Boca Raton Bowl: WKU vs Appalachian State 12/18/21 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Appalachian State Mountaineers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers clash Saturday morning in the college football Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers look for a win after winning seven of their last eight games. The Appalachian State Mountaineers look for a win after winning nine of their last 11 games.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have won four of their last five non-home games. Bailey Zappe is completing 69.2 percent of his passes for 5,545 yards, 56 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Jerreth Sterns and Mitchell Tinsley have combined for 3,017 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns, while Daewood Davis has 41 receptions. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers ground game is averaging 93.8 yards per contest, and Noah Whittington leads the way with 467 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensively, Western Kentucky is allowing 28.7 points and 422.5 yards per game. Antwon Kincade leads the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers with 90 tackles, DeAngelo Malone has 8 sacks and Omari Alexander has 3 interceptions.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers have split their last six non-home games. Chase Brice is completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 3,020 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Corey Xavier Sutton and Malik Williams have combined for 1,687 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, while Thomas Hennigan has 55 receptions. The Appalachian State Mountaineers ground game is averaging 187.6 yards per contest, and Nate Noel leads the way with 1,078 yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively, Appalachian State is allowing 19.3 points and 325.6 yards per game. D’Marco Jackson leads the Appalachian State Mountaineers with 114 tackles, Nick Hampton has 10 sacks and Steven Jones Jr. has 5 interceptions.

The Hilltoppers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Mountaineers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The over is 4-1 in Hilltoppers last 5 games overall. The under is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 games overall.

The WKU Hilltoppers are attractive in the underdog role because of how explosive they are offensively. Western Kentucky is second in total offense, second in scoring offense and first in passing offense. With that said, WKU didn’t have the toughest schedule playing in the C-USA, and its defense is well below average. The Appalachian State Mountaineers are easily the more balanced team of the two, and they’re far more battle tested playing in the Sun Belt, which includes a win over a ranked Coastal Carolina. App State is 17th in total defense and 16th in scoring defense. Has the potential to be a fun game, but I have more confidence in Appalachian State.