The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have reeled off six consecutive wins and will aim for the Conference USA championship when they face off with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. These two teams faced off earlier in the season and Louisiana Tech won, but this time around Western Kentucky is the favorite.
Both teams will be going to bowl games but the conference bragging rights are on the line. The Hilltoppers have played well of late and hope to keep it rolling in this showdown.
Watch this regular season Week 14 matchup live on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 12 p.m. ET at L.T. Smith Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Louisiana Tech +7.5
Western Kentucky -7.5
Odds Analysis
The oddsmakers have installed Western Kentucky as a pretty hefty favorite despite losing the first matchup and the Hilltoppers are getting most of the action. More than 90 percent of the money has come in on Western Kentucky to cover the spread.
The Hilltoppers are 9-3 straight up and 7-4 against the spread this season. They have covered four times in five chances at home.
Louisiana Tech is 8-4 overall and 6-3-3 against the spread. The Bulldogs have played six games away from home, covering three time, failing to do so once and pushing in the other two contests. If the spread stays this way, they will either cover it or fail to do so. The half-point is big as they could lose by a touchdown but still cover.
Revenge Angle
Western Kentucky went on the road in October and dropped the regular season matchup to Louisiana Tech, 55-52. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 25-point lead early in the third quarter and were still up by 17 in the fourth quarter until the Hilltoppers made a spirited comeback.
It fell short, as Louisiana Tech’s explosive offensive performance was enough to capture the win. Western Kentucky hasn’t lost since that game and has been tabbed to win the rematch. The Hilltoppers get this one at home instead of on the road, which could make a big difference.
Western Kentucky no doubt wanted another shot at Louisiana Tech after the loss and now is going to get it. The Hilltoppers can’t let it slip.
Player to Watch
Ryan Higgins -- The Louisiana Tech quarterback was dynamic in the first meeting. He threw for 454 yards and five touchdowns to help lead the Bulldogs to the impressive win.
Higgins has completed 265-of-399 passes this season for 3,706 yards with 34 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had easily his worst game of the season last time out, though. Louisiana Tech lost to Southern Mississippi has Higgins was just 22-of-39 for 246 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
He has a good body of work this season but the play of Higgins will help settle this one.
Free ATS Pick
Louisiana Tech shot ahead last time out and staved off a crazy rally by Western Kentucky to win the game. The Hilltoppers have a better record and a stronger body of work, so it makes sense that they are favored in this matchup.
However, the spread is too high in this one as these teams are pretty close in talent level, as the first game indicated. It’s easy to look at the last game played and make bold proclamations about where a team stands, but that can change quickly.
Louisiana Tech is strong enough to hang in this one for the duration. Western Kentucky’s offense will eventually make enough plays at the end to pull this one out, but take the Bulldogs to cover the spread in what should be an entertaining Conference USA championship game. Keep an eye out on the scoring total as this one may be a shootout.
College Football Odds: Western Kentucky 42, Louisiana Tech 38
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