South Florida Bulls vs. San José State Spartans 12/24/24 – A Hawaii bowl matchup between the South Florida Bulls (6-6) and San José Spartans State (7-5) seems to be very intense. The two teams have been able to put up some outstanding performances; however, aim to finish the season with a bowl win, which makes it even more interesting. The Bulls have resided in the performance gap for the better part of the season, while the Spartans are a well-rounded team who, at some times, have issues sustaining their level
South Florida Bulls vs. San José State Spartans 12/24/24
When: | Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET |
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Where: | Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex |
TV: | ESPN |
Stream: | SofaScore |
Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
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Bulls | +3.5 (-115) | 62.5 Over -115 | +140 | |
Spartans | -3.5 (-105) | 62.5 Under -115 | -165 | |
Showdown in paradise 🌺#ComeToTheBay | #StayInTheBay pic.twitter.com/gUVZR0adEI
— USF Football (@USFFootball) December 21, 2024
According to the betting odds, San Jose State is a narrow favorite (-3.5). Considering that South Florida has a tendency to score heavily, the total could be worth a look at 62.5, but the defensive strength of San Jose State may keep those numbers reasonable. Therefore, individual bettors have to consider the chances of South Florida winning against the better performance of San Jose State in closely contested matches.
Bryce Archie QB vs. Walker Eget QB
Bryce Archie from South Florida has not had the most efficient of seasons after completing 58% of his passes, throwing for 1,679 yards, 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. But since he is a threat on the ground as well, he can add an unexpected dimension to the offense, although 19 sacks are no encouragement to his offensive line. It might be important, though, for Archie to build a rapport with Sean Atkins and Kelley Joiner.
On the other hand, Walker Eget of San José State has arguably one of the best seasons in terms of resume, throwing for 2,224 yards with 11 touchdowns and achieving a 133.4 passer rating. Even though he threw nine interceptions, Eget did seem to suffer fewer sacks, pointing to better decision-making and protection. Eget’s valuable connection with Nick Nash, who has had a spectacular season with 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns, makes him a difference-maker.
Bulls Battle for Consistency
The final five games played by South Florida were quite dramatic, where they managed to overcome a tough defeat against Rice, 28-35, with a crushing 63-30 against Tulsa. This means the team finished with a 3-2 record in the five finals. Sean Atkins compensates that perfectly when Kelley Joiner averaged 766 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns. Still, a greater concern for South Florida was the loss of focus on defense when playing in close matches, such as against Navy and Rice.
Spartans Seek Redemption
San Jose State was able to pull off a fantastic game and even managed to defeat Stanford 34-31 only to lose rather disappointingly to UNLV and Boise State. Losing two out of their last five fixtures hasn’t pushed them down too much on the rankings. The combination of Nick Nash with running back Floyd Chalk IV, who recorded a rushing yards total of 661 and scored 9 rushing touchdowns, has been exceptional. But the glaring problem, however, does still lie at the gaping holes in defense which were visible in some of the historic encounters which could alter the outcomes.
Trends
South Florida Bulls Betting Trends
3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
Total has gone OVER in 5 of their last 6 games.
4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
Total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 December games.
San José State Spartans Betting Trends
2-6 ATS in their last 8 games.
Total has gone UNDER in 5 of their last 7 games.
13-6 SU in their last 19 games.
Total has gone UNDER in 6 of their last 7 December games.
South Florida Bulls vs. San José State Spartans Betting Prediction
When it comes to over/under, San Jose State’s defense can arguably make a strong case but South Florida’s high-scoring offense – with their trends – can perhaps also make a compelling argument. It does help that San Jose has been consistent in bowl settings, which they would likely have the upper hand over South Florida.
For people who want to bet, the Spartans at -3.5 seems like a safe option to go for, although some people might want to bet based on how fast or slow each team plays. There might also be value in prop bets on Nick Nash’s receiving yards.
Score Prediction: San José State Spartans 31, South Florida Bulls 27.