Miami (OH) vs. Mississippi State Preview
Where: Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, Florida
When: Monday, December 26, 11:00 PM ET
Line: Miami (OH) RedHawks (+14) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (-14); total 58.5 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Writer’s Pick: Mississippi State Bulldogs (-14)
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Betting on the Miami (OH) RedHawks (+14)
Miami’s 2016 season was weird to say the least. The RedHawks looked dead and buried as they started the season 0-6. But somehow, someway, they went 6-0 in the backend of their schedule to score bowl eligibility. And if not for their loss to Ohio, they would’ve played in the MAC championship game.
It’s probably too simply to pin their incredible turnaround all on a quarterback change, but facts are facts. They’re 6-0 since sophomore Gus Ragland took over as the starter. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,274 yards and 15 touchdowns, but most impressively, he has yet to throw a single interception.
Ragland has a really good shot at having another big game against a very porous Mississippi State pass defense. The Bulldogs were dead last in the SEC in that department, as they gave up 31 passing TDs and 7.7 yards per attempt.
This team’s strength lies on the defensive side of the ball, though. Miami finished 26th in the country in total defense, one spot ahead of the other Miami team, and 33rd in terms of yards per play.
Betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (-14)
Mississippi State went 5-7 this year, its first losing season since head coach Dam Mullen’s first year in 2009, but was lucky it was still able to sneak into a bowl game. That was always expected after the departure of Dak Prescott, the best quarterback in school history. However, the Bulldogs did end the season thanks to some big wins.
First they upset a then-No. 4-ranked Texas A&M at home. They subsequently get blown out in their next two games against Alabama and Arkansas, but they made up for it by blowing Ole Miss out in the Egg Bowl, 55-20.
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was instrumental in both of those big wins, and is the biggest reason for optimism heading into next season. The sophomore had 391 total yards and accounted for four touchdowns against the Aggies. He was arguably even better against the Rebels, as he had 367 yards (including 258 on the ground) with five total touchdowns.
Fitzgerald finished the season with 3,530 total yards and 35 total touchdowns, which tied Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs for the most in the SEC. Fitzgerald’s excellent running ability will be something the Miami defense has not seen all season long, so he should be able to rack up some big numbers once again.
Writer’s Prediction
Fitzgerald has another huge game as he leads Mississippi State (-14) to a big 42-24 bowl win.
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