UAB at Houston Odds

Written by Jack Jones

The UAB Blazers will try to get their season turned around when they head to Robertson Stadium on Thursday night to take on the Houston Cougars in Conference USA action. The Blazers are coming off a tough loss to Memphis, 33-30, on last Thursday night that brought their record to 1-5. They are 0-2 in conference play and have yet to beat a Division I opponent. Houston now sits at 2-3 and they are coming off a big win over No. 23 East Carolina, 41-24, two weeks ago. The experts think this game is going to be high scoring and a blowout for the Cougars. The early odds show Houston as a 17.5 point favorite with the total set at 67.

UAB has done a pretty good job moving the ball this year on the ground in gaining 174 ypg and through the air they have moved it a decent 212.5 ypg. Joe Webb seems to have done it all for the Blazers as the quarterback, running for 516 yards and throwing for another 1,275. He has five rushing and seven passing touchdowns while completing 57% of his throws.

Last week Webb threw for 235 yards and a score while adding 93 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. Rashaud Slaughter contributed 92 rushing yards on 13 totes. Frantrell Forest is listed as questionable for this game after missing the last two. Not only does he give Webb a receiving threat but he is also a force on special teams.

So far UAB hasn’t been able to stop anybody, allowing 461.3 ypg and 33 points. It doesn’t matter if opponents want to try to run or pass because they haven’t been able to stop either, giving up 178.3 ypg rushing and 283.2 ypg passing. In the Memphis game they gave up 436 yards and let the team down at the end of the game when they gave up a nine-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a game-winning field goal with just two seconds left.

Now UAB gets to face one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the conference. Houston is putting up 37.2 points and 545.2 yards per game, with 400 of those yards coming via the passing game. Quarterback Case Keenum has completed 68% of his passes for 1,925 yards and 19 touchdowns while only being intercepted five times. He has also ran for 166 yards. Against East Carolina he was something special, completing 37-of-45 passes for 401 yards and three scores, giving him his sixth straight game of 300+ passing yards. The ground game was led by freshman Bryce Beall who had 130 yards and two touchdowns on 21 totes. He know leads the Cougars with 347 yards and three touchdowns on the year.

The defense hasn’t been able to keep pace with the offense this year in allowing 28.4 points and 405.6 yards per game. The rushing defense has been horrible in giving up 213.2 yards and 11 touchdowns. They did step up big against East Carolina to hold the Pirates to just 275 total yards, including 126 rushing while forcing three turnovers.

Predicted Score: Houston 42, UAB 24

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