Next in the early 2015-16 NCAA Football Bowl games we have 1 Bowl game and that being the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl with the 11-2 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1st in Conference USA-East Division) playing the 8-4 South Florida Bulls (2nd American Athletic-East Division) with the4game being played at Marlins Park, in Miami, Florida with kick-off scheduled for 2:35 PM ET and seen on ESPN TV.
For those that Bet on College football at an online sportsbook the favorites in the game are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at -2 ½ with the Over/under at 65 ½ and -135 on the Money Line, while the South Florida Bulls are the underdogs at +2 ½ and +115 on the ML for the Miami Beach Bowl.
This Bowl game last year was exciting for the fans as BYU and Memphis had a shootout of a game with the final score 55-48 in double OT and Memphis winning the game. The game this year should also bring fan excitement since the Bulls average 51 points in the ultimate 3 games this season, while the Hilltoppers averaged 52.4 points in their ultimate 3 games in 2015.
The fans of the 11-2 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers your team won their last 5 games and that included the blowout win over Southern Mississippi 45-28 to win the USA Conference Title. They won that title, thanks to the excellent play of their QB B. Doughty who passed for 3 touchdowns in that game and 412 yards, and in the ultimate 5 games he had 18 passing touchdowns.
Without a doubt QB Doughty is 1 of the best in college football as he leads in TD passes for his 2nd consecutive year, and he is as USA Conference MVP on 2 occasions. A native of South Florida the fans of the area will be looking for him to have a great game, and he has a favorite WR in T. Taylor who can assist him that goal.
WR Taylor this season has scored 17 touchdowns on 79 receptions that went for 1,365 yard. Thus Taylor and QB Doughty were part of the 4th best offense in the nation with 445 yards per game, 3rd in passing at 366 yards each game. However, the scoring could be more difficult against the Bulls whom this season have only given up 13 touchdowns for the season and had 15 interceptions to date.
Defensively they are tied for the 2nd ranking for forced turnovers at 31, and they have a trio on defense with DB’s P. Iworah with 4 interceptions, and W. Terry with 2 intercepts, then LB N. Holt has 3 interceptions to date, while the team has 14 fumble recoveries this season.
The fans of the 8-4 South Florida Bulls know their team’s approach on offense differs from their opponent the Hilltoppers as they love to run the ball and grind out yardage since they have 1 of college football’s best running games which ranks 11th as they rush for 244 yards each game.
That same running game helped South Florida end their season beating UCF as the rushed on 54 carries for 282 yards and controlled the possession time for most of the game. That same performance would limit the Hilltoppers offense time on the playing field in this game. Their RB M. Mack has led the backfield and the team as he has had 195 carries for 1.275 yards this season and scored 8 touchdowns. Also leading is QB Q. Flowers as he rushed for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns with his quick moves and running strength. Don’t be confuses as the Bulls also have a passing game that can be very efficient in the scoring zone, as QB Flowers has 6 touchdowns from inside the 20 in their season 4 game winning streak and ending their season.
On defense they have some strong playmakers in DL B. Hector and DB J. Byrd who each has 5 sacks to date, while DB D. Nichols leads the team with 4 interceptions this season, and the team allowed opponents an average of 5 yards each play this season. Thus a running game the eats up time in the game and a strong defense should keep the Bull in the game.
The online betting prediction for this Bowl game in Miami Beach is that the Hilltoppers prove to be too much in the closing minutes and outplay the Bulls for the win.