Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Use Code WWWC On Tuesday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers play the South Miss Golden Eagles in the New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Western Kentucky completed the regular season 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA, which was third behind Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. Western Kentucky lost its final game of the regular season to Jacksonville State 37-34. Southern Miss completed the regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, finishing second to Troy in the West division of the conference. Southern Miss lost to Troy 28-18 in the final game of the regular season, dropping each of its last three games. Make sure to read this in-depth Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles prediction. Kickoff confidence! Unlock expert insights with our NCAAF picks for the New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss prediction.
Western Kentucky is above average on both sides of the line is scrimmage
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers scored an average of 29.8 points per game during the regular season, which was 53rd in the nation, while averaging 405.4 yards of total offense per game. Western Kentucky was 24th in passing yards per game and 95th in rushing yards per game. Western Kentucky's defense was 57th in points allowed at 23.4 points per game and gave up an average of 402.6 yards per game, which was 94th. The Hilltoppers were 66th in passing yards allowed and 107th in rushing yards allowed per day.
Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr finished the regular season as the starting signal caller for Western Kentucky, throwing for 1,367 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Marvis Parrish was Western Kentucky's leading rusher, with 511 yards, while La’Vell Wright, who will not play on Tuesday, was second with 460 yards and 10 touchdowns. Matthew Henry had 762 yards receiving to lead Western Kentucky and caught six touchdown passes. Linebacker Jaylen Wester had a team-best 94 tackles. Western Kentucky's defense had 16 quarterback sacks and intercepted eight passes.
Injuries and opt-outs: Western Kentucky does not have any notable players out injured, but will play without cornerback Dylan Flowers and running back La’Vell Wright, who have both entered the transfer portal.
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Southern Miss must play without its head coach
Southern Miss scored an average of 29.8 points during the regular season, which was 51st, and averaged 403.7 yards of total offense per which was 58th. Southern Miss was 29th in passing yards per game and 89th in rushing yards per game. The Southern Miss defense gave up an average of 27.4 points per game, which was 83rd, and allowed an average of 402.3 yards per game, which was 93rd. The Golden Eagles were 74th in passing yards allowed and 103rd in rushing yards allowed per game.
Southern Miss quarterback Braylon Braxton threw for 2,796 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the regular season. Jeffery Pittman led all rushers for Southern Miss with 640 yards and eight touchdowns, and Elijah Metcalf was the top receiver with 677 yards and two touchdowns. Southern Miss had five players with 305 yards receiving or more. The leading tackler for Southern Miss was linebacker Chris Jones with 127. The Golden Eagles’ defense posted 26 sacks and intercepted 21 passes
Injuries and opt-outs: Southern Miss will play without tackle Blake Bustard, while cornerback Josh Moten has entered the transfer portal. Southern Miss will play without its head coach, Charles Huff, who has signed to coach Memphis, and offensive coordinator Blake Anderson will be the interim coach for the bowl game.
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss Pick
Spread Pick for New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss
- Southern Miss Golden Eagles +2.5 ( units)
The Southern Miss Golden Eagle will play without their head coach on the sidelines, but offensive coordinator Blake Anderson will fill in as the interim coach, and Charles Huff’s absence should not be a determining factor in the outcome of this game. On the other hand, Western Kentucky will play without La’Vell Wright, who was the second leading rusher and led all Hilltoppers with 10 touchdowns. Western Kentucky's strength during the regular season was its passing game, averaging 272.6 yards per game, which is 24th in the country, but the Hilltoppers will face a solid Southern Miss pass defense that was 74th, allowing only 226.1 yards per game, and the Golden Eagles sacked the quarterback 26 times. Southern Miss has covered the spread in five of its last seven games against a team from Conference USA and will have a chip on its shoulder as their head coach walked away before the bowl game, which will give the Golden Eagles slightly more incentive to win.
Over/Under Pick for New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss
- Under 57.5 (4 units)
The total has finished under in six of Western Kentucky's last night games and in four of Southern Miss' last six games. Western Kentucky has a solid defense that allows an average of 23.4 points per game. The Hilltoppers will be without their second leading rusher and leader in touchdowns, La’Vell Wright, who rushed for 10 TDs and caught 1 touchdown pass.
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