The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers clash in L.T.Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the C-USA championship game. The match-up is scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 3rd at High Noon ET. The football game can be seen for your viewing entertainment on the ESPN Network. Las Vegas has the Hilltoppers as a -10 point favorite and the contest’s total is 80.5 points.
These two programs faced-off earlier this year in Ruston, Louisiana. Bulldogs’ quarterback Ryan Higgins threw for 454 yards and five touchdowns to help Louisiana Tech hold off the Hilltoppers, 55-52.
Louisiana Tech (8-4):
Skip Holtz’s Bulldogs saw their seven-game win streak snapped this past weekend against the Southern Miss Eagles. Despite the defeat, the Bulldogs will still compete in the C-USA championship game because they had already clinched the division.
In the set-back, Ryan Higgins was 21 of 27 through the air for 244 yards and three interceptions. The steady signal-caller came into the contest having thrown just four interceptions all season. For the year, Higgins was impressive, throwing for over 3,700 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven picks.
The Bulldogs are a pass heavy outfit, but when they run they hand the ball off to tail back Jarred Craft. Craft has been efficient, running for just under 1,000 yards and has nine trips to the promised land. Quarterback Ryan Higgins also has pitched in 317 yards and three more scores.
Wide receiver Trent Taylor is Ryan Higgins’ favorite target and his stats prove just that. Taylor has amassed an impressive 112 receptions for 1,462 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wide out Carlos Henderson is no slouch either, totaling 62 catches for over 1,200 yards and a team-high 16 touchdowns.
Through out 2016, there have been defensive deficiencies that have left the Bulldogs exposed. Fortunately, their high-octane offense has made up the difference. Defensively, the Bulldogs’ secondary is in shambles, relenting over 272 yards a contest which is good for 113th in the nation.
Western Kentucky (9-3):
Last week, Jeff Brohm’s Hilltoppers went on the road and sailed to a 60-6 victory over hapless Marshall. Quarterback Mike White tossed for three touchdown passes and also got three scores from running back Anthony Wales. As a result, Western Kentucky was able to secure the Conference USA East division.
Mike White’s stats are very similar to the Bulldog’s quarterback Ryan Higgins. The junior gunslinger has complete 67 percent of his passes for over 3,600 yards with 31 touchdown tosses and only five interceptions.
The Hilltoppers like to run the ball a little more than Louisiana Tech. Tail back Anthony Wales is the big reason why. This season Wales has been impressive, racking up 1,167 yards on 116 carries and a team-high 20 trips to the end zone. Quinton Baker sees some touches out of the back field, rushing almost 100 times for over 500 yards and four scores.
Two graceful wide outs catch the majority of passes from quarterback Mike White. Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris have combined for almost 150 grabs for almost 1,500 yards and a gaudy 27 touchdowns. Both receivers have surpassed the 1,000 yard mark this season.
Western Kentucky has also been susceptible to their opponent’s passing attack throughout their 2016 campaign. The Hilltoppers rank 89th in the country, giving up almost 250 yards per match. Unlike the secondary, the front seven has been a rock this year. The Hilltoppers run defense ranks seventh in the nation, yielding only 106.9 yards per game.
Trends and Notes:
The Bulldogs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
The Hilltoppers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
The Over is 6-1 in the Bulldogs last 7 games overall.
The Over is 5-2 in the Hilltoppers last 7 conference games.
Game Prediction:
There is little doubt that the C-USA’s best offenses will take the field in Bowling Green for the conference crown on Saturday. Louisiana Tech is averaging 44 points a game which is 5th best in the nation. Western Kentucky has done plenty of damage to opposing opposition themselves, also scoring 44 points a contest.
The odds-makers have attempted to set this total as high as they can and the betting public has pushed it up another two points to 80. Let’s face it, these two units may have 50 combined points by half-time.
Western Kentucky sports the better defense of the two squads, but have already been lit-up by the Bulldogs once this year. Ignore the spread in this affair and play the over 80. These offenses will continue to have their way with the others defenses for all four quarters.
