Last year, Memphis and BYU combined to score 103 points -- and a then got caught up in a wild brawl -- in the first-ever Miami Beach Bowl. With Western Kentucky and South Florida in town for 2015, fans of offense won’t be disappointed in this sequel.
Watch the 2015 WKU vs. USF Miami Beach Bowl online: Time, TV schedule, live stream and 3 things to know
Western Kentucky and South Florida clash in a bowl game destined for some fireworks.
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
The Dec. 21 game pits the nation's No. 4 scoring offense against a team that is averaging 51 points per game in their last three matchups. Western Kentucky soared to a Conference-USA title as Brandon Doughty lived up to the lofty preseason expectations placed upon him. The Hilltoppers finished sixth in the country in passing offense while Doughty finished second among FBS quarterbacks with 4,593 passing yards and first with 45 touchdowns in 13 games.
After a slow start, South Florida has started to produce scoring plays at a similar level. The Bulls went 1-3 in their first month before finishing the season on a 7-1 tear in which their only loss came to No. 21 Navy. Their offense is the yang to WKU's yin. They rely on a run-heavy attack to batter opponents and move the chains. They're led by 1,200-yard rusher Marlon Mack and elusive dual threat quarterback Quinton Flowers. Both excel at extending drives, and they should get all the opportunities they can handle in a game where defense may be optional.
The Miami Beach Bowl will match USF’s Willie Taggart against the team he left behind to take his current job in Tampa. The coach had been in desperate need of a big season with the Bulls after a disappointing start to his tenure. Now, he’s on the brink of locking down a nine-win season in his third year with the program.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio: Western Kentucky, South Florida
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Western Kentucky is favored by 3 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Underdog Dynasty (for Western Kentucky fans) and Voodoo Five (for South Florida fans).
Three big things to know
1. Can a bowl win validate Taggart as a rising star in the head coaching world? Even before that 1-3 September start, the Bulls were forced to question whether their coach could translate solid recruiting into wins. Then, they went on a tear that allowed the talent the coach built up in Tampa to take over. Those players carried the team to a second-place finish in the AAC East and a marquee win over Temple. A win in Miami could put Taggart on the radar for a Power 5 conference job in 2016 or beyond.
2. The S&P+ advanced stats loved Western Kentucky in 2015. They rated the Hilltoppers 11th in the nation despite losses in two of their three games against Power 5 opponents this season (the lone win was a opening night squeaker over 4-8 Vanderbilt, 14-12). South Florida clocks in at No. 49, which created a 36-26 WKU prediction based on their statistical backgrounds. Will the C-USA champs be able to validate the numbers’ love for them on Monday?
3. After six years and more than 12,000 passing yards, the Brandon Doughty era is coming to a close in Bowling Green, KY. He chose to return to school in 2015 and racked up a second straight Conference USA MVP award and the Hilltoppers’ first league title for his troubles. He’s thrown 94 touchdowns in the past two seasons, and it’s no stretch to suggest that he can make it an even 100 in Miami. Doughty has three career games where he’s passed for six touchdowns or more.
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