Nevada vs. Southern Miss: Last-Minute Spread Info, Line and More for Hawaii Bowl

The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is the perfect way for you to get ready for Christmas morning. You get to watch the Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5, 5-2) going against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (11-2, 5-2). 

Both teams bring high-powered offenses, as each ranked in the top 15 of the NCAA in total yards. Nevada finished fifth in the NCAA averaging 529 yards, while Southern Miss ranked 13th averaging 471. Southern Miss comes into this game after upsetting the Houston Cougars in the Conference USA championship game.

Where: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

When: Saturday December 24, 8:00 PM ET

Watch: ESPN/ESPN-3.com

Listen: Southern Miss WVGG 1440 AM Nevada ESPN 630 AM

Betting Line

According to SBGlobal, the Golden Eagles are a 6.5-point favorite. You should take the Golden Eagles in this game because of their dangerous passing attack. Southern Miss has been able to score an average of 38 points per game, while Nevada has given up 25 points per game. 

Key Storyline

Which defense can show up to this game to keep one of these offenses off of the board? 

Both Nevada and Southern Miss have averaged more than 30 points per game. However, Southern Miss has the better defense, only allowing 21 points per game.

Who Might Not Play for Nevada

QB Tyler Lantrip suffered a concussion in Week 14 against Idaho. However, he is probable for Nevada’s bowl game.

WR Rishard Matthews suffered a knee injury in Week 14. Matthews is probable for the bowl game. 

QB Cody Fajardo is probable for Hawaii Bowl despite suffering an ankle injury that kept him out of their final game against Idaho.

Who Might Not Play for Southern Miss

QB Chris Campbell is questionable for the Hawaii Bowl because of an undisclosed injury. 

RB Kendrick Hardy is doubtful for the game because of a shoulder injury. This injury has kept him out since Week 5. 

LB Korey Williams is out for this game after injuring his knee. 

What it Means for Nevada

Nevada needs this bowl game to cap off what has been a disappointing 2011 season. They came into this year after finishing the 2010 season with an impressive 13-1 record.

What it Means for Southern Miss

Southern Miss has risen into the Top 25 of the BCS Standings and the USA Today and Associated Press polls. If they can beat Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl they will cap off a great year with a 12-2 record.

What They're Saying

According to USA Today, Southern Miss has hired South Carolina’s Ellis Johnson to be their next football coach.

"

Johnson will replace Larry Fedora, who has accepted the coaching position at North Carolina after leading the Golden Eagles to a 33-19 record over the last four seasons. Fedora is remaining with the team through the bowl game.

"

Nevada Player to Watch

RB Lampford Mark has played in only seven of Nevada’s 12 games this year. However, when Mark has played, he has scored eight times while gaining 728 yards.

In Nevada’s last five games, Mark went over 100 yards in each game and scored in four of those games.

Southern Miss had one of the best rushing defense in Conference USA, giving up 112 yards per game. Despite going up against one of the better rushing defenses in the C-USA, Mark has a chance to have a good game against the Golden Eagles because of their high yards per game average. If Mark does it will lead this Nevada team to an upset victory.

Southern Miss Player to Watch

QB Austin Davis has been the leader of this Golden Eagles offense this year. His 28 touchdowns, 3,331 passing yards and 142.4 QB rating were all career highs. In 12 games this year, Davis had 10 games in which he threw two or more touchdown passes. 

Davis’ biggest game of the year was in the Conference USA championship game against Houston. In that game, Davis went off for 279 yards, four touchdowns and a QB rating of 156.5. 

If Davis has a huge game against Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl, he will lead this Golden Eagles team to a bowl victory. 

Key Matchup

The Southern Miss secondary vs. Nevada’s WR Rishard Matthews. Matthews may be slowed down by a knee injury. However, in Matthews last game against Idaho, he went off for 12 catches, 114 yards and a touchdown.

He will give the Southern Miss secondary problems all game by finding holes in their coverage while racking up the receiving yards.

Prediction

Nevada is a sneaky play in this game. They have a great receiver in Matthews and a running back who’s coming into this game with five straight 100-yard efforts. 

However, Southern Miss is too talented to let Nevada run all over them. They will tighten their defense up while exploiting Nevada’s pass defense that gave up 23 touchdowns and 227 yards per game.

Southern Miss 38 - Nevada 24

Follow @tjmcaloon