Gameday Guide: Charlotte vs. Western Kentucky kickoff time, betting odds, TV and stream info
Charlotte looks to pick up the pieces following a home blowout loss at the hands of Florida Atlantic last week. The 49ers’ struggling defense is preparing to play the best offense in Conference USA and one of the 10-best in the nation in Western Kentucky. If Charlotte is to contend for the East Division crown, avoiding consecutive blowout losses will be key to keeping the locker room together.
WHEN DO THE CHARLOTTE 49ERS PLAY?
Who: Western Kentucky (3-4, 2-1 C-USA) vs. Charlotte (4-3, 2-1 C-USA)
When: 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 30. Western Kentucky’s homecoming game
Where: Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky (22,113 Capacity)
Stream: ESPN+
You’ll have to subscribe to ESPN+ to watch the game. Cost is $5.99 a month just for ESPN+ with several other bundling options depending on what level of subscription you choose.
On-air announce crew: Nate Gatter, play-by-play; Bob Belvin, analyst.
Radio: Learfield/IMG Network 730 The Game (Matt Swierad, play-by-play; Bobby Rosinski, analyst
Line: Western Kentucky -17.5; O/U: 73
Uniform report: Green pants, white jerseys and green helmets.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR BOWLING GREEN, KY
Cloudy skies with scattered showers. The temperature will reach 58 degrees during the day and cool to 57 degrees at kickoff.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS FOOTBALL INJURY REPORT
Tackle T.J. Moore (knee) is active for the first time since Illinois in Week 5
Tackle Jaxon Hughes will play
Defensive tackle Isaac Hampton (Achilles) is out for the season
Tight end Taylor Thompson (ACL) is out for the season
Chris Reynolds suffered an injury to his throwing hand in the first half against Florida Atlantic but is expected to play. A full participant in practice throughout the week
49ERS VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS: WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The 49ers are in a delicate spot right now following their third loss of the season, first at home. Charlotte’s defense is allowing more than 445 yards per game and it faces its toughest test yet against Bailey Zappe and Western Kentucky’s air raid offense.
Hilltoppers’ head coach Tyson Helton has WKU firing on all cylinders right now. The Tops are averaging 40 points and 542 yards per game. 438 of those yards are coming through the air as Zappe has thrown for 3,014 yards through seven games, the second-most in the nation behind Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong.
Western Kentucky is going to spread Charlotte out and look to dismantle the 49ers’ secondary. Charlotte will get corners Geovante Howard and Valerian Agbaw back from injury, but will be without safety and potential NFL prospect Jon Alexander as he was unable to finish practice on Tuesday and hasn’t been a participant since. Charlotte is down both of its starting safeties from Week 1. Solomon Rodgers, Marcus Robitaille and Matt Martinez will all see action.
Zappe’s favorite target Jerreth Sterns has been unreal over the past four weeks. In the past four games alone, Sterns has recorded 60 total catches, 717 receiving yards and six touchdowns - more than any Charlotte receiver through seven games. Zappe is throwing between 50 and 60 passes a game, and completing over 71% of those for 29 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
The 49ers are extremely prone to giving up the big play, allowing 15.97 yards per completion, ranking 129th out of 130 FBS teams. Charlotte is allowing 9.6 yards per pass attempt, which is also the second-worst in the country (sorry Arkansas State). If Zappe drops back and throws 60 times, there’s a good chance that he breaks his career-passing record of 567 yards.
The Hilltoppers are a high-octane, high-tempo offense. Essentially a recipe for disaster for Charlotte. When asked if the 49ers would change any defensive responsibilities for staff or personnel following the blowout loss at home, Healy’s message was clear.
“No. I want to do what we do better,” Healy said. “It’s my job as a head coach to put our guys in the best position to have success. I believe in what we do and how we do it.”
Charlotte has allowed 12 touchdowns of 30 yards or more, seven of which have been from 50 plus. The 49ers’ only chance in this game is limiting the chunk plays, making the tackle and hoping for continued red zone defensive success. Charlotte ranks 10th in the country in red zone defense, allowing a score on just 68% of attempts.
Chris Reynolds was “banged up” according to coach Will Healy following the first half against Florida Atlantic, leading to Texas A&M transfer James Foster seeing extended time in the second half. Reynolds is expected to play Saturday in a big game for Charlotte’s conference championship and bowl hopes.
Reynolds is the glue that holds the offense together. Expect Charlotte’s running backs Shadrick Byrd and Calvin Camp to see an increased load against a Hilltoppers’ defense that allows 172 yards on the ground per game. The 49ers rushed for just 77 yards against FAU last week and that must change against WKU.
Neither team has a good defense. Both units are allowing nearly 450 yards per game. Charlotte’s quick-start ability may keep this competitive early, but expect Western Kentucky to outpace the 49ers all afternoon.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Quarterback Chris Reynolds has kept Charlotte afloat in 2021. He has completed 66% of his passes for 1,533 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He suffered an injury to his throwing hand against FAU but was a full participant in practice throughout the week. Reynolds at 100% is undoubtedly the starter, but it’s questionable if he’s at 70%.
2. Wide receiver Grant DuBose leads the team with five touchdowns and is averaging 15.8 yards per catch through seven games. DuBose and backup quarterback Foster have great chemistry on and off the field. If Foster sees extended playing time, expect DuBose’s number to be called frequently.
3. Defensive end Markees Watts must have a big day if Charlotte is to compete into the second half. Watts is 3.5 sacks from tying Alex Highsmith (Pittsburgh Steelers) for the most in 49ers’ program history. His only multiple-sack performance of the season came on the road against Florida International. WKU has only allowed 10 sacks all season as Zappe is wasting no time hitting his target.
WESTERN KENTUCKY PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Quarterback Bailey Zappe is the best in C-USA and one of the best in the nation. Zappe, the Sterns brothers and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley all joined the Hilltoppers in the offseason from Houston Baptist. This group has been together for years and has been extremely efficient throughout. Zappe’s current quarterback rating is 169.6, according to ESPN.
2. Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns is going to be double-teamed, but it’s not going to matter. Sterns has 1,077 receiving yards to this point, and will likely post one of his best performances of the season. His longest score of the season is 74 yards against Old Dominion, where he posted his career-best 221 receiving yards.
3. Defensive end DeAngelo Malone’s collegiate career has warranted plenty of accomplishments. He was C-USA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, a First-Team All-Conference player in 2020 and was the 2021 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-4, 240-pound defensive end hasn’t been as productive as expected, but still leads the Tops’ defense with 53 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART
Any position, whether it’s a starter or a backup, is listed with an —OR— designation.
Offense
QB — Chris Reynolds (James Foster)
RB — Calvin Camp—OR— Shadrick Byrd
WR — Victor Tucker (Keith Pearson Jr)
WR — Elijah Spencer (Cameron Dollar—OR— Tre’ Goode)
WR — Grant DuBose (Jairus Mack)
TE — Ryan Carriere (Jake Clemons—OR—Bryce Kennon)
LT — Chibueze Nwanna (Jaxon Hughes)
LG — Panda Askew (Dejan Rasuo)
OC — Hunter Kelly (Jonny King)
RG — Ashton Gist (Dejan Rasuo)
RT — D’Mitri Emmanuel (T.J. Moore—OR—Arabee Muslim)
Defense
EDGE — Markees Watts (Michael Kelly)
DT — Mikel Horton (Bryan Wallace—OR—Siah Sa’o—OR— Joshua Bailey)
DT — Jalar Holley (Isaac Hampton—OR—Miguel Jackson—OR—Dez Morgan)
EDGE — Kofi Wardlow (Tyson Clawson)
NICK — Tyler Murray (Derek Boykins)
MLB — Luke Martin (B.J. Turner)
WLB — Justin Whisenhunt (Prince Bemah)
CB — Geovante Howard—OR—Lance McMillan (Valerian Agbaw)
SS — Solomon Rogers (Matt Martinez—OR—Marcus Robitaille)
FS — Jon Alexander (Lacy Williams—OR—Comanche Francisco)
CB — Trey Creamer (Shedrick Ursery)
Specialists
PK — Jonathan Cruz (Max Blistein)
KO — Jonathan Cruz (Max Blistein)
P — Bailey Rice (Ethan Torres)
LS — Cameron Lyons (Colby Garfield)
H — Chris Reynolds
KOR — Shadrick Byrd (Calvin Camp —OR—ChaVon McEachern)
PR — Cameron Dollar (Geovante Howard —OR— Victor Tucker)