The University of Alabama at Birmingham has become one of the top stories of the year. The Blazers, just two years after dismantling their program, revived it with a conference championship and bowl appearance.
Northern Illinois University is one of the top programs in the always-tough Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Huskies won their conference championship with a win over Buffalo.
Now the Huskies head to South Florida for much warmer weather and a hot program with UAB. Here's how to watch Tuesday night's game.
2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
UAB vs. Northern Illinois
FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Fla.
Time: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
TV Channel: ESPN
Satellite Radio: ESPN Radio
Live Streaming: Watch Live with fuboTV – Try Free Trial; or WatchESPN
Odds: UAB -2.5; over/under 43 (Vegas Insider)
KEY MATCHUP:
NIU Offense vs UAB Defense
The Huskies are known to be explosive at times, while UAB has a stout defense. This will be the key to the game as the Blazers have made their living off their defense while NIU has shown pizazz at times this year. The Huskies overcame tough defenses, weird scheduling and strange weather elements to win the MAC this year. A nice evening in South Florida should give this team from the frigid Midwest a nice boost.
Prediction:
(LWOS): UAB 20, Northern Illinois 14
"These are two stout defenses, so the game should stay within two scores and will end up being decided by seven. It will come down to one key, protecting the quarterback. Northern Illinois struggles mightily doing that. The Blazers of Birmingham do not struggle as much. They have a much more consistent offense and will own the clock."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Scott McDonald is a Newsweek deputy night editor based in Cape Coral, Florida. His focus is assigning and writing stories ... Read more
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