For those celebrating - Merry Christmas! Today's game pits the Nevada Wolfpack of the Western Athletic Conference against the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles from Conference USA.
This season the Nevada Wolfpack are 7-5 and the NCAA FBS production model's measure of their strength of schedule (SOS) was equal to 76.50. Nevada's best win was against currently ranked #78 Hawaii, and their worst loss was against currently ranked #100 Texas Tech. To date, the Wolfpack are the #34 ranked team overall, with the #17 ranked offense and the #64 ranked defense.
The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are 11-2 with a strength of schedule equal to 72.15. USM's best win was against currently ranked #4 Houston, and their worst loss was against currently ranked #106 UAB. To date, the Golden Eagles are the #32 ranked team overall, with the #30 ranked offense and the #44 ranked defense.
The NCAA FBS production model ranks USM slightly better than Nevada, and hence expect the University of Southern Mississippi to win the Hawaii Bowl today.