The Arizona Bowl is set to take place on December 28 at 4:30 p.m. EST, pitting Miami (Ohio) with an 8-5 record against Colorado State, which holds an 8-4 record. According to BetMGM’s college football odds, Miami is favored by 1.5 points going into this matchup.

In this clash, a significant aspect to observe is the offensive performance of the RedHawks. They currently stand at 106th in FBS rankings, averaging 22.6 points per game. They will encounter a Rams defense that permits an average of 24.3 points per game, placing them 62nd in the nation. On the offensive side, Colorado State ranks 91st, scoring an average of 25 points per game, while Miami has been stronger defensively, giving up only 18.9 points per game, good for 16th in the country.

In their last outing, Miami experienced a tough loss against Ohio, being outscored 38-3. Quarterback Brett Gabbert managed 127 yards completing 14 of 25 attempts, with no touchdowns but one interception. Running back Keyon Mozee contributed 28 rushing yards on 11 carries, along with a reception that gained just two yards. Meanwhile, receiver Javon Tracy recorded seven catches for a total of 58 yards.

On the other hand, Colorado State had a standout performance, winning 42-37 against Utah State. Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi had a phenomenal day, throwing for 370 yards through 31 completions out of 46 attempts, finishing with four touchdowns but throwing one interception. Fowler-Nicolosi also rushed for a touchdown on two attempts that gained six yards. In the running game, Avery Morrow was crucial with 80 rushing yards over 21 carries. Additionally, Dane Olson made a significant impact with five receptions totaling 140 yards and one touchdown.

Key players to keep an eye on include Miami’s Gabbert, who has passed for a total of 2,737 yards this season, averaging 210.5 yards per game. His completion rate stands at 57.6%, while he has thrown 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Mozee has been a prolific rusher with 1,073 yards on 170 carries, scoring four touchdowns, while Tracy has made 57 catches for 818 yards and seven touchdowns.

For Colorado State, Fowler-Nicolosi has accumulated 2,456 passing yards, averaging around 204.7 yards per game, with a completion rate of 61.9%. He has thrown 13 touchdowns against six interceptions. Morrow, another key offensive player, has rushed for 956 yards on 166 carries with nine touchdowns, and he’s also caught 13 passes for 78 yards. Caleb Goodie contributes significantly with 436 receiving yards on 21 catches, scoring four touchdowns.

In terms of statistics, Miami has a marginally stronger scoring margin, outpacing their opponents by an average of 3.7 points per game this season, while Colorado State trails closely with an average margin of just 0.7 points. Defensively, Miami stands out with a well-ranked passing defense, allowing only 184.5 yards per game, whereas they rank 75th in passing offense, averaging 220 yards. Colorado State’s offense tends to average 209.9 passing yards, placing them 87th, and defensively, they rank at 101st, giving up an average of 238.5 passing yards each game.