The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-3) and Old Dominion Monarchs will square off on the turf at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will showcase the action.
Betting Preview: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Old Dominion is entering this CUSA game as the underdog and is currently getting 3 points. The Hilltoppers are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Monarchs are +135. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 45 points, and if one team finds paydirt early on, it will probably result in a nice in-game betting scenario.
The Hilltoppers are 2-2 against the spread (ATS) and are down 0.9 units so far. The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 2-2.
The Monarchs have lost 1.6 units this season. The team is 2-2 ATS and owns an O/U record of 0-4.
The Hilltoppers have gone 2-2 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against CUSA opponents. The Monarchs are 1-3 SU overall and 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Hilltoppers just scored a 20-13 win over UAB last week. Ty Storey completed 15 passes for only 189 yards and two touchdowns. Jahcour Pearson (five receptions, 94 yards, one TD) and Lucky Jackson (three catches, 44 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Old Dominion narrowly lost a 24-21 game to East Carolina. Stone Smartt completed 20-of-30 passes for 203 yards and two interceptions. Smartt (76 rushing yards on 22 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game while Hasaan Patterson (four receptions, 41 yards) and Kesean Strong (four catches, 33 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Western Kentucky has run the ball on 46 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Old Dominion has a rush percentage of 60.4 percent. The Hilltoppers have rushed for 89.5 yards/game (including 65.5 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have four scores on the ground this year. The Monarchs are totaling 122.5 rush yards per game and have eight total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Hilltoppers ought to have an edge when it comes to quarterback protection, as their offensive line has yielded only 32 sacks while their D-line logged 28 sacks. The Monarchs O-line has given up 32 sacks and their defense has forced only 22 sacks.
The Hilltoppers offense has averaged 244.8 yards in the air overall (215 per game versus conference opposition) and has seven passing scores so far. The Monarchs have recorded 172.3 pass yards per game and have just one pass TDs.
Western Kentucky has allowed opponents to run for an average of 123.5 yards and pass for 215 yards per game. The Old Dominion defense has allowed 212 yards per game to opposing passers and 94.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Hilltoppers have given up an ANY/A of 7.14 to opposing QBs, while the Monarchs are yielding an ANY/A of 7.06.
Steven Duncan likely has the advantage over Smartt in this matchup, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 5.77for the season (and 6.17 over the past two games). Smartt’s ANY/A is 3.16 for the season and 3.61 over his last two outings.
When these two teams met last year, Old Dominion won by a field goal 37-34.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Old Dominion Monarchs Free Pick
SU Winner: Old Dominion, ATS Winner: Old Dominion, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Western Kentucky D has 10 sacks on the year while Old Dominion has six.
- Old Dominion has lost one fumble this season while the Western Kentucky offense has lost three.
- The Hilltoppers offense has produced four pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Monarchs have put up two such plays.
- The Western Kentucky defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Old Dominion has given up three such plays.
- The Western Kentucky offense has created one rushing play of 20 yards or more, while Old Dominion has created four such runs.
- The Hilltoppers defense has allowed one rushing play of 20 or more yards, while the Monarchs have given up four such runs.
- The Over/Under for Old Dominion’s last game was set at 47. The under cashed in the 24-21 defeat to East Carolina.
- Over its last three matchups, Old Dominion is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- In its last three matchups, Western Kentucky is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Western Kentucky’s last game going into it was 48. The under cashed in the team’s 20-13 win over UAB.
- Western Kentucky has rushed for 2.0 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 1.5 over its last two.
- Old Dominion has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 1.8 over its last two.
