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After two games on the road, the UAB Blazers are heading back home. UAB and the UTEP Miners will face off in a Conference USA battle at 2 p.m. ET on Friday at Protective Stadium. Both teams might be coming in a bit winded after having run the length of the field multiple times in their most recent games.
The Blazers might have drawn first blood against the UTSA Roadrunners this past Saturday, but it was UTSA who got the last laugh. It was a hard-fought game, but UAB had to settle for a 34-31 defeat against UTSA. Despite their loss, UAB got to see several of their players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. RB DeWayne McBride, who rushed for one TD and 144 yards on 24 carries, was the best among equals.
The UAB defensive unit accumulated five sacks for a loss of 54 yards. It was a group effort with six guys contributing.
Meanwhile, UTEP beat the Rice Owls 38-28 this past Saturday. The Miners' RB Ronald Awatt did his thing and picked up 119 yards on the ground on nine carries. Awatt's longest run was for 74 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Blazers are the favorite in this one, with an expected 13.5-point margin of victory. They might be worth taking a chance on against the spread as they are currently on a three-game streak of ATS wins.
UAB and UTEP now sit at an identical 7-4. A pair of defensive stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: UAB is stumbling into the contest with the 223rd most passing touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 23 on the season. The Miners have experienced some struggles of their own as they are 183rd worst in the nation in rushing touchdowns allowed, with 16 on the season. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
