Last year after a two-year break from action Alabama Birmingham qualified for a bowl game. For a program that folded after the 2014 season it was quite the accomplishment. In the same way head coach Bill Clark continues to build on that success. To be exact the Blazers are champions of Conference USA in just their second season back. For a program that shut down for two years its been an inspirational story. Northern Illinois has had Betting on college football success in their own right. In fact, the Huskies are champions of the Mid-American Conference.
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
Alabama Birmingham Blazers vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Date and Time: Tuesday, December 18, 2018, 7 p.m. ET
Location: FAU Football Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Betting on Football Betting Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Illinois | +2½ (-105) | 43½ (-110) |  |
| UAB | -2½ (-115) | 43½ (-110) | |
| |||
Cheribundi Boca Raton TV Coverage: ESPN
Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois has a betting on college football record of 8-5 straight up, 7-6 against the spread, with 4-9 under the total. Last time out was a thrilling 30-29 NIU win over Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game. More emphatically the Huskies rallied from a 29-10 3rd quarter deficit. Hence Marcus Childers hit DJ Brown with a 35-yard touchdown pass with 1:09 to play to win the game. In the same way the comeback was quite a surprise considering NIU’s national rank of 120th for scoring offense. Defensively the Huskies are a much more impressive 26th for points permitted.
Alabama Birmingham Blazers
Alabama Birmingham has an sports betting record of 10-3 straight up, 10-3 against the spread, and 5-8 under the total. Last game for the Blazers was a 27-25 payout over Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA championship game. So too are the Blazers a strong defensive team. In fact, UAB ranked 10th in the nation for points allowed. By contrast the Blazers are an effective team at rushing the football. Alabama Birmingham ranked 29th nationally in that category. To illuminate Spencer Brown amassed 1149 yards rushing with 4.7 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns.
Stats to Consider
Northern Illinois has been a god wagering value away from home. As an example, the Huskies have paid in four of their last five getting points on the road. Three of their last five in that situation have gone under the total. Balanced against that is the solid road wagering value of Alabama Birmingham. The Blazers have paid in four of their last six matchups away from home. And four of those six games also went under the total.
Matchup to Watch
It follows that this is a betting on college football matchup of similar teams. Despite the fact that both teams have strong defenses the UAB ground attack is the matchup advantage. Additionally, the Blazers are riding high emotionally as one of the nation’s great comeback stories. In the same way the Northern Illinois offense is off more than its on. Not withstanding the comeback over Buffalo, the Huskies will find tough going against UAB.
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl Betting on College Football Picks
On this occasion expect Alabama Birmingham to cap off a great season with a big win!
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl Betting on College Football Pick: Alabama Birmingham
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl Betting on College Football Score Prediction: Alabama Birmingham 28, Northern Illinois 20
Catch highlights of UAB’s win in the CUSA title game!