LA Tech, San Jose State Look to Stay the WAC Course

As the WAC’s final football season begins to draw in, there’s a definite feel that the championship will go to the winner of the Louisiana Tech-Utah State game next weekend.

Of course, College Football likes to throw a spanner in the works of such plans. A LA Tech loss this weekend would certainly be a spanner of types. With one conference loss, San Jose State is still not out of the picture, so both teams will be looking to take victories this weekend. Utah State meanwhile is idle, and hoping each team succumbs to their less-favored opposition.

No. 20 Louisiana Tech at Texas State

Louisiana Tech will look to remain unbeaten in the WAC this weekend as it travels to Texas State.

Whilst No. 20 Louisiana Tech (8-1, 3-0 WAC) has been showered with plaudits of late, Texas State (3-5, 1-2 WAC) is still not mathematically eliminated from the hunt for the WAC championship. That will change if the Bobcats fall to the Bulldogs this weekend.

As well as looking towards a second consecutive conference championship, Louisiana Tech is also looking to climb the BCS rankings in search of a higher-profile Bowl Game. A win over Texas State is vital then.

Oddsmakers have the Bulldogs as big favorites (-20½) heading into Saturday’s clash in San Marcos, Texas.

Despite an impressive record, Louisiana Tech has fared less well against the spread. A record of 5-3-1 ATS is akin to that of Texas State, which has gone 5-3 ATS. That makes the Bobcats worthy of at least some consideration when it comes to covering the spread.

The over/under is 70½. Louisiana Tech’s high-scoring offense – which averages 52.4 PPG, second in the country to Oregon (54.3 PPG) – has caused the total to go over eight times this season. The only game in which the total didn’t go over was a 28-14 win over New Mexico State two weeks ago. In contrast, Texas State has seen the total go over just once, with six games going under. That’s food for thought for bettors considering which side to wager on.

San Jose State at New Mexico State

With just one conference loss this season, San Jose State (7-2, 3-1 WAC) has a little more room to maneuver than Texas State. That being said, anything less than a win over New Mexico State (1-8, 0-4 WAC) could spell the end of all hope for the Spartans.

The Aggies have had a season to forget, but will be desperate to obtain at least one conference win this season. That makes the side from Las Cruces a dangerous opponent, both for San Jose State and Texas State come the end of the season.

However, New Mexico State’s dire record this season has made them a lengthy underdog (+23) against the Spartans this weekend. What’s more, San Jose State has gone 7-2 ATS this season, compared to the Aggies’ record of 4-5 ATS, which makes it hard not to back the side from Northern California.
The over/under is 56. The total has gone over in five (from eight) Spartans games this season and three (from eight) Aggies games, making this all but a tossup for bettors.

Around the Conference

With three games left on the schedule, the Idaho Vandals (1-8, 1-3 WAC) football team and its fans are just looking to get this season over and done with. With the WAC transforming to a non-football conference, the Vandals are hoping for a smoother run of it as an Independent. Before then though, the team faces another Independent in Brigham Young (5-4) this weekend. The Cougars still have an outside shot at being Bowl eligible, so this game is a must win. Oddsmakers have BYU as big time favorites (-38) over the hapless Vandals. The over/under is 49.

As McNeese State (6-3, 3-3 Southland) is a non-board school there is no over/under or point spread on their game with the University of Texas-San Antonio (5-4, 1-3 WAC). The Roadrunners have all but self-destructed since conference play began, spoiling a very solid start to the season. McNeese State has tackled just one FBS team this season, a 27-21 win over Middle Tennessee during the opening weekend of the season.

Week 11 Schedule (in full)

San Jose State (7-2, 3-1 WAC) at New Mexico State (1-8, 0-4 WAC)

McNeese State (6-3, 3-3 Southland) at UTSA (5-4, 1-3 WAC)

No. 20 Louisiana Tech (8-1, 3-0 WAC) at Texas State (3-5, 1-2 WAC)

Idaho (1-8, 1-3 WAC) at Brigham Young (5-4)

Utah State (8-2, 4-0 WAC) (Bye)