to opposing QBs, and UAB is only giving up 17.5 PPG this season which ranks them 23rd in the land.
Let’s make no mistake now that UAB lost to RICE last weekend, 28 – 24, and the Blazers were double-digit favorites for that affair too. Being strongly favored means one thing, and that is motivating their opponents to provide an upset.
UAB is going to run the ball and run the ball often, as they rank 15th in the nation averaging 220.5 YPG on the ground through 4 games. The problem is that the Blue Raiders are going to shut that aspect of the Blazers offense down, so that will make it interesting to see how Dylan Hopkins responds. Hopkins has a 4 – 1 TD to INT ratio, which is respectable but not exactly numbers that stand out to anyone. His lack of a dual-threat is also a liability, as he will need everyone around him to step up in the passing game this week to have a chance to win this game.
Dewayne McBride will do all that he can to relieve some of that pressure on the ground, as he is already over 500 yards in rushing yards leading the team ahead of Jermaine Brown Jr. Brown is up to 264 yards from 43 carries as the pair both average over 6 yards a carry.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Blue Raiders are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Blue Raiders are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games in October.
- Blue Raiders are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Blue Raiders are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in October.
4* Free GAME NCAA Betting Final Analysis:
Thanks for the points! I see this as a one-score game so seeing a number near double-digits is hysterical! Give me all of those points and expect one heck of a game in Birmingham this weekend!
4* Free Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. UAB Blazers NCAA Betting Pick: Blue Raiders +9.5
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