Bahamas Bowl Betting Odds: Miami (Ohio) vs UAB

The 2022-23 college football bowl season will officially kick-off with the Bahamas Bowl between Miami of Ohio and UAB. Both teams needed to win their final game of the season to become bowl eligible. While it’s not a huge game, there are far worse places for a 20-year-old male to spend time than the Bahamas!

Game Information

Bahamas Bowl Betting Odds

The Bahamas Bowl betting odds have seen the UAB Blazers move from 11-point favorites down to 10-point chalk. Neither Miami (Ohio) or UAB was kind to bettors this season, both going 4-8 ATS. Both teams hurt bettors using them in their college football picks against the spread. The Blazers were 4-5 ATS as a favorite, while the Redhawks were 3-3 ATS as an underdog.

There was little movement in the total, with the Bahamas Bowl betting odds seeing the number move from 43.5 to 44. The lowest total UAB has had this year is 45 while Miami (Ohio) has had four games with a total of 45 or less.

The Bahamas Bowl betting odds have seen little movement on the moneyline, with the Blazers -360. The take price on the Redhawks is +285.

The game will be played at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, which is a natural grass surface. Weather in the Bahamas during December is usually perfect. Temperatures in Nassau are typically close to 80 degrees during the month.

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Redhawks. Miami was picked to win the East Division in the Mid-American Conference preseason media poll but lost starting QB Brett Gabbert to injury. He has since entered the transfer portal, so redshirt freshman Aveon Smith should lead the team here. Smith completed fewer than 50% of his passes but did have nine TD tosses and just five interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 503 yards and six touchdowns.

Miami’s offense is definitely the team’s weak link. The Redhawks scored just 20.3 points per game against teams who allowed 28.3 points on average. Miami (Ohio) ranked No. 119 out of 131 teams in total offense and they don’t run or throw the ball very well. Miami’s best offensive plays may come from Smith running from the pocket.

The Miami (Ohio) defense posted some decent numbers but they may be a bit misleading. The Redhawks did get to play some offensively challenged teams during the season. Miami allowed 22.5 points per game but their foes averaged just 23.3 points on the season. The Redhawk rushing defense allowed 3.9 yards per carry against teams that averaged just 3.8 yards per rush. Miami did a better job keeping teams from scoring than it did stopping them from moving the ball.

UAB Blazers

When you play the Blazers you know you’re going to see a steady dose of running plays. But when you have DeWayne McBride in the backfield, why not run? McBride had a monster season, gaining 1,713 yards with a 7.4 yards per carry average and scored 19 touchdowns. Jermaine Brown Jr. added 832 yards on the year and scored six times.

The Blazers run the ball 40 times a game and throw 25, so UAB makes the most of what it does best. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins is efficient and missed some time due to injuries but should be ready to go here. But UAB will go as far as the running game takes them in this one.

The UAB defense gets overshadowed by the offense but it isn’t bad. The Blazers allowed 23.4 points to teams that averaged 29.1 on the season. UAB is better defending the pass than the run, which isn’t ideal given the problems the Redhawks had throwing the football after the injury to Gabbert. UAB can be run against, with the Blazers allowing 4.8 yards to team’s averaging just 4.3 yards per rush.

Can UAB Run to Victory?

All Bahamas Bowl predictions are going to focus on the Blazers’ rushing attack and you can’t blame anybody for that. But the ability of the UAB defense to shut down a spotty Miami (Ohio) offense will ultimately determine the outcome of this game. The Blazers are going to get their rushing yards and put some points on the scoreboard. It’s a question of Miami trying to keep pace and if it will have any success doing so.

“If Miami is forced to throw, this one could get out of hand.’

The Redhawks can’t afford to get down by a couple of scores early. If Miami is forced to throw, this one could get out of hand. But as long as the Redhawks can stay within striking distance, they can make a game of it.
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