Miami Hurricanes vs Oklahoma State Cowboys: Cheez-It Bowl prediction and game preview.
Miami vs Oklahoma State: Cheez-It Bowl Broadcast
Date: Tuesday, December 29
Game Time: 5:30 pm ET
Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Network: ESPN
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Miami (8-2) vs Oklahoma State (7-3) Game Preview
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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Cheez-It Bowl
– It’s the first Power Five vs. Power Five matchup of the bowl season, and it’s okay if you’re a little confused. The Cheez-It Bowl moved names from Arizona to Orlando – this used to be the Camping World Bowl – and there’s a whole lot to prove from every angle, starting with the game itself.
The Camping World Bowl was a disaster last year – Notre Dame easily got past Iowa State 33-9 – and the Cheez-It Bowl owns the gold standard for bad bowl games with TCU’s 10-7 overtime win over Cal in 2018. And then there’s this …
– How bad has Miami been in bowl games? It beat West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl. That’s it since 2006, dropping nine of the last ten including a 14-0 clunker to Louisiana Tech in last year’s Independence. Combine that with a 62-26 loss to North Carolina to end the regular season, and the pressure is on. Unlike last year, though, the offense has QB D’Eriq King and a whole lot more pop.
– Oklahoma State – who has gone 3-1 in the last four bowl games – was supposed to be a true challenger for the Big 12 title, but it faded late with three losses in the last six games. However, the offense is better and improving – even though star RB Chuba Hubbard has opted out – and a blowout to Oklahoma is the only real dud game. It’ll make this an offensive show.
Why Miami, Oklahoma State Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History
NEXT: Why Miami Will Win, Why Oklahoma State Will Win, Miami vs Oklahoma State Prediction
Why Miami Will Win
– The Hurricanes have an offense this year. At the very least, they have more of one than they did in the disastrous 14-0 Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech. It starts with QB D’Eriq King, who not only provides a playmaker and a best-player-on-the-field type, but also gives the program sone stability after announcing that he’s coming back for next year. If he’s on, the offense can keep up with just about anyone.
– Oklahoma State hasn’t been consistent. The defense was strong at the beginning of the year, was good against the mediocre teams, and then slipped over the final month. It dominated Baylor in blowout of a regular season finale, but before that it allowed its three highest yardage totals of the season and over 1,600 yards over the span.
Having problems against Oklahoma was one thing, but struggling against Texas Tech and TCU was a whole other problem. It’s the other side of the ball that should get the most attention, though …
– Miami’s defense isn’t a killer, but it’s fantastic at getting into the backfield and good at generating consistent pressure against the mediocre offensive fronts. Oklahoma State’s offense has had its moments, but it struggles in pass protection and hasn’t done enough for a running game that should’ve been dominant all year. However, speaking of having problems blocking …
Why Oklahoma State Will Win
– Miami might be great at generating tackles for loss and quarterback pressures, but Oklahoma State brings the heat, too. It led the Big 12 in tackles for loss and was second in the nation behind Wisconsin in third down stops.
To be fair, Miami gives up a slew of plays in the backfield because QB D’Eriq King tries to make things happen, but the line has its problems, too. The Canes gave up the second-most tackles for loss in the ACC and close to three sacks per game.
– Oklahoma State doesn’t go at a deliberate pace, but it’s not bad at controlling the clock and the tempo. Miami likes to move fast, get King moving, and play with a high-energy that’s not really Oklahoma State’s style. While that can be fine at times, Miami also never seems to have the ball – it’s one of the worst teams in the country in time of possession. But the offense should be fine. The big concern for Miami is the …
– Run defense. Oklahoma State was a disappointment on the ground with Chuba Hubbard never getting going and the team struggling in key spots to get things moving. However, the O might have found something in freshman Dominic Richardson, who did next-to-nothing all year and then hit Baylor for 169 yards and three scores. Dezmon Jackson has been great, too.
Miami’s run defense got hit by North Carolina for 554 yards in the 62-26 loss. The second-most rushing yards allowed came in the blowout loss to Clemson. This year, get past 210 yards on the ground, and you’ve got a shot against Miami. Oklahoma State has tone that four times and twice in the last three games.
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Miami vs Oklahoma State Prediction, Cheez-It Bowl History
What’s Going To Happen
Oklahoma State was fine, but it was supposed to be experienced enough and good enough to be in the Big 12 Championship, and failed after losing to TCU late in the year. However, it has the offensive weapons, the veteran coaching staff that knows how to win these things.
The Cowboys will be more balanced offensively, more consistent, and more explosive, but …
They don’t have D’Eriq King.
What have we learned throughout this bowl season? 1) Turnovers mean everything – Oklahoma State turns it over more. 2) The teams that get the better quarterback play wins.
The Cowboys have a chance to get the running game going against Miami like North Carolina did, but King will stand out, the Hurricane pass rush will be just strong enough, and the glitches will be fixed.
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Cheez-It Bowl: Miami vs Oklahoma State Prediction, Line
Miami 36, Oklahoma State 30
Bet on Miami vs Oklahoma State with BetMGM
Oklahoma State -2.5, o/u: 58
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
– CFN Experts Picks: Cheez-It Bowl
Must See Rating: 4
5: New Year’s Day on the couch
1: New Year’s Eve going out
Cheez-It Bowl History
Formerly the Camping World Bowl
Dec. 28, 2019 Notre Dame 33, Iowa State 9
Dec. 28, 2018 Syracuse 34, West Virginia 18
Dec. 28, 2017 Oklahoma State 30, Virginia Tech 21
Dec. 26, 2016 NC State 41, Vanderbilt 17
Dec. 29, 2015 Baylor 49 North Carolina 38
Dec. 29, 2014 Clemson 40 Oklahoma 6
Dec. 28, 2013 Louisville 36 Miami 9
Dec. 28, 2012 Virginia Tech 13 Rutgers 10 (OT)
Dec. 29, 2011 Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14
Dec. 28, 2010 N.C. State 23 West Virginia 7
Dec. 29, 2009 Wisconsin 20 Miami 14
Dec. 27, 2008 Florida State 42 Wisconsin 13
Dec. 28, 2007 Boston College 24 Michigan State 21
Dec. 29, 2006 Maryland 24 Purdue 7
Dec. 27, 2005 Clemson 19 Colorado 10
Dec. 21, 2004 Georgia Tech 51 Syracuse 14
Dec. 22, 2003 N.C. State 56 Kansas 26
Dec. 23, 2002 Texas Tech 55 Clemson 15
Dec. 20, 2001 Pittsburgh 34 N.C. State 19
Dec. 28, 2000 N.C. State 38 Minnesota 30
Dec. 30, 1999 Illinois 63 Virginia 21
Dec. 29, 1998 Miami 46 N.C. State 23
Dec. 29, 1997 Georgia Tech 35 West Virginia 30
Dec. 27, 1996 Miami 31 Virginia 21
Dec. 30, 1995 North Carolina 20 Arkansas 10
Jan. 2, 1995 South Carolina 24 West Virginia 21
Jan. 1, 1994 Boston College 31 Virginia 13
Jan. 1, 1993 Stanford 28 Penn State 3
Dec. 28, 1991 Alabama 30 Colorado 25
Dec. 28, 1990 Florida State 24 Penn State 17
