Miami Beach Bowl Preview: Western Kentucky and South Florida are set to get down in sunny Miami at Marlins Park. This is one of a select few of the 43 bowl games that I’ll be circling on my calendar to remind me to watch. This game has the right recipe to keep FBS insiders and the average Joe fan on the edge of their seat.
Western Kentucky comes into this contest as the Conference USA Champions, riding an 11-2 overall record. With plenty of skilled offensive weapons and confidence abound, they will be looking to finish the year with a South Beach celebration.
South Florida, who turned their season around after a 0-3 start, grew into an AAC powerhouse. They will be looking to defend state honors and finish off the season with a victory over an explosive Western Kentucky team.
Bowl: Miami Beach Bowl
Teams: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs South Florida Bulls
Date/Time: December 21, 2015 – 2:30 EST on ESPN
Location: Marlins Park, Miami, FL
Vegas Line/Total: W. Kentucky -2.5 / O/U 65.5
Written by: Erik the Hun
11 – 2 Record – 7 – 5 – 1 Vs Spread Over – Under: 9 – 4 12/05/15 Southern Mississippi W 45-28 W -7.5 U 76 11/27/15 Marshall W 49-28 W -12.5 O 64 11/21/15 @ Florida International W 63-7 W -20 O 65.5 11/07/15 Florida Atlantic W 35-19 L -25.5 U 67 10/31/15 @ Old Dominion W 55-30 P -25 O 66 10/24/15 @ Louisiana State L 20-48 L 16 O 65 10/15/15 @ North Texas W 55-28 L -34.5 O 71.5 10/10/15 Middle Tennessee W 58-28 W -7 O 69.5 10/03/15 @ Rice W 49-10 W -7 U 69 09/26/15 Miami (Ohio) W 56-14 W -20 O 67 09/19/15 @ Indiana L 35-38 L 2.5 O 72.5 09/10/15 Louisiana Tech W 41-38 W 2.5 O 62.5 09/03/15 @ Vanderbilt W 14-12 L -2.5 U 60 |
8 – 4 Record – 9 – 2 – 1 Vs Spread Over – Under: 5 – 6 – 1 11/26/15 @ Central Florida W 44-3 W -24.5 U 53.5 |
December 7, 1952 – Refrigerator Bowl – W. Kentucky 34 – 19 Arkansas State December 28, 1963 – Tangerine Bowl – W. Kentucky 27 – 0 Coast Guard December 26, 2012 – Little Caesars Pizza Bowl – W. Kentucky 21 – 24 Central Michigan December 24, 2014 – Bahamas Bowl – W. Kentucky 49 – 48 Central Michigan |
December 23, 2006 – PapaJohns.com Bowl – S. Florida 24 – 7 East Carolina December 31, 2007 – Sun Bowl – S. Florida 21 – 56 Oregon December 20, 2008 – St. Petersburg Bowl S. Florida – 41 – 14 Memphis January 2, 2010 – International Bowl – S. Florida 27 – 3 N. Illinois December 31, 2010 – Meineke Car Care Bowl – S. Florida 31 – 26 Clemson |
Western Kentucky Outlook:
Western Kentucky is fresh off a Sun Belt title with a stout 11-2 record, and is averaging over 44.2 points a game, (4th in FBS). Armed with with the nations 6th ranked passing offense and 9th ranked in points, look for scoring from this efficient offensive juggernaut.
The Rolls-Royce engine that makes this offensive sports car hum is none other than Brandon Doughty. Doughty has racked up some of the most impressive numbers in NCAA Football this year. He has tossed the pigskin around to the tune of 356 completions at a stunning 71.8 completion percentage. Let’s not forget what that does for yardage totals, as he has an 4594 yards and 45 TDs with only seven INTs. Simply beautiful.
To add to the explosive air attack, bring in Junior Running back Anthony Wales (140-981 yards, 7 TDs and a 7 yard avg.) and De’Andre Ferby ( 151-604 yards and 11 TDs). The two backs have been more than a complementary addition to the Brandon Doughty blitzkrieg.
If Doughty is the engine that drives this machine, then Taywan Taylor is the tires that keep it on the road. Taylor has outstanding numbers in 2015, he has 79 catches for 1356 yards and 17 TDs with a 17.2 average. His counterparts, wide out Nicholas Norris and tight end Tyler Higbee, make a great two-three punch. Combined, the two have 96 catches for 1414 yards and 12 TDs.
South Florida Outlook:
South Florida started the season going in the wrong direction, but considering their loses were to Florida State, Maryland and Memphis, this set back is somewhat understandable. As all good teams that face adversity go, South Florida picked themselves off the mat, and rattled off wins in seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming to a pretty darn good Navy squad.
The Bulls accomplished this turnaround doing what they do best, running the ball. Quarterback Quinton Flowers became a sleek two-edged sword, slicing through opponents through the air and on the ground. Flowers piled up 2900 total yards and 31 touchdowns, 889 of those yards on the ground and 10 times hitting pay dirt with his legs.
When Flowers is handing the ball off, he’s handing it off to Marlon Mack. Mack (193-1273 yards and a 6.6 average and 8 TDs) has been a chain mover all season long. This one-two punch is exactly why South Florida is playing in this game.
Although the wide receivers didn’t compile any eye-opening stats in yardage this year, as a collective they made big plays at the right times. Between this group, five receivers caught over a dozen passes for over forty yards, half resulting in scores.
Matchup Analysis & Prediction
Analysis:
With both teams fielding somewhat mediocre defenses, I wouldn’t expect a whole lot of resistance against these powerful offenses. South Florida’s coach Taggert, who built a solid foundation at Western Kentucky (2010-2012), will want this one a little more than most. Brandon Doughty and Western Kentucky are very underrated for the talent that they possess. Buckle up and get ready, this one might be one of the most competitive and high-scoring affairs of the bowl year.
Prediction:
To get further analysis from Ej the Rainmaker and Erik the Hun, check out our audio Miami Beach Bowl preview using the audio file below…
