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The Army Black Knights (1-1) and the UTSA Roadrunners (1-1) meet Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Army vs. UTSA odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Black Knights were tripped up 17-13 in the season opener at UL Monroe, losing outright as an 8.5-point favorite as the Under (46.5) cashed. Army bounced back by drubbing Delaware State of the FCS 57-0, cashing as a 38.5-point favorite as the Over (44.5) connected. However, the loss at ULM carries a lot more weight than a win over a poor FCS team.
The Roadrunners played Houston tough in the opener Sept. 2, falling 17-14 as a 2-point favorite as the Under (59) cashed. UTSA came home and topped Texas State, who was brimming with confidence after a win at Baylor in Week 1. The Roadrunners won 20-13 over the Bobcats, although TSU covered the 14-point number as the Under (65.5) cashed a 2nd straight game.
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Army at UTSA odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:52 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Army +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | UTSA -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Army +8.5 (-110) | UTSA -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Army at UTSA picks and predictions
Prediction
UTSA 23, Army 16
Moneyline
UTSA (-350) will cost you 3 1/2 times your potential return. That’s just too much for a singular bet, or as part of a multi-team parlay. While the Roadrunners have played better football, that’s still too much risk for not enough reward.
PASS.
Against the spread
ARMY +8.5 (-110) has a strong rushing attack, and that will keep it in the game. But the Black Knights have started to come into the 21st century a little, passing the ball a bit more. It is averaging 172.5 passing yards per game, which isn’t a lot, but it isn’t your dad’s Army football, either.
UTSA -8.5 (-110) has done a good job shutting down the run early on, so Army will have to continue to go to the air to stay in this game. The good news is that both sides play pretty good defense, and it’s unlikely UTSA wins by more than single digits.
Over/Under
UNDER 44.5 (-110) is a rather low number in this day and age of college football, but defense will win the day in the Alamodome on Friday.
In Army’s only game against an FBS foe so far, it mustered just 13 points against a mediocre ULM team. Meanwhile, UTSA has yielded just 15.0 PPG, while averaging 17.0 PPG on offense.
When these teams met last Sept. 10 in Michie Stadium in West Point, UTSA won a 41-38 game in OT. We won’t come anywhere close to seeing that kind of offense in this one.
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