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Sun Bowl 2015, Miami vs Washington State preview, predictions, odds and live stream info

By Charles Rahrig V

Nov 21, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Evan Shirreffs (16) warms up before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Evan Shirreffs (16) warms up before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Hurricanes vs. Washington State Cougars

The meat of bowl season begins on Saturday, as there are several bowl games on the schedule. The games start to get better, as bigger programs face off against each other, and one of the first games that will take place on Saturday, is the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

The Miami Hurricanes and Washington State Cougars both had an interesting season, which featured highs and lows for both programs. The important thing for both programs right now is to finish strong, and on Saturday, they will have that chance in El Paso.

Details for Saturday’s game are below.

Date: Saturday, December 26

Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

Location: El Paso, TX

Stadium: Sun Bowl

TV Info: CBS

Live Stream: CBS Sports Stream

Keys to Victory

Neither team has won a bowl game in quite some time. The Hurricanes haven’t won one since 2006, while the Cougars haven’t won a bowl game since 2003. One of those streaks is going to officially come to an end on Saturday, in the Sun Bowl.

If the Cougars are going to pick up their first bowl win in over a decade, they are going to have to do what they do best, and that’s air the ball out under quarterback Luke Faulk. The Hurricanes’ secondary isn’t good against the pass, which means the Cougars should be able to move the ball at will.

Conversely, the Hurricanes are going to have to stop the pass. That means getting off the field after third down and not allowing the Cougars to extend drives, which is where they really put away teams. Hurricanes cornerback Artie Burns leads the ACC in interceptions with six, but he’ll need to grab some more on Saturday.

Miami is good at protecting the football, which will be huge for them if they can protect the ball Saturday. The more the Cougars are on the field, the more they are likely to put points up on the board. The less Miami can keep them off the field, the better their chances of winning this game.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Washington State -2.5

Moneyline: Washington State -110

O/U: 62

Prediction

Finally a streak will be broken for one of these two teams. The team that will be finally winning a bowl game after a long drought, will be the Washington State Cougars. The Pac-12 has represented strong in bowls that last couple of years, and is off to a hot start this season.

Miami just doesn’t have the secondary to compete with the Cougars, and Faulk is going to make their secondary pay through the air. The Cougars pick up a program-building win in the Sun Bowl.

Pick: Washington State 44, Miami 31

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