Sutton Smith has been the heartbeat of the Northern Illinois defence, racking up 15 sacks – tied for the NCAA lead – and a whopping 24.5 tackles for loss.
| Pointspread | -1.5 -110 |
| Moneyline | -125 |
| Over / Under | o +41.5 |
32%
68%
| Pointspread | +1.5 -110 |
| Moneyline | +105 |
| Over / Under | u +41.5 |
32%
68%
The UAB Blazers and Northern Illinois Huskies advanced to bowl season on the strength of nationally elite pass rushes – and those sack-happy units will go toe-to-toe Tuesday night in Florida as they face off in the Boca Raton Bowl. UAB put together an impressive 10-win season and knocked off Middle Tennessee 27-25 to secure the Conference USA title. Northern Illinois secured the MAC championship with a 30-29 triumph over Buffalo.
Boca Raton Bowl Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm | UAB | -2.5 -110 | O +44 -110 |
| Closing 18 Dec 9:18pm | UAB | -1.5 -110 | O +42 -110 |
The Huskies are favoured by less than a field goal in a matchup between two of the country’s most vaunted defences. UAB allowed the 11th-fewest yards per game in the nation (300.2), while Northern Illinois wasn’t far behind in 31st (347.8). But while the Blazers were a terrific cover option – going 8-3 ATS in their final 11 games – the Huskies have covered just five of their previous 18 games on grass and are 0-5 ATS in their last five bowl appearances.
The game carries a total of 42.5 – one of the lowest of bowl season – and both teams carry conflicting totals trends that make this one a bit of a head-scratcher. UAB has gone above the number in four of its previous five games overall, but is 7-2 to the under in its past nine vs. teams with winning records. Northern Illinois has gone below the number in nine of 13 but has exceeded the total in five of its previous seven neutral-site contests.
UAB Blazers
The Blazers come into this one ranked tied for third in the country in total team sacks (43) and fourth in sacks per game (3.31). Senior defensive lineman Jamell Garcia-Williams paces UAB with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while linebacker Tre’ Crawford has added 12 TFLs and eight sacks. But the quarterback tandem of A.J. Erdely and Tyler Johnston III represents one of the team’s major weak spots, combining for 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
Northern Illinois Huskies
The Huskies made life downright miserable for opposing quarterbacks and offensive lines in 2018, leading all of Division I in total sacks (50), sack yardage lost (323) and average sacks per game (3.85). Sutton Smith has been the heartbeat of the Northern Illinois defence, racking up 15 sacks – tied for the NCAA lead – and a whopping 24.5 tackles for loss. That pass rush excellence masked an offence that produced the eighth-fewest yards per game (325.0).
Injuries
D.A. Williams (CB)
Spencer Brown (RB)
Rishard Cook (OL)
Justice Powers (OL)
Greg Fecanin (OL)
Brontae Harris (CB)
Garrett Marino (DL)
Jarrion Street (RB)
A.J. Erdely (QB)
Lee Dufour (OL)
Mitchell Brinkman (TE)
Tifonte Hunt (CB)
Josh Corcoran (DE)
Marcus Jones (RB)
Corey Lersch (TE)
Christopher Perez Jr. (OL)
Quintin Wynne (DE)
Trayshon Foster (S)
Kyle Pugh (LB)
Albert Smalls (CB)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.A. Williams (CB) | day-to-day | Undisclosed - 18 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Williams exited Tuesday's game due to an unspecified injury and will not return. |
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| Spencer Brown (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Brown is battling an unspecified injury and it is uncertain if he will be in the lineup for the Conference USA championship game against Middle Tennessee. |
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| Rishard Cook (OL) | Ques Sat | Illness - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Cook is ailing from an illness and it has yet to be determined if the symptoms will subside in time for the Conference USA championship game against Middle Tennessee. |
|||||
| Justice Powers (OL) | Ques Sat | Personal - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Powers is away from the team due to the birth of his child and it is unclear if he will face Middle Tennessee State in the Conference USA championship game. |
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| Greg Fecanin (OL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Fecanin missed the last game dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will be available for the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. |
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| Brontae Harris (CB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Harris missed the last game with an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will play in the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. |
|||||
| Garrett Marino (DL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Marino is nursing an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will be in Saturday's lineup against Middle Tennessee. |
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| Jarrion Street (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Street has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play against Middle Tennessee on Saturday. |
|||||
| A.J. Erdely (QB) | Ques Sat | Shoulder - 04 / 11 / 18 | 2-3 | 4-1 | + - |
|
Erdely has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and it is unclear if he will be available Saturday against Middle Tennessee. |
|||||
| Lee Dufour (OL) | Ques Sat | Knee - 24 / 10 / 18 | 4-3 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Dufour is recovering from a knee injury and it is unclear if he will return to the lineup for the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Brinkman (TE) | day-to-day | Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Brinkman is expected to suit up for the MAC championship game against Buffalo despite battling an undefined injury. |
|||||
| Tifonte Hunt (CB) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Hunt sat out the previous game dealing with an unspecified ailment and it is unclear if he will be available for the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl against UAB. |
|||||
| Josh Corcoran (DE) | day-to-day | Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Corcoran has been suspended for the first half of the MAC championship game against Buffalo and it is uncertain if he will play in the second half. |
|||||
| Marcus Jones (RB) | Prob Tues | Thigh - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Jones has a thigh injury but is expected to suit up Tuesday against Western Michigan. |
|||||
| Corey Lersch (TE) | day-to-day | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Lersch did not take the field in the previous game due to an ankle injury and his availability for the MAC championship game against Buffalo is in question. |
|||||
| Christopher Perez Jr. (OL) | Ques Tues | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Perez Jr. was held out of the previous two games due to an ankle injury. It is unclear if he will suit up for the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl against UAB. |
|||||
| Quintin Wynne (DE) | Ques Wed | Suspension - 05 / 11 / 18 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Wynne has been suspended for the first half of Wednesday's game against Toledo for targeting and it is unknown if he will play in the remainder of the game. |
|||||
| Trayshon Foster (S) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 25 / 10 / 18 | 4-3 | 3-4 | + - |
|
Foster has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against BYU and it is unclear if he will play in the second half. |
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| Kyle Pugh (LB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 30 / 09 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Pugh has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Ball State. |
|||||
| Albert Smalls (CB) | out for season | Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Smalls is suffering from an undisclosed injury and it is likely he will miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
|||||
Blazers vs. Huskies Prediction
-
UAB BLAZERS
17 -
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES
20
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm UAB -2.5 -110 O +44 -110 Closing 18 Dec 9:18pm UAB -1.5 -110 O +42 -110 -
Injuries
D.A. Williams (CB)
day-to-day Undisclosed - 18 / 12 / 18Spencer Brown (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 25 / 11 / 18Rishard Cook (OL)
Ques Sat Illness - 25 / 11 / 18Justice Powers (OL)
Ques Sat Personal - 25 / 11 / 18Greg Fecanin (OL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18Brontae Harris (CB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18Garrett Marino (DL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18Jarrion Street (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18A.J. Erdely (QB)
Ques Sat Shoulder - 04 / 11 / 18Lee Dufour (OL)
Ques Sat Knee - 24 / 10 / 18Mitchell Brinkman (TE)
day-to-day Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18Tifonte Hunt (CB)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18Josh Corcoran (DE)
day-to-day Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18Marcus Jones (RB)
Prob Tues Thigh - 20 / 11 / 18Corey Lersch (TE)
day-to-day Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18Christopher Perez Jr. (OL)
Ques Tues Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18Quintin Wynne (DE)
Ques Wed Suspension - 05 / 11 / 18Trayshon Foster (S)
Ques Sat Suspension - 25 / 10 / 18Kyle Pugh (LB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 30 / 09 / 18Albert Smalls (CB)
out for season Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes D.A. Williams (CB) day-to-day Undisclosed - 18 / 12 / 18 1-0 1-0 + - Williams exited Tuesday's game due to an unspecified injury and will not return.
Spencer Brown (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 25 / 11 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Brown is battling an unspecified injury and it is uncertain if he will be in the lineup for the Conference USA championship game against Middle Tennessee.
Rishard Cook (OL) Ques Sat Illness - 25 / 11 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Cook is ailing from an illness and it has yet to be determined if the symptoms will subside in time for the Conference USA championship game against Middle Tennessee.
Justice Powers (OL) Ques Sat Personal - 25 / 11 / 18 1-1 1-1 + - Powers is away from the team due to the birth of his child and it is unclear if he will face Middle Tennessee State in the Conference USA championship game.
Greg Fecanin (OL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Fecanin missed the last game dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will be available for the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.
Brontae Harris (CB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Harris missed the last game with an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will play in the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.
Garrett Marino (DL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Marino is nursing an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will be in Saturday's lineup against Middle Tennessee.
Jarrion Street (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Street has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play against Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
A.J. Erdely (QB) Ques Sat Shoulder - 04 / 11 / 18 2-3 4-1 + - Erdely has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and it is unclear if he will be available Saturday against Middle Tennessee.
Lee Dufour (OL) Ques Sat Knee - 24 / 10 / 18 4-3 4-3 + - Dufour is recovering from a knee injury and it is unclear if he will return to the lineup for the Conference USA championship game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Mitchell Brinkman (TE) day-to-day Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Brinkman is expected to suit up for the MAC championship game against Buffalo despite battling an undefined injury.
Tifonte Hunt (CB) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Hunt sat out the previous game dealing with an unspecified ailment and it is unclear if he will be available for the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl against UAB.
Josh Corcoran (DE) day-to-day Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Corcoran has been suspended for the first half of the MAC championship game against Buffalo and it is uncertain if he will play in the second half.
Marcus Jones (RB) Prob Tues Thigh - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Jones has a thigh injury but is expected to suit up Tuesday against Western Michigan.
Corey Lersch (TE) day-to-day Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Lersch did not take the field in the previous game due to an ankle injury and his availability for the MAC championship game against Buffalo is in question.
Christopher Perez Jr. (OL) Ques Tues Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 2-1 + - Perez Jr. was held out of the previous two games due to an ankle injury. It is unclear if he will suit up for the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl against UAB.
Quintin Wynne (DE) Ques Wed Suspension - 05 / 11 / 18 3-2 3-2 + - Wynne has been suspended for the first half of Wednesday's game against Toledo for targeting and it is unknown if he will play in the remainder of the game.
Trayshon Foster (S) Ques Sat Suspension - 25 / 10 / 18 4-3 3-4 + - Foster has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against BYU and it is unclear if he will play in the second half.
Kyle Pugh (LB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 30 / 09 / 18 - - + - Pugh has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Ball State.
Albert Smalls (CB) out for season Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 18 - - + - Smalls is suffering from an undisclosed injury and it is likely he will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.