Miami Beach Bowl 2015, Western Kentucky vs South Florida preview, predictions, odds and live stream info
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs South Florida Bulls
Not too long ago, the South Florida Bulls were one of the worst teams in college football and they were watching in-state foe Central Florida play in a BCS bowl and now the roles are somewhat reversed. The Bulls aren’t headed to a New Year’s Six bowl, but they are the better of the two squads as Central Florida struggled to even get a win this year, going 0-12.
Western Kentucky is having a solid season as well, winning 11 games and the Conference-USA title game. If you looked at the Miami Beach Bowl on paper and saw these two teams’ names, you’d probably think this was going to be a boring game, but it’ll be anything but.
South Florida has one of the best rushing offenses in the country and Western Kentucky has one of the top passing attacks. Both have decent defenses, but this one has the looks of a high-scoring affair in Miami.
Details for Monday’s Miami Beach Bowl are below:
Date: Monday, Dec. 21
Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Miami, FL
Stadium: Marlins Park
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: For Western Kentucky radio affiliates, click here. For South Florida radio affiliates, click here.
Keys to Victory
South Florida Bulls
South Florida needs to take advantage of Western Kentucky’s average run defense and just do what the Bulls do best. Running the ball should be a top priority and sophomore running back Marlon Mack will look to record his fifth-straight 100-yard game. He’s had a great season, so no reason to stop now.
Slowing down the passing attack of Western Kentucky would be a goos start for the defense, but going up against a team that passes for 365 yards per game and averages 44 points per game won’t be an easy task. Holding them to under 35 will be key.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Pass the ball early, pass the ball often. Brandon Doughty is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the nation, but there’s a reason why his Hilltoppers have the sixth-best passing offense and fourth-best scoring offense in all of college football.
Sure, halting the Bulls’ run game will be key, but just like it is for South Florida, it won’t be an easy task and it might just be simpler to contain it than to stop it completely.
Betting Odds
Point Spread:
Western Kentucky -2.5
Moneyline:
Western Kentucky -140, South Florida +120
O/U:
66.5
Predictions
Brandon Doughty is going to have himself a career game, passing for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns, but Marlon Mack will also step up on the big stage. Mack will finish with over 100 yards for the fifth-straight game for the Bulls. As predicted earlier, this will be a high-scoring game and both teams will play down to the final seconds as it will end on a batted-down Hail Mary in Western Kentucky’s favor to win.
Final Score: Western Kentucky 44, South Florida 41