UTEP Miners (1-1) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (0-1)
UTEP Miners vs. Northwestern Wildcats 9/9/2023 – On September 9, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET, the UTEP Miners (1-1) and Northwestern Wildcats (0-1) will face off for their season opening meeting at Ryan Field and BTN. Both teams hope for a crucial win – the Miners looking to move over.500 while Northwestern seeking their inaugural triumph of 2023.
The Miners are led by their talented quarterback Gavin Hardison, who has already amassed 302 passing yards this season. Deion Hankins has led their running game with 228 rushing yards already this year while Kelly Akharaiyi leads their receiving core with 108 receiving yards to date.
Wildcats have had an inauspicious start to the season, enduring only 169 passing yards under Ben Bryant as Brendan Sullivan found it difficult to open holes on his way to 11 rushing yards rushing. Cam Johnson remains their primary receiving threat with 45 yards collected so far. For more insights, check out our free daily football picks.
UTEP Miners vs. Northwestern Wildcats Game Info
| When: | Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Ryan Field |
| TV: | BTN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Gavin Hardison QB vs. Ben Bryant QB
Gavin Hardison of UTEP has been an impressive performer at quarterback this early in the season. His stats reveal an array of skills that should benefit them against Northwestern. Hardison boasts an impressive completion rate of 64.3% with an impressive 7.2 yards per pass attempt – something particularly noticeable with his 3 touchdown passes that indicate decisiveness under pressure. A passer rating of 138.7 further enhances his qualifications as a reliable passer capable of dissecting defenses and making accurate throws; two interceptions and 3 sacks show areas for improvement but overall his performance could make all the difference for them in this matchup against Northwestern.
Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant appears to be having difficulty early in the season. With only an 83.9 passer rating and 56% completion percentage he finds himself far outclassed against rival quarterback Jared Goff in this head-to-head comparison. Furthermore, no touchdown passes and two interceptions show how far behind Bryant currently is; add five sacks that cost 37 yards from passing downfield, and it becomes apparent that Bryant must significantly up his game to give Northwestern any hope in winning outright this year.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: UTEP Miners -135, Total Odds: 40
Looking at the betting odds, UTEP Miners have an expected spread of -2 (-110) and moneyline of -135, making them favorites in this matchup. The total for this game has been set at 40; given both teams’ tendencies to go UNDER this could lead to an underscoring affair. Meanwhile, Arizona Wildcats boast an underdog status, with their spread being +2 (-110) and moneyline being +115 – making them underdogs in this one.
UTEP Miners Betting Trends
UTEP’s betting trends indicate they favor defensive, low-scoring games. Their total has gone UNDER in five of their last seven and five of six September games; their straight-up record (SU) of 2-4 in their last six and 1-9 in road games does not inspire confidence; however, their strong start to this season could signal improvement.
Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends
Northwestern has not enjoyed favorable betting trends lately. Their team is currently winless against the spread in 10 of 11 games this season (0-10 overall, and 0-8 at home), signalling their poor form. Five out of their last six September contests went UNDER the total, and they went 0-5 ATS against spread in week two (these statistics suggest Northwestern may struggle to quickly reverse course).
UTEP Miners vs. Northwestern Wildcats 9/9/2023 Betting Picks
Based on trends, individual performances, and odds analysis, it appears logical to pick UTEP Miners as winners in this matchup. Their quarterback is in better form and overall team performance has been more impressive this season. Given Northwestern’s struggles at home it becomes hard to pick them as underdogs.
For the smart money, expect an intriguing game where UTEP covers the spread and total points remain UNDER 40 points. Look out for strong defensive performances as well as key plays from their more potency offense. For additional guidance, check out our free daily sports picks.
Free Pick and Prediction: UTEP Miners 24, Northwestern Wildcats 17