New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/23

College Football Preview

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles are set to compete in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl. This game will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fans can tune in on ESPN at 5:30 PM on December 23, 2025, to catch all the action.

Western Kentucky enters the game with an 8-4 record, including a 6-2 mark in Conference USA. Southern Miss holds a 7-5 record, with a 5-3 record in the Sun Belt Conference. This game promises an exciting matchup between two strong teams looking to end their season on a high note.

Western Kentucky Team Preview

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have faced challenges in recent games. In Week 14, they narrowly lost to Jacksonville State, 37-34. They gained 206 rushing yards, showing strength on the ground, but had one interception that proved costly.

In Week 13, the Hilltoppers played against LSU and lost 13-10. Their passing game was limited to 130 yards, and they struggled with two interceptions. Their defense held LSU to 20 first downs, which shows a solid effort.

On the season, the Hilltoppers’ offense ranks 25th in passing yards. However, they rank 92nd in rushing yards, indicating an area that needs improvement. The defense has been effective at forcing turnovers, with 8 interceptions and 5 fumbles recovered. The team faces some uncertainty with Jaden Hardy and Robby Harrison listed as questionable due to injuries.

New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss Game Day Info

  • Sport: NCAA Football
  • Teams: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles
  • Venue: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA
  • Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Western Kentucky Moneyline -185, Southern Miss Moneyline +153

Southern Miss Team Preview

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles have been through a tough stretch. In their recent home game against the Troy Trojans, they fell short with a score of 28-18. Despite gaining 209 passing yards, they struggled on the ground, only managing 97 rushing yards.

Their season has seen some ups and downs. They have a notable passing game, ranking 27th with 3,200 passing yards. However, their rushing game ranks 88th, which might be an area to focus on improving.

Braylon Braxton has been a key player, leading the team in passing yards. He ranks first in the team and has thrown 23 touchdowns. Injuries might affect the lineup with two players, Ishmael Ibraheem and Jahmir Davis, listed as questionable.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread, Western Kentucky is favored by 4 points. Western Kentucky has a strong offense, ranking 25th in passing yards. Southern Miss struggles on defense, ranking 117th in points allowed. The projected score is Western Kentucky 31, Southern Miss 27. The pick is Western Kentucky to cover the -4 spread.

The total for the game is set at 55.5 points. Western Kentucky and Southern Miss both have offenses that score over 350 points this season. Southern Miss allows a lot of points, ranking 117th in points against. The projected total score is 58. The pick is to go over 55.5 points.