The Appalachian State Mountaineers are part of the bowl season for the second year in a row, and this time, they want to take home a win, as they were embarrassed by the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in 2018. Meanwhile the UAB Blazers will look to end the season on a high note. The sportsbook expects a lopsided affair this Saturday, favoring the UAB by 16.5-points.
Betting on the Appalachian State Mountaineers (12-1 Overall / 7-1 Conference)
The Mountaineers made loud noises this season when they stitched together seven wins in a row, which included a win over the North Carolina Tar Heels on the road on Sep. 22. A loss later on to the Georgia Southern Eagles was a punch to the gut for the Mountaineers’ bid for a more prestigious bowl game, but at least they are still going to go bowling. The Mountaineers mix in a balanced dose of great offense and stout defense. They are averaging 39.2 points per game (ninth in the nation) and 24th with 21.3 points allowed per contest. The Mountaineers are well-coached team, but they will have a new head coach mentoring them in their upcoming meeting with UAB, with Eli Drinkwitz headed to the SEC after accepting a job for the the Missouri Tigers.
The Mountaineers are 7-3 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games.
Betting on the UAB Blazers (9-4 Overall / 6-2 Conference)
The Blazers were on their way to finishing the season with a winning streak but had the rug pulled underneath them at the Conference USA title game in which they lost to the Florida Atlantic Owls, 49-6. Those who are familiar with the Blazers’ style of play must have been surprised, mildly at least, over how UAB’s defense didn’t click at all against the Owls. UAB was allowing just a bit over 11 points in first halves of games this season but were torched for 35 by the half. That loss should light a fire under the Blazers, who are also just allowing 298.1 total yards per contest — good for seventh-best in the nation. The Blazers are particularly tough to deal with when they’re defending against the run, with the Blazers surrendering just 105.2 rushing yards per contest.
