BAYLOR (2 - 0) at LA MONROE (1 - 1) - 9/21/2012, 8:00 PM
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LA MONROE is 19-34 ATS (-18.4 Units) in non-conference games since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
BAYLOR vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baylor's last 5 games on the road
Baylor is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Louisiana-Monroe is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Louisiana-Monroe's last 6 games at home
Baylor at Louisiana Monroe
Baylor: 12-4 ATS as a favorite
LA Monroe: 10-2 Over off a SU win / ATS loss
What Bettors Need to Know: Baylor at UL Monroe
By Covers.com
Baylor at Louisiana-Monroe (7, 69.5)
Arkansas and to a lesser degree Auburn both found out that Louisiana-Monroe is a bottom-tier FBS team only when it comes to its bottom line, and the Warhawks’ most anticipated home opener in years will help in that category. Kolton Browning and Louisiana-Monroe will host their first Big 12 opponent Friday as Baylor puts its eight-game winning streak on the line at Malone Stadium. The Warhawks, the biggest surprise of the season thus far, rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to beat then-No. 8 Arkansas 34-31 in overtime Sept. 8, and took Auburn to overtime before losing 31-28 last week. The Bears, in transition after losing Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III to the NFL, should be wary after struggling with FCS foe Sam Houston State for a half Saturday.
LINE: Baylor -7, O/U 69.5
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the high 70s with clear skies at James L. Monroe Stadium. Winds will be light out of the south.
ABOUT BAYLOR (2-0): After a week off, the Bears looked flat and trailed 20-10 at the half against Sam Houston State before awakening from their daze. Griffin III’s replacement, senior Nick Florence, passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns, helping Baylor outscore the Bearkats 38-3 in the second half en route to a 48-23 victory. Florence also ran for 80 yards - including a key 60-yard scamper that set up Glasco Martin’s go-ahead score. Florence has completed 63.4 percent (45-of-71) of his attempts for 653 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been connecting with senior Terrance Williams (13 catches, 269 yards, two touchdowns) often. Meanwhile, the defense, which ranked 116th (out of 120 FBS teams), forced four turnovers last week.
ABOUT LOUISIANA-MONROE (1-1): The Warhawks haven’t had a winning season since joining the FBS in 1994, but early indications suggest this could be the year. Browning’s game-winning touchdown run against Arkansas vaulted them into the national consciousness and last week’s effort against Auburn proved it wasn’t a fluke. Browning (649 yards, six touchdowns, one interception) passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, two of which game in the final seven minutes, but Louisiana-Monroe had a field goal blocked in overtime. Louisiana-Monroe’s defense needs a better effort after giving up 255 rushing yards to Auburn.
TRENDS:
*Bears are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.
*Warhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
*Over is 4-0 in Bears’ last four non-conference games.
*Over is 4-0 in Warhawks’ last four non-conference games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. “We went sent a message out that last week wasn't a fluke taking our second SEC opponent in a row to overtime," Warhawks’ redshirt freshman tight end Harley Scioneaux on the loss to Auburn.
2. Baylor’s eight-game winning streak is the second longest in the nation behind TCU (10).
3. Louisiana-Monroe sold an additional 16,000 tickets for its home opener after beating Arkansas.
Baylor at ULM
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
ULM will remain in the national spotlight in Week 4 when it takes on Baylor in Friday’s home opener at Malone Stadium in Monroe, LA.
Todd Berry’s team burst on the national landscape with its stunning come-from-behind win at Arkansas as a 30-point underdog. Junior quarterback Kolton Browning guided the War Hawks to a 34-31 overtime victory by completing 42-of-67 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns. The southpaw also rushed 16 times for 69 yards, including the 16-yard scramble for the game-winning score in the extra session. ULM
ULM’s defense knocked Arkansas All-SEC quarterback Tyler Wilson out of the game and held the Razorbacks scoreless in the final 24 minutes, allowing Browning to work his magic while the team rallied from a 28-7 deficit.
After stunning the Hogs, ULM (1-1 straight up, 2-0 against the spread) faced another SEC West foe in the Auburn Tigers. The War Hawks led 7-0 and 14-7 in the first half but found themselves down 28-14 midway through the fourth quarter.
But that’s when Browning put on his rally cap – again. He hit Harley Scioneaux with a four-yard scoring strike with 6:15 left and then brought his squad even by connecting with Colby Harper on a six-yard TD pass at the 1:18 mark.
In OT, Auburn won on a 35-yard field goal by Cody Parkey. Nevertheless, ULM backers collected a winner as a 14½-point underdog. The 59 combined points went ‘over’ the 53½-point total.
As of Thursday night, most sports books were listing Baylor (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) as a 7½-point favorite with the total in the 69-70 range. Gamblers can take the War Hawks to win outright for a plus-200 payout (risk $100 to win $200).
You're going to see two teams that are going to go out there and lay it on the line every snap,'' Berry told the Associated Press. “It's going to be fast-break football like you've never seen before in terms of the speed of the game.”
Art Briles’s team has won eight in a row dating back to last year. The Bears destroyed SMU 59-24 as 7½-point home favorites in their opener. Nick Florence was dynamite against the Mustangs, connecting on 21-of-30 passes for 341 yards and four TDs without an interception.
Following an open date, Baylor went through the motions in the first half against Sam Houston and trailed 20-10 at intermission. But in the second half, the Bears outscored the Bearcats 38-3 en route to a 48-23 non-covering win as 30-point home ‘chalk.’
Florence completed 24-of-41 throws for 312 yards and three TDs, but he was intercepted twice. Florence also rushed for 80 yards on nine carries. Lache Seastrunk scored on a 15-yard TD run and Darius Jones had a 73-yard pick-six.
During Briles’s five-year tenure, Baylor has a 2-2 spread record in four games as a road favorite. Meanwhile, LMU is 1-1 ATS as a home underdog on Berry’s watch.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
Baylor has lost outright in nine of its last 11 road openers.
ULM could be without a pair of key contributors on offense. Junior WR Tavarese Maye is ‘questionable’ with a lower body injury, while RB Centarius Donald is ‘doubtful’ with a knee injury. Donald, who had three rushing TDs and averaged 7.0 yards per carry last season, missed the Auburn game.
Florida owns the nation’s longest head-to-head winning streak with 25 consecutive wins over Kentucky. The Gators are favored by 24 in Saturday’s game against the Wildcats at The Swamp.
Kentucky QB Max Smith had six TD passes compared to zero interceptions in the first two games, but he was intercepted four times in last week’s 32-31 overtime loss to Western Ky.
When Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson was cleared to play Thursday, the Hogs went from seven-point favorites to 8½ for Saturday’s home game vs. Rutgers.
Since 2002, Ole Miss is an abysmal 3-12 ATS as a road favorite. The Rebels are favored by 18½ at Tulane.