Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 23, 2025

Updated Dec. 23, 2025 3:04 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The New Orleans Bowl features a matchup of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (who are only 2.5-point favorites) and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on December 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The total for this matchup has been set at 58.5 points.

In their most recent action, the Golden Eagles lost against the Troy Trojans, 28-18. Facing the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in their most recent contest, the Hilltoppers lost 37-34.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky Game Information & Odds

When: Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN
Streaming: FOX One + ESPN Bundle

Southern Miss vs Western Kentucky Betting Information updated as of December 23, 2025, 2:45 p.m. ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
Southern Miss	-2.5 (-107)	-129	+109	58.5	-114	-106

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Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky Prediction

Pick ATS: Western Kentucky (+2.5)
Pick OU: Under (58.5)
Prediction: Western Kentucky 28, Southern Miss 27

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

Learn more about the Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers game on FOX Sports!

Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky Betting Insights

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Golden Eagles 30, Hilltoppers 28.
The Golden Eagles have a 56.3% chance to claim victory in this meeting based on the moneyline's implied probability. The Hilltoppers hold a 47.8% implied probability.
Southern Miss is 5-6-1 ATS this season.
Western Kentucky has compiled a 9-3-0 ATS record so far this year.

Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky: 2025 Stats Comparison

	Southern Miss	Western Kentucky
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	29.8 (52)	29.8 (54)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	27.4 (78)	23.4 (53)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	14 (48)	18 (92)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	26 (4)	13 (94)

Southern Miss 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Braylon Braxton	QB	2,795 YDS (65.2%) / 23 TD / 7 INT 194 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 17.6 RUSH YPG
Jeffery Pittman	RB	640 YDS / 8 TD / 64 YPG / 4.4 YPC 23 REC / 93 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 10.3 REC YPG
Carl Chester	WR	30 REC / 565 YDS / 7 TD / 47.1 YPG
Elijah Metcalf	WR	52 REC / 677 YDS / 2 TD / 61.5 YPG
Chris Jones	LB	84 TKL / 3 TFL / 3.5 SACK / 1 INT
J'Mond Tapp	DL	51 TKL / 11 TFL / 7.5 SACK
Ian Foster	DB	45 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 SACK / 3 INT
Michael Montgomery	LB	63 TKL / 1 TFL / 1.5 SACK / 2 INT

Western Kentucky 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Maverick McIvor	QB	1,863 YDS (67.3%) / 12 TD / 5 INT 28 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 4 RUSH YPG
La'Vell Wright	RB	460 YDS / 10 TD / 38.3 YPG / 5.8 YPC 10 REC / 88 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 8.8 REC YPG
Matthew Henry	WR	48 REC / 762 YDS / 6 TD / 63.5 YPG
Rodney Tisdale Jr.	QB	1,367 YDS (67.7%) / 9 TD / 6 INT 105 RUSH YDS / 2 RUSH TD / 15 RUSH YPG
Jaylen Lewis	DB	45 TKL / 3 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Jaylen Wester	LB	65 TKL / 1 TFL / 0.5 SACK
Harper Holloman	DL	26 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 SACK / 1 INT
Dave Herard	DB	36 TKL / 1 TFL