Birmingham News: UAB favorite for second consecutive week

[PonyPride]

UAB in unfamiliar role as favorite for second consecutive week
Posted by Steve Irvine--Birmingham News September 10, 2009 3:23 PM

UAB is a double-digit favorite in Saturday's Conference USA game against SMU. It is the second successive game that the Blazers have been favored, which is unfamiliar territory recently for the Blazers.

The Blazers were a two-point favorite against Tulane in 2007 but was the underdog in every other game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team in Neil Callaway's first two seasons as the head coach. Betting lines are not set in games matching FBS teams against Football Championship Subdivision participants.

Callaway doesn't pay attention to whether is team is favored in Saturday's game.

"I don't think we're at a point in this program right now where we assume anything," Callaway said. "We're still growing, we're still building. I don't think we're a favorite to beat anybody. Some teams have rich tradition, rich history, I can understand. Where we're at with this program, we're day to day."

UAB center Jake Seitz said not to "put into stock into" into the betting line. But he did come up with a reason for the Blazers being favored in back-to-back games.

"I think Joe Webb has a lot to do with that," Seitz said. "I think he's getting us some media and some coverage. That's something this program needs. Hopefully people will start to feel good about this program and recognize the hard work we put in."


*Turnovers played a big part in SMU's season-opening win over Stephen F. Austin. The Mustangs defense had five interceptions and one fumble recovery in the 31-23 win.

That certainly caught the eye of Callaway, whose team broke even in the turnover ratio category in the win over Rice.

"Turnovers are a big, big part of any football game," Callaway said. "Defensively we got two last week and that's our goal to get at least two a game. Offensively, we don't want over one and we had two - one on offense and one in the kicking game."


*Callaway was pleased with Thursday's practice in shorts and shoulder pads.

"Today's practice was a normal Thursday practice spent rehearsing for Saturday," Callaway said. "I thought they moved around good and we have tomorrow to walk through. We still have a little time to concentrate on things, but we're getting ready for a win Saturday."


*UAB game captains for Saturday are quarterback Joe Webb, defensive end Bryant Turner, safety Chase Daniel and linebacker Caleb Dyck.