UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Predictions & Odds for Tuesday Night Football

• Louisiana Tech is a 7-point favorite over UTEP in Week 9 College Football action on Tuesday, October 22
• The Bulldogs lead Conference USA in yards allowed and rank third in scoring defense
• Keep reading for the latest UTEP vs Louisiana Tech predictions and odds below

If you thought you wouldn’t have any college football to sweat on a Tuesday in late October, then you are sorely mistaken. UTEP (1-6, 1-3 CUSA) heads to Louisiana Tech (2-4, 1-2 CUSA) in Week 9, searching for a second straight upset. The Miners knocked off FIU last week as 7.5-point underdogs, and they’re in a similar situation this week per the College Football odds.

UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Odds

Louisiana Tech is currently favored by 7-points, in a contest with a total of 50. As it currently stands, the spread tickets are spilt 50/50, but there’s a big discrepancy in the handle. The Bulldogs are drawing 84% of the money, which indicates those who bet biggest (typically sharps) are hammering LT.

Total-wise, the betting action is equally as lopsided from a handle perspective. Per the College Football public betting trends, over 50 is garnering 91% of the money, despite drawing only 42% of the tickets.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 pm ET at Joe Aillet Stadium, in Ruston, LA, with CBSSN providing the broadcast coverage.

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Odds as of October 21 at 1:30 pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any Week 9 College Football matchup.

Looks Like Locklear Again for UTEP

Last week we faded UTEP in large part due to their shaky QB situation. Cade McConnell was a true game-time decision, and the tea leaves suggested Skyler Locklear would be forced to lead the offense. As predicted, Locklear started and struggled against FIU, but the Miners ground game came alive and catapulted them to victory.

UTEP football coach Scotty Walden says that QB Cade McConnell could be out for the year (upper body injury), and gives injury updates to both Kory Chapman and AJ Odums. #MinerTalk @600espnelpaso pic.twitter.com/7wIAbWJW2I

— Adrian Broaddus (@AdrianBroaddus) October 18, 2024

A week later, McConnell’s season now appears over, and Locklear will once again be under center for UTEP. The sophomore threw for only 162 yards last week, producing a QBR of 17.7. He’s racked up more interceptions (5) than touchdowns (4) so far, and his rushing attack is not in a position to succeed on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs enter play allowing the fewest rushing yards in Conference USA. They also lead the conference in total yards allowed, while ranking third in scoring defense. LT is going to force Locklear to beat them, and he’s yet to prove he’s capable. Locklear has never thrown for more than one touchdown in a game, and he’s being sacked on 8 percent of his drop backs.

Miners Pass Rush Will Need to Step Up

On the other side of the ball, UTEP’s chances for success hinge on pressuring freshman QB Evan Bullock. The Miners allow over 6 yards per play to enemy offenses, and have coughed up the third most touchdowns in the conference. Their one strength is getting to the quarterback, as they lead Conference USA in sacks. LT has done a poor job of protecting Bullock so far, yielding 19 sacks, including seven over the last two weeks.

If they can protect him, however, Bullock could go nuclear like he did two weeks ago. He put up numbers that rival the top Heisman Trophy odds contenders, throwing for 290 yards and 5 TD in a blowout win over Middle Tennessee.

LT is one of the weakest rush offenses in the conference, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, but they do have a favorable matchup on Tuesday. UTEP is coughing up 212 yards per game on the ground, at a rate of 4.9 yards per clip.

UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Prediction

Given the fact that money is piling in on the over, the total is very likely to increase prior to kickoff. That’s good news for under bettors, and there’s a clear path for this game to fall short of offensive expectations.

UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Offense

For starters, the Miners are going to struggle to put up points. They’re already the third-lowest-scoring team in Conference USA, and now they’re playing with their backup QB against a team built to stop what they do best, which is run the ball.

Defensively, we could easily see UTEP surrender a ton of points, but perhaps they can build off last week’s effort. They allowed a season-low 21 points to an FIU offense that grades out higher than Louisiana Tech’s per Pro Football Focus. The forced four turnovers in the victory, recording two sacks and a season-best eight tackles for a loss.

• Under 50 Points (-110)