Miami (OH) vs UAB Odds and Picks – Prediction for Bahamas Bowl

• Miami (OH) and UAB kick off the college bowl season in the Bahamas Bowl on December 16
• UAB is a 9.5-point favorite over the RedHawks in the first meeting between the two programs
• Read below for Miami (OH) vs UAB odds, analysis and prediction

UAB (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA) is a 9.5-point favorite over Miami (OH) in the Bahamas Bowl at 11:30 am Friday at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, the Bahamas. The Blazers hired former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer as head coach on Nov. 30, but interim coach Bryant Vincent will coach the game.

Miami (OH) (6-6, 4-4 Mid-American) made a bowl for a third consecutive non-COVID season and is 8-5 in 13 bowl appearances. This is the first meeting of the two programs and is the first of the 43 scheduled bowl games this season. Each team won its final regular-season game to achieve bowl eligibility.

Miami (OH) vs UAB Odds

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UAB opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Miami (OH) but has jumped to an 11.5-point favorite in the first meeting between the schools.

The Blazers are 4-8 ATS this season, 2-4 SU in their last six, and 1-6 ATS in the last seven. UAB games have gone over the total in the last four. Miami (OH) is 5-7 ATS, 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS in its last six.

UAB Leads with the Run

Walter Camp All-American running back DeWayne McBride led the Blazers to the most prolific rushing attack in program history. McBride, who has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, set school records for rushing yards (1,713), rushing touchdowns (19) and yards per carry (7.4). He entered bowl season as the leading rusher in NCAA Division I despite missing the first game because of injury, and the Blazers rank fifth in Division I with 243.5 rushing yards per game, one spot ahead of Michigan.

CFN’s College Football Offensive All-Americans

🚀 DeWayne McBride (@Debo323232), @UAB_FB

🚀 Nathaniel Dell (@Tankdell4), @UHCougarFB

🚀 Rashad Green (@raragreen22), @GreenWaveFB

For the full team: https://t.co/nTNavyQn2o pic.twitter.com/7WcNgDDR3G

— College Football Network (@CFN365) December 6, 2022

Offensive tackles Kadeem Telfort and Sidney Wells joined McBride on the all-CUSA first team for a team that was uber-committed to the ground game. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins, who underwent left (non-passing) shoulder surgery in the offseason, completed 120 of 191 passes for 1,709 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Hopkins suffered a concussion-related injury in the first quarter of a 20-17 loss to Western Kentucky and did not return. He also missed the 24-17 loss to Florida Atlantic the following, a loss that basically eliminated the Blazers from league contention.

The Blazers have played in a bowl the past six seasons, going 2-3 SU in bowls after the 2020 Gasparilla Bowl was canceled because of COVID-19 issues in the South Carolina program. In that stretch,  they won two of the last three and are coming off the biggest win in program history in the 2021 Independence Bowl, a 31-28 victory over No. 13 BYU.

Miami (OH) Finishing Strong

The RedHawks will make their third consecutive bowl appearance after winning their final two and three of four, their only loss to MAC East champion Ohio on Nov. 8. Miami was 5-3 in games dual-threat quarterback Aveon Smith started in place of No. 1 Brett Gabbert, who suffered a shoulder injury in the season opener and played sparingly afterward.

On the very next play after the penalty… TOUCHDOWN, Miami!

Aveon Smith picks up Miami's first endzone call of the night, using his legs for an 18-yard scramble to cut the BSU lead to 17-12! #MACtion pic.twitter.com/xvGzTcLNLl

— Hustle Belt (@HustleBelt) November 23, 2022

Smith had 1,137 yards passing and 507 yards rushing, the first quarterback in program history to lead the RedHawks in both in the same season. Smith’s 34-yard touchdown to Miles Marshall with 1:42 remaining beat Ball State 18-17 to make the RedHawks bowl-eligible. Miami averaged 20.3 points per game and just under 310 total yards.

The RedHawks lead with defense.  Miami is 40th in Division I against the run, giving up 135.8 yards per game, and leads the MAC in rushing defense and scoring defense (22.5 points per game). They were fourth in total defense (371.7) and held four opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing. They gave up only 15 rushing touchdowns.

Miami vs UAB Prediction

The game matches strengths — McBride’s ability to run against the RedHawks’ ability to stop the same. Each team is 1-1 SU in its last two bowl appearances, with Miami 2-0 ATS and UAB 1-1. UAB was the second-choice in the preseason CUSA poll but had a disappointing season after head coach Bill Clark retired in August for health reasons.

Miami beat CUSA North Texas in the Frisco Bowl a year ago. The points are the way to go here.

• Pick: Miami (OH) +11.5 (-114) 
• Season CFB: 45-45

Make sure to monitor our college football bowl opt-out tracker for any notable news that could impact the betting line.