Arizona’s offense made the country take notice after it produced the most total yards in the entire FBS in their impressive Week 1 victory. The Wildcats will be out to prove that last week was no fluke when they visit UTSA on Thursday. The Roadrunners made a big first impression in their first season as part of an FBS conference in 2013, and they go in search of another first against Arizona: a win against a Power-5 conference school.
Arizona’s Pac-12 South rivals USC have a big game conference coming up against Stanford this week. Check out our preview of that game here, as well as the rest of the best college football games of Week 2, and read on for more on this opening game of Week 2.
Arizona Wildcats vs. UTSA Roadrunners Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
When: Thursday, September 4, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Arizona Wildcats (-7) vs. UTSA Roadrunners (+7) – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Arizona Wildcats
Ka’Deem who?
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Head coach Rich Rodriguez and his Arizona team hardly missed their recently departed (to the NFL) All-American running back Ka’Deem Carey in their 58-13 Week 1 dismantling of UNLV at home.
353 of the Wildcats’ 787 total yards of offense – the most in the FBS in Week 1 – against the Rebels came on the ground. Senior Terris Jones-Grigsby led the way with 124 yards, while freshman Nick Wilson added 104, including a massive 85-yard run for a touchdown.
So ‘Zona’s great running game, which ranked second to Oregon in the Pac-12 in rushing last season, looks like it’s going to be fine. But what about its passing game, which was dead last in the conference?
Redshirt freshman and starting quarterback Anu Solomon answered that question emphatically in his debut, as he threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns. His top receivers, senior Austin Hill and former Notre Dame receiver DaVonte’ Neal, both topped over 100 yards in just seven combined receptions.
Arizona’s attack capably disposed of UTSA last season, 38-13, but the Wildcats were at home and had a subpar passing game. Now that they have a legitimate starting quarterback to complement a running game that seemingly hasn’t lost its edge this season, this Wildcat offense has the potential to put up even more points.
With its win against UNLV, Arizona is now a perfect 7-0 (5-2 ATS) in nonconference games under Rodriguez.
Create a betting account now and look for potential upsets in college football’s nonconference schedule.
Betting on the UTSA Roadrunners
It’s been a very steady rise for the University of Texas-San Antonio, whose football program is now just four seasons old. In their first year as part of an FBS conference last season, head coach Larry Coker guided the Roadrunners to 6-2 record in Conference USA, 2nd in the West Division. They’re currently +300 to claim the conference title this year.
The Roadrunners are loaded with seniors this season, especially on defense. Nine starters return in that unit, including four seniors on the defensive line. In UTSA’s opening contest against Houston, the Roadrunners forced six turnovers, including four interceptions, had four sacks and held the Cougars to -26 yards rushing. Yes, that’s negative yardage.
That defense will definitely have its work cut out for it against Arizona. But with Big 12-caliber talent in Oklahoma State transfer Ashaad Mabry and Baylor transfer Robert Singletary, they are definitely up for the challenge.
True to their name, the Roadrunners’ offense revolves around their running game and senior back David Glasco II. Glasco began the season well, with 81 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. But if they go behind big early, new starting quarterback Tucker Carter will need to pass more than Coker would prefer. Carter went just 15-for-24 with 121 yards in his debut last week.
Writer’s Prediction
Arizona’s explosive offensive is too much for the Roadrunners to keep up with. Take the Wildcats (-7) to win by at least double-digits on the road.
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