Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Florida Bulls Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Florida Bulls Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

David Schwab
Date: December 21, 2:30 pm
Location: Marlins Park

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Western Kentucky -3.5
Total: 66

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The Hilltoppers made their way to the Conference USA title game this season after going 8-0 straight-up in the East Division and they capped things off with a 45-28 victory against Southern Miss in the championship game as 7.5-point favorites. The total in that game stayed UNDER the 76.5-point closing line. On the year, Western Kentucky is 11-2 straight-up with an 8-4-1 record ATS. It has now covered in four of its last five games.
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Western Kentucky comes into this game with one of the most potent passing attacks in the nation. Behind quarterback Brandon Doughty, the offense is averaging 365.4 passing yards a game, which is the sixth-highest total in the country. Doughty has thrown for 4,594 yards and 45 touchdowns, while completing an impressive 71.8 percent of his 496 attempts. The Hilltoppers are the fourth-highest scoring team in the Nation with an average of 44 points a game.
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South Florida went 6-2 SU in conference play this season as part of an overall record of 8-4. The Bulls bring a four-game winning streak both SU and ATS into this bowl game following a 44-3 romp against Central Florida as heavy 24.5-point road favorites in their season finale. They were a profitable 9-2-1 ATS this year and the total has now stayed UNDER in four of their last six games.
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The Bulls also bring a solid ground game into this matchup that averaged 242.9 yards a game. Marlon Mack led the way with 1,273 rushing yards and eight touchdown runs and quarterback Quinton Flowers proved to be a double threat with 2,023 yards passing and 21 touchdown throws to go along with another 883 yards and 10 scores on the ground. South Florida was also known for having a stingy defense that held opposing teams to an average of just 21.1 points a game.
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Florida Bulls Game Betting Trends
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The Hilltoppers are 1-4 ATS in their last five nonconference games, but they are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games played in December.
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The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last five bowl games and they are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a SU win. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games played in December.
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These two played a home-and-home series back in 2009 and 2010 with South Florida winning both games SU and Western Kentucky covering each time as a 20+ point underdog. The total stayed UNDER in both contests.
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Florida Bulls Prediction

South Florida will have the home field advantage in this matchup given where the game is being played, but I have to go with the Hilltoppers both SU and ATS as my "best bet" play. The Bulls are a good team on both sides of the ball, but I cannot see them keeping pace on the scoreboard against Western Kentucky.

Free Pick: Take Western Kentucky -3.5 (DS)
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