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At 9:00 PM ET on Saturday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-4) play at the UTEP Miners (3-6).
The Hilltoppers are significant favorites (-9) in their matchup against the Miners, with the over/under at 54.5 points. (In terms of the moneyline, the Hilltoppers are -362 and the Miners are +276.)
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Game Info for Western Kentucky vs. UTEP
- Game Day: Saturday, November 4, 2023
- Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- Stadium: Sun Bowl Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky | -9 | -109 | -111 | 54.5 | -110 | -110 | -362 | +276 |
Western Kentucky Pick Insights
- Western Kentucky has posted a 4-3-0 record against the spread this season.
- Western Kentucky is 1-0 against the spread so far this season when playing as at least 9-point favorites.
- Western Kentucky games have hit the over on three of seven occasions (42.9%).
Western Kentucky Stats & Insights
- Despite having a bottom-25 defense that ranks third-worst in the FBS (467.1 yards allowed per game), Western Kentucky has played better on offense, ranking 63rd in the FBS offensively putting up 395.4 yards per game.
- Western Kentucky is putting up 29.9 points per game on offense this year (58th in the FBS), and is surrendering 29.5 points per game (100th) on defense.
- Western Kentucky sports the 107th-ranked defense this year in terms of passing yards (248.5 allowed per game), and has been better on offense, ranking 18th-best with 291.9 passing yards per game.
- It’s been a hard stretch for Western Kentucky in terms of running the ball, ranking 16th-worst in rushing offense (103.5 rushing yards per game) and fourth-worst in rushing defense (218.6 rushing yards per game allowed) in 2023.
- Western Kentucky is averaging a 38.5% third-down percentage offensively this season (78th in the FBS), and is surrendering a 40.3% third-down conversion rate (85th) on defense.
- Western Kentucky owns the ninth-best turnover margin in college football at +8, forcing 18 turnovers (third in the FBS) while turning it over 10 times (45th in the FBS).
Western Kentucky’s Best Players
- Austin Reed has racked up 2,273 yards (284.1 ypg) on 203-of-337 passing with 20 touchdowns compared to five interceptions this season. In addition, he’s added 94 rushing yards (11.8 ypg) on 29 carries while scoring three touchdowns on the ground.
- Markese Stepp has carried the ball 47 times for a team-high 232 yards on the ground and has found the end zone two times.
- Elijah Young has piled up 187 yards on 47 attempts, scoring one time.
- Malachi Corley’s team-leading 652 yards as a receiver have come on 49 catches (out of 78 targets) with seven touchdowns.
- Easton Messer has put together a 335-yard season so far with three touchdowns, hauling in 27 passes on 36 targets.
- Dalvin Smith has hauled in 25 receptions for 234 yards, an average of 29.3 yards per game. He’s scored two times as a receiver this season.
- Kendrick Simpkins paces the team with five sacks, and also has six TFL and 34 tackles.
- Western Kentucky’s tackle leader, Talique Allen, has 39 tackles this year.
- Anthony Johnson Jr. has picked off a team-high two passes. He also has 26 tackles, one TFL, and two passes defended to his name.
UTEP Betting Insights
- UTEP is 2-6-0 against the spread this season.
- UTEP has not yet covered the spread as underdogs of 9 points or more this year (0-1).
- Out of UTEP’s eight games with a set total, two have hit the over (25%).
UTEP Pick Insights
- UTEP ranks 88th with 360.9 total yards per game on offense, and it ranks 81st with 385 total yards given up per game on defense.
- UTEP ranks 12th-worst in points per game (18.7), but it has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 80th in the FBS with 27.2 points surrendered per contest.
- UTEP ranks 100th in the FBS with 201.4 passing yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 39th with 204.9 passing yards allowed per contest on defense.
- UTEP’s defense has been bottom-25 in run defense this season, ceding 180.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 19th-worst in the FBS. Offensively, it ranks 62nd with 159.4 rushing yards per contest.
- UTEP’s offense has not been getting things done on third down, ranking 13th-worst in the FBS with a 31.4% third-down conversion percentage. It has been better defensively, allowing a 43.6% third-down rate (105th-ranked).
- UTEP has not done well in terms of turnovers, as the team’s turnover margin of -6 is 16th-worst in the FBS.
UTEP’s Best Players
- Gavin Hardison has racked up 947 yards (105.2 per game) while completing 56.6% of his passes and recording five touchdown passes with seven interceptions this season.
- Deion Hankins has run for 679 yards on 123 carries so far this year while scoring three times on the ground.
- Torrance Burgess Jr. has totaled 529 yards on 108 carries with two touchdowns, while also catching 13 passes for 184 yards.
- Kelly Akharaiyi leads his squad with 645 receiving yards on 32 catches with four touchdowns.
- Jeremiah Ballard has collected 434 receiving yards (48.2 yards per game) and one touchdown on 26 receptions.
- Tyrin Smith’s 19 receptions (on 30 targets) have netted him 191 yards (21.2 ypg) and one touchdown.
- Maurice Westmoreland has racked up 5.5 sacks to lead the team, while also picking up six TFL and 26 tackles.
- Tyrice Knight is the team’s tackle leader this year. He’s picked up 86 tackles, eight TFL, and 2.5 sacks.
- James Neal has picked off a team-leading one pass. He also has 55 tackles and two passes defended to his name.
