South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky: New Orleans Bowl preview, prediction, pick, odds for 12/21

Yardbarker Quick Pick

Austin Reed and his 4,247 passing yards and 36 touchdowns have entered the transfer portal . If that wasn't a big enough blow to Western Kentucky. Backup Darius Ocean is also in the portal. However, the Hilltoppers' biggest challenge in New Orleans could be stopping a South Alabama offense averaging just under 32 points and 423.6 yards. The Jaguars, whose only losses came to UCLA and Troy by a combined five points, have three receivers (Jalen Wayne, Caullin Lacy, Devin Voisin) with at least 53 receptions and 700 yards and a 1,015-yard running back in La'Damian Webb (13 touchdowns). Prediction: South Alabama (-8) — Jeff Mezydlo, Yardbarker 

Troy and South Alabama ended up tied atop the Sun Belt West, so Troy advanced to the Sun Belt title game and won the conference championship.

A trip to New Orleans is not a bad consolation prize for the Jaguars, who are 0-2 in bowl games. Second-year coach Kane Wommack, who received a contract extension earlier this month, said the bowl trip is both a reward and a way to carry momentum into spring practices.

"There are a lot of things to be excited about in a bowl game and there are certain things that I want the players to enjoy in the bowl process and the overall experience," Wommack told reporters. "But at the same time, like I told the guys again this morning, the ball gets spotted at 8:05 p.m. and South Alabama is there to win the football game."

The Jaguars are led by quarterback Carter Bradley (2,976 passing yards, 25 touchdowns) and running back La'Damian Webb (1,014 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns).

Western Kentucky (8-5) will play in its ninth bowl game in 11 years.

The Hilltoppers won three of their final four games, including a 32-31 overtime win over Florida Atlantic in their regular-season finale. After FAU scored first, Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed ran in a 1-yard touchdown and threw the game-winning two-point conversion to Joshua Simon.

OddsChecker prediction, pick, odds

How will Western Kentucky fare against a 10-win South Alabama team in the New Orleans Bowl? OddsChecker's Jason Radowitz is here with picks,  predictions, and odds for Wednesday's game between the Jaguars and Hilltoppers.

Reed, who transferred from Division II West Florida, was named Conference USA's Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 4,249 yards and 36 touchdowns, ranking second and fourth in FBS, respectively.

"I think the past couple years have shown that it's just not the Power 5 that produces quarterbacks," coach Tyson Helton said. "Here's Austin Reed at the Division II level. He just needed an opportunity to be on that platform. There's a lot of intangibles there that he has similar to (last season's quarterback) Bailey Zappe that we saw."