NCAA Football BETTING PREVIEW - Western Kentucky @ Southern Mississippi

NCAA Football

2025-12-23 - Western Kentucky at Southern Mississippi

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
United States : College Football New Orleans Bowl
Tuesday 23rd December 2025 - Scheduled 5:30pm
10:30pm (British Time)

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Preview

They only just missed out on playing in the Conference USA Championship Game, but the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-4) are heading to New Orleans to play in another Bowl.

This season they are taking on the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (7-5) who also only just missed out on a Conference Championship Game in the Sun Belt Conference, but who have already secured a winning record. They only won one game in 2024, but the strong performance in 2025 has meant the Head Coach received offers from elsewhere and Charles Huff has accepted a role with the Memphis Tigers.

An internal appointment means Southern Mississippi should have some consistency in the approach they will take to this Bowl Game.

However, it does mean there will be some transition and the same can be said for Western Kentucky Hilltoppers who have still not announced which of the Quarter Backs will be starting this game. The positive is that the Hilltoppers have everyone ready to go for one more big effort to close out the season and they should match up pretty well with this opponent.

Western Kentucky's Offensive Line have paved the way for some big gains on the ground and there is every reason to believe they can win at the Line of Scrimmage in this one. It is key for the Hilltoppers to be in front of the chains and give the Quarter Back a bit more time when they do drop back to throw, while also meaning play-action is opened up.

There has been a really good balance to the Hilltoppers Offensive approach and that is likely to be the same in this one with the Golden Eagles struggling to stop the run down the stretch.

You have to expect Western Kentucky to make some big Offensive plays, but the key to the outcome of the game may be on the other side of the ball.

Southern Mississippi closed out the season throwing the ball really well, while they may feel there are more opportunities to run the ball with some consistency against this struggling Hilltoppers Defensive Line.

It will be a challenge for the Golden Eagles Offensive Line considering they have not really had much success aiding the run game all season, but there are spaces against this Hilltoppers Defensive Line and they have to make that pay off.

Throwing the ball against this Secondary is something that Braylon Braxton would have expected to have success doing before an injury picked up near the end of the regular season. He has had a bit of time to recover and prepare for the Bowl Game, but the Golden Eagles will need him if they are going to come out on the right side of what looks like being a high-scoring game.

Turnovers are likely going to be important, while Western Kentucky have more experience at preparing for a Bowl Game, which can be an important factor too.

This may not be a College Football Playoff game, but it is an important one for the two schools competing in a big NFL Stadium and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers can come out on top with a late change in possession giving them the edge.

Prediction

Lay the points with the narrow favourite in this Bowl Game.

The Pick :

Southern Mississippi 23-27 Western Kentucky

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - 1 Point at -103 with Bookmaker.eu