Russell Athletic Bowl, West Virginia vs Miami: Preview and predictions

Nov 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) running back Mark Walton (1) and tight end Christopher Herndon IV (23) celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium. Miami won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Wednesday evening’s Russell Athletic Bowl features one of the more intriguing matchups between West Virginia and Miami.

At one point in the year, Miami was an undefeated football team, ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Hurricanes had a matchup with Florida State in the middle of the season with a shot to improve their resume but a loss seemed to spiral them out of control.

That loss led to four consecutive defeats and the Hurricanes were on the verge of missing out on a bowl berth. Losing to Notre Dame seemed to spark them, though, as they turned things around, winning four straight to finish the regular season.

West Virginia is another underrated team that was a national title contender at one point in the season and remained in the Big 12 race until last season. The Mountaineers finished the regular season 10-2 and finished in third place in the conference behind Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Skyler Howard had a fantastic season for West Virginia, passing for nearly 3,200 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has been one of the biggest surprises in the Big 12 this season. This matchup is one of the more underrated during bowl season.

Here’s how you can watch the Russell Athletic Bowl online Wednesday:

NEXT: 10 breakout candidates during bowl season

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 28
Start Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Orlando, FL
Venue: Camping World Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

Brad Kaaya needs to be his usual, solid self. The junior quarterback has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country when he plays to potential, but he needs to maintain composure and not lose his composure.

For West Virginia, containing Kaaya will be important. The Hurricanes’ top offensive player is a priority for this defense. It’s as simple as making him feel uncomfortable by adding pressure to the pocket.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Miami -2.5
Over/Under: 57

Prediction

Kaaya is going to have a big game for the Hurricanes, but Howard and the Mountaineers will make it close and bring this one down to the wire. Expect this game to be decided in the final couple of minutes with Miami out on top.

Final Score: West Virginia 35, Miami 41

Home/College Football