Bahamas Bowl Picks & Odds: UAB a Double-Digit Favorite Over RedHawks

Two 6-6 teams will square off in the first bowl game of the season on December 16 when the UAB Blazers (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) take on the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (6-6, 5-7) in the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl as large favorites at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. The Blazers are led by the nation’s leading rusher, DeWayne McBride, who has totaled 1,713 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground and helped the OVER cash in each of their last four games.

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Bahamas Bowl Sportsbook Odds

UAB failed to cover the spread in six of seven games to close out the season and also lost four of six down the stretch after a 4-2 start. But the Blazers are still viewed by bettors as the far superior team, with the line moving up to -10 in early wagering action. The total is also up one point so far to 44.5, with UAB averaging 31.5 points in its last four that have all finished above the number.

Meanwhile, Miami won three of its last four to become bowl-eligible, needing an 18-17 victory against the Ball State Cardinals on November 22 to earn this invitation. The RedHawks rallied back from a 17-6 deficit in the fourth quarter.

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Latest Betting Notes: Miami

The RedHawks finished fourth in the MAC’s East Division at 4-4 in conference play and will be appearing in a bowl game for the second consecutive year. Last season, they defeated the North Texas Mean Green 27-14 in the Frisco Football Classic, covering the spread easily as 2-point favorites.

Miami is obviously in the underdog role this time around, though, and has gone 4-2 ATS in its last six as a dog, according to the Odds Shark NCAAF Database, winning three of those games SU as well. All six took place this year.

Latest Betting Notes: UAB

While the Blazers struggled a bit over the last month of the regular season, McBride did everything he could to carry them. He rushed for a school-record 272 yards on just 16 carries in the finale vs the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on November 26, as UAB became bowl-eligible for the seventh straight year.

However, the Blazers did not cover the spread as 18-point favorites, and they are 1-3 ATS in their last four as double-digit chalk despite winning three of those games SU. With a run-heavy offense featuring two backs (Jermaine Brown Jr. is the second) who combined for 2,545 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, UAB is built to get a lead and then control the clock against opponents.

Keys To Victory: Miami

The RedHawks share a somewhat recent opponent with the Blazers in the Mean Green, who lost 41-21 at UAB on November 12. Miami beat North Texas in a bowl a year ago as mentioned earlier, so the team is familiar with scouting Conference USA from that experience. That may make preparation a little easier for Miami and help the team cover.

Keys To Victory: UAB

Even though the Blazers did not fare well ATS as double-digit favorites this season, all six of their wins were decided by 10 points or more. In fact, five of the six were decided by at least two touchdowns, which might be the case again in this spot. UAB’s running game ranked fifth nationally behind only Air Force, Army, Ole Miss and UCLA, so this team should overpower its opponent on the ground and roll to another cover with a victory.

Bahamas Bowl Computer Pick: UAB -11

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