The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) and UTEP Miners (5-1, 2-0) meet Saturday for a Conference-USA West Division game with a 9 p.m. ET kickoff at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Below, we look at the Louisiana Tech vs. UTEP odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Louisiana Tech enters this game off a hard-fought loss at then-ranked North Carolina State followed by a bye week. The Bulldogs are a throw-first team with a quarterback – Austin Kendall – who can also produce with his legs. Can LTU be productive on the road, though? Dating back to last season, the Bulldogs are 1-5 over their last six road games.
The Miners have been solid defensively, especially against the run. They are coming off a 27-13 win at Southern Miss in which they held the Golden Eagles to just 15 rushing yards. UTEP has held foes under 2.7 yards per rushing attempt in back-to-back games. The Miners enter this game on a three-game win streak.
Louisiana Tech at UTEP odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Louisiana Tech -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | UTEP +205 (bet $100 to win $205)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisiana Tech -6.5 (-115) | UTEP +6.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Louisiana Tech at UTEP odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
UTEP 31, Louisiana Tech 27
Money line
Underappreciated Team from El Paso. UTEP is a live underdog in this home game and a genuine threat to pull off the outright victory, which would run the Miners home mark to 4-0.
Texas-El Paso may well show some improved passing numbers in this game: Louisiana Tech coughs up 320.6 aerial yards per contest, which ranks 129th in the nation. La. Tech doesn’t cause much havoc, and UTEP could find some success if it can leverage the play-action game.
The Miners are solid on the defensive line, and they do create havoc. That could spell a close game late for the Bulldogs.
TAKE UTEP (+205).
Against the spread
The Miners have been iffy on finishing offensive drives, but LTU struggles defensively in that same category. If UTEP can just be successful at a near-average level, the Miners have a solid opportunity to keep this game within a field goal.
TAKE UTEP +6.5 (-107): consider pairing this play with the above, using partial units on both.
Over/Under
Lots of cross signals here: PASS.
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