PREMIUM
Rogers' Russell Athletic Bowl WINNER (Weds) >> SIZZLING 9-2 Bowl Run!
(NCAAF) West Virginia vs. Miami-FL,
Point Spread: 3.00 | -125.00 West Virginia (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 3.00 | -125.00 West Virginia (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: West Virginia is 10-2 as it gets set to play 8-4 Miami-Florida in the Russell Athletic Bowl and has a chance to clinch the school's first 11-win season since 2007. Miami (Fl.) tries to finish its first season under Mark Richt with a five-game winning streak when the former Big East foes meet in Orlando, Fl. The No. 12 Mountaineers rebounded from their mistake-filled 56-28 loss to Oklahoma with victories against Iowa State and Baylor to finish an impressive 7-2 in the Big 12. While the unranked Hurricanes recovered from a mid-season four-game losing streak that included a pair of heartbreaking losses to Florida State and Notre Dame by outscoring their final four ACC foes 152-76 to save a season that appeared to be slipping away.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers rank No. 12 in total offense (506.9 YPG) with a very balanced attack behind QB Howard (3,194 yards passing yrd, 60.8 percent completions, 26 TDs & 10 INTs) and a backfield led by Crawford (1,168 yards on 7.4 YPC) which also had four different players rush for more than 100 yards in a game. The passing game averaged 267.4 YPG and the running game 239.5 YPG (19th) on 5.4 YPC. However, the team's scoring average of 32.6 PPG ranked a more modest 46th. The defense had the opposite issue, allowing 431.2 YPG to rank 80th but allowed a more modest 23.4 PPG to rank 34th!
Miami-Florida: QB Brad Kaaya could be headed to the NFL after this game and enters completing 61.2% for 3,250 yards with 23 TDs and seven INTs. He played his best at the end of the season when he benefited from improved protection from his OL plus the emergence of explosive freshman WR Ahmmon Richards (46 receptions, 866 yards, 18.8 yards per reception) and the improved play of TE David Njoku (38 catches for 654 yards on 17.2 YPC with 7 TDs). The offensive line's re-emergence after being dominated during the losing streak, also helped Walton (1,065 yards on 5.5 YPC with 14 TDs) and Joe Yearby (592 yards on 6.0 YPC) provide balance in the final four wins. Miami features four freshmen in their defensive front-seven and held nine opponents to 21 points or less (18.9 PPG on the season ranked 14th).
The pick: Bowl games are often decided by which team is more motivated but in this case both squads should be excited to get on the field at Camping World Stadium. Miami hasn't won a bowl game in a decade, as its last win came in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl over Nevada. Miami's lost six straight bowl games and seven of its last eight! The Mountaineers' outstanding regular season has already resulted in head coach Dana Holgorsen being given a five-year contract extension but they have the opportunity to possibly finish ranked in the top-10 and the Big 12 could use a big bowl season to crank up its reputation after a rocky regular season. Yes, Miami was 4-0 SU & ATS down the stretch but two wins came over 2-10 Virginia and 4-8 Duke, while the other two were over decent but not great teams, like Pitt and NC St. Make West Virginia an 8* play
West Virginia: The Mountaineers rank No. 12 in total offense (506.9 YPG) with a very balanced attack behind QB Howard (3,194 yards passing yrd, 60.8 percent completions, 26 TDs & 10 INTs) and a backfield led by Crawford (1,168 yards on 7.4 YPC) which also had four different players rush for more than 100 yards in a game. The passing game averaged 267.4 YPG and the running game 239.5 YPG (19th) on 5.4 YPC. However, the team's scoring average of 32.6 PPG ranked a more modest 46th. The defense had the opposite issue, allowing 431.2 YPG to rank 80th but allowed a more modest 23.4 PPG to rank 34th!
Miami-Florida: QB Brad Kaaya could be headed to the NFL after this game and enters completing 61.2% for 3,250 yards with 23 TDs and seven INTs. He played his best at the end of the season when he benefited from improved protection from his OL plus the emergence of explosive freshman WR Ahmmon Richards (46 receptions, 866 yards, 18.8 yards per reception) and the improved play of TE David Njoku (38 catches for 654 yards on 17.2 YPC with 7 TDs). The offensive line's re-emergence after being dominated during the losing streak, also helped Walton (1,065 yards on 5.5 YPC with 14 TDs) and Joe Yearby (592 yards on 6.0 YPC) provide balance in the final four wins. Miami features four freshmen in their defensive front-seven and held nine opponents to 21 points or less (18.9 PPG on the season ranked 14th).
The pick: Bowl games are often decided by which team is more motivated but in this case both squads should be excited to get on the field at Camping World Stadium. Miami hasn't won a bowl game in a decade, as its last win came in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl over Nevada. Miami's lost six straight bowl games and seven of its last eight! The Mountaineers' outstanding regular season has already resulted in head coach Dana Holgorsen being given a five-year contract extension but they have the opportunity to possibly finish ranked in the top-10 and the Big 12 could use a big bowl season to crank up its reputation after a rocky regular season. Yes, Miami was 4-0 SU & ATS down the stretch but two wins came over 2-10 Virginia and 4-8 Duke, while the other two were over decent but not great teams, like Pitt and NC St. Make West Virginia an 8* play
