Bulldogs, Aggies look to continue WAC dominance
No. 25 Louisiana Tech will look to defeat UTSA this week ahead of next week's huge WAC game against Utah State.
A tumultuous year behind the scenes for WAC head brass has translated to one of the conference’s most intriguing seasons on the field. With Louisiana Tech making a name for itself in the national rankings, and the conference featuring some tough and exciting play, the next few weeks look set to prove a fervent farewell to the conference’s football program.
UTSA at No. 25 Louisiana Tech
No. 25 Louisiana Tech (7-1, 2-0 WAC) has been the bright spot of the WAC this year, racking up yards, points and wins like they’re going out of fashion. A solitary loss to Texas A&M is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record. The AP Poll has the Bulldogs at No. 22, nosebleed territory for a team from the WAC.
The Bulldogs have put a lot of hard work in and now need to follow through to ensure that hard work isn’t wasted. With the bulk of conference play still to come, an errant loss here or there could cause Louisiana Tech to drop the WAC title and any potential Bowl games that may arise from that title.
UTSA (5-3, 1-2 WAC) has seen its hard work go to waste. Jumping out to an unlikely 5-0 start in the team’s first and only year in the WAC, the Roadrunners have faltered of late, losing three on the bounce, including two to conference opponents. UTSA needs to win out if it’s to have any (slim) hopes of taking the conference title.
That won’t be easy. The Bulldogs average 52.6 points per game, second in the country to Oregon (53.4 PPG), ranking in the top 11 in both rushing and passing the football. Those are numbers the Roadrunners will find difficult to counter, despite having one of the WAC’s better defenses.
Oddsmakers have little faith in UTSA as they make the trip to Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. The Roadrunners are big time underdogs (+32) against the balling Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech is 13-2-1 ATS in its last 16 games, 5-2-1 ATS this season, and 4-1-1 ATS in its last six home games.
The over/under is a whopping 73. However, the total has gone over in all but one of Louisiana Tech’s games this season, an obvious result of the free-scoring attitude of the team.
Texas State at Utah State
With the focus clearly on Louisiana Tech, Utah State (7-2, 3-0 WAC) has somewhat quietly gone about recording a solid record. The Aggies have dropped just two games this season – to Wisconsin and Brigham Young, both by three points or less – and remain undefeated in conference play.
Texas State (3-4, 1-1 WAC) hasn’t had the best of seasons, but one conference loss means the Bobcats are not yet eliminated from the WAC title hunt. A win over Utah State could propel one last push to be in the conversation at the end of the season. The Bobcats will be hoping to catch the Aggies peeking ahead to next week’s big clash with Louisiana Tech.
Utah State’s solid season has been built on a strong defense which is 16th in the country in points conceded (14.2 PPG). Not one of the more prolific scoring teams in college football, Texas State could struggle to put points on the board on Saturday afternoon.
Utah State opened as 24½-point favorites, a number that has risen to 26 and may go higher before kickoff. The Aggies are 8-0-1 ATS this season, while Texas State is 5-2.
The over/under is set at 52½. The total has gone under in six Utah State games this season and five Texas State games.
Around the Conference
The WAC’s remaining intra-conference game sees San Jose State (6-2, 2-1 WAC) travel to Idaho (1-7, 1-2 WAC). These two sides have had contrasting seasons so far this year.
The Spartans have had a successful running, only losing a close one to Stanford on opening day and the tricky Utah State three weeks ago. Aside from those losses, the team has rolled over its opposition for the most part.
Meanwhile, the Vandals have just one win to their name – in the conference opener against New Mexico State – and have little to be excited about heading into life as an independent.
San Jose is favorite (-19) heading into this one, and is 6-2 ATS this season. Idaho’s 1-7 ATS record will not fill bettors with confidence of an upset here. Nor will a 0-3 home record. The over/under is 55.
New Mexico State (1-7, 0-4 WAC) will head to fellow-strugglers, Auburn (1-7, 0-6 SEC) this weekend. The out-of-conference matchup will give both teams respite from searching for a first conference win. The Aggies will be big time underdogs (+23) in this one, but a 4-4 record against the spread makes the team worth backing to cover. The over/under is 50½. The total has gone under in five Aggies games this season.
Week 10 WAC Schedule (in full)
New Mexico State (1-7, 0-4 WAC) at Auburn (1-7, 0-6 SEC)
Texas State (3-4, 1-1 WAC) at Utah State (7-2, 3-0 WAC)
UTSA (5-3, 1-2 WAC) at No. 25 Louisiana Tech (7-1, 2-0 WAC)
San Jose State (6-2, 2-1 WAC) @ Idaho (1-7, 1-2 WAC)
