The 2022 college football bowl season kicks off with Miami (OH) vs. UAB in the Bahamas Bowl. Can the RedHawks soar to victory, or will the Blazers prove too hot to handle in their first trip back to the Bahamas since 2017? We’ve got all the latest college football betting odds and a Miami (OH) vs. UAB prediction, where we’ll pick the Bahamas Bowl winner.
Miami (OH) vs. UAB Betting Preview
- Spread
UAB (-11) - Moneyline
UAB (-390), Miami (OH) (+320) - Over/Under
44.5 points - Game Time
11:30 a.m. ET - Location
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas - Predicted Weather
80.9 degrees, sunny, 11.6 mph winds - How to Watch
ESPN, fuboTV
Let’s kick off our bowl season predictions with the Miami (OH) vs. UAB Bahamas Bowl showdown. One of the joys of bowl season is that it brings together matchups that we wouldn’t normally see, and this game is no exception. It’s the first-ever meeting of the RedHawks and Blazers, so we have no historical evidence of dominance or advantage for either team.
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DraftKings Sportsbook has UAB as an 11-point favorite for the Bahamas Bowl, and the Blazers will no doubt be keen to impress in front of new head coach Trent Dilfer. Five of their six wins this year have come by more than the spread line. Buyer beware, however, as UAB is 4-8 ATS and has covered just once in the last seven.
Although the Miami (OH) offense has averaged just 20.2 points per game, and though both teams have above-average scoring defenses, our Miami (OH) vs. UAB prediction projects that the two teams can hit the over in the Bahamas Bowl. At its core, football is a game of momentum, and the Blazers have covered the over in their last four games, all with lines of 50+ points.
Prediction For Bahamas Bowl Between Miami (OH) vs. UAB
Forget Christmas — bowl season is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Can the Bahamas Bowl kick off the postseason calendar in style? Both teams sealed their berth in the Bahamas in their last game of the season, with the RedHawks squeezing past Ball State in dramatic style and the Blazers beating Louisiana Tech on the road to set up the first clash between these two college programs.
Although we mentioned that the Blazers have momentum coming into the Bahamas Bowl in our Miami (OH) vs. UAB odds section, the RedHawks are on a hot streak of form themselves. Miami (OH) has won their last three games, securing their bowl eligibility despite slipping to 3-5 midway through October. Can they upset the odds and take down UAB in Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium?
Offense has been an issue for the RedHawks this season. Averaging just 20.2 points per game, they rank 113th in scoring offense and struggled to get anything going in the passing game. Despite former Penn State wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer snagging a career-high eight touchdowns this year, only Western Michigan has fewer passing yards per game (165.8) and passing touchdowns (13) than Miami (OH) in the MAC.
However, there’s reason for optimism, and his name is Aveon Smith. Despite throwing just 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns when called into action under center, Smith’s dual-threat dynamism could be the key to the game for the RedHawks. He’s put up 503 rushing yards and six touchdowns this year and faces a UAB defense that has allowed 4.69 yards per carry, 22 touchdowns, and 170.58 yards per outing to the ground game.
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Conversely, the Miami (OH) rush defense has been stellar, helping the RedHawks finish the regular season with the 35th-ranked scoring defense. Meanwhile, they’ve allowed opponents to score a touchdown on just 58.97% of red-zone opportunities. Both Ryan McWood and Matthew Salopek have over 100 tackles this season as a defensive forcefield that has limited opposing rushers to 3.93 yards per carry.
That said, they gave up 145 yards and a touchdown to Ohio’s Sieh Bangura and 180 yards and two scores to Ball State’s Carson Steele. With all due respect to those two running backs, neither of them is DeWayne McBride. The UAB running back is the Blazers’ offense, as he led the nation with 155.73 yards per game, scored 19 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 7.35 yards per carry this season.
Between McBride and “Big Play” Trea Shropshire, UAB should have enough to overcome the RedHawks and record their third all-time bowl win.
Prediction
Miami (OH) 21, UAB 27