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(All lines via PointsBet Sportsbook)
One of two games on the first day of bowl season, the Cure Bowl features a veteran Coastal Carolina squad led by quarterback Grayson McCall. They’ll head to Orlando to take on the MAC champions, Northern Illinois, who bounced back in a big way in 2021.
Here’s a look at some of the particulars of the matchup, as well as a best bet if you’re heading to the window to get some action on this game:
What: Cure Bowl
Who: Coastal Carolina (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt) vs. Northern Illinois (8-4, 6-2 in MAC)
Where: Exploria Stadium in Orlando, FL
When: Friday, December 17 at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Opening line: Coastal Carolina -10.5 (O/U 63.5)
Current line: Coastal Carolina -9.5 (O/U 63.5)
Most recent bowl result: Northern Illinois lost to UAB, 31-17 in the 2018 Boca Raton Bowl. Coastal Carolina lost to Liberty, 23-20 in the 2020 Cure Bowl.
Coastal Carolina at a glance: This will be the last hurrah for a veteran Chanticleers squad with seniors quarterback Grayson McCall, running back Shermari Jones, wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh, and tight end Isaiah Likely. These players helped bring the program to the forefront last year when they challenged BYU on Twitter then beat them that following week. In 2021, they were an early-season favorite to win the Sun Belt, but it was a disappointing season as they finished third in the East division.
Northern Illinois at a glance: The season began on a high note for the Huskies as they were able to win against a power-five opponent in Georgia Tech. The team was rolling through the MAC conference until they suffered their first loss to Kent State, but they would avenge that defeat in the MAC Championship to win their conference title since 2018. It marked a big turnaround for a team that went 0-6 last year and was expected to finish near the bottom of the conference.
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Key to the matchup: Can Northern Illinois running back Jay Ducker step up against a Coastal Carolina run defense that finished 39th in rushing yards allowed (133.8 YPG)? This has been a tough Chanticleers defensive line that features the Sun Belt sack leader Josaiah Stewart and Enock Makonzo, as he and Stewart were second in the Sun Belt with three forced fumbles. With a Huskies offense that relies on Ducker to move the ball, stopping him should help contain the bulk of their play-making ability and allow CCU to use their talented offense to pull away.
Best Bet: Coastal Carolina (-9.5). This is a veteran Chanticleers squad that has accomplished a lot in their time together and they want to finish their careers on a high note. This is an explosive Coastal Carolina offense that has shown throughout the season they can make big plays and put this game out of reach. McCall’s shoulder injury from earlier in the year should not be a factor with some time to rest, and it looked good in the last couple of games during the season.
