BOCA RATON BOWL.....Western Kentucky Covers -7.....The Total Goes Over 79
Final
Final
Preview: Brigham Young at Wyoming.
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL STORYLINES
1. There will be a new quarterback under center when BYU meets old Mountain West Conference rival Wyoming on Dec. 21 at the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego after Taysom Hill when down in the last game with a season-ending injury for the fourth time in five years. The Cougars fortunately have an experienced backup as sophomore Tanner Mangum completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a freshman while replacing Hill, who missed all but the first half of last season's opener with a fractured foot. BYU, which leads the series 44-30-3 and won the last seven meetings before leaving the MWC in 2010, appears in its 12th straight bowl but hasn't won one since a 23-6 victory over San Diego State in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl.
2. The game could come down to who better stops the run as Cowboys junior Brian Hill rushed for 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns - good for third and second, respectively, in the MWC, but faces a stiff challenge in a Cougars' rushing defense that is eighth in the country at 108.4 yards allowed per game. BYU senior Jamaal Williams rushed for 1,165 and 11 TDs despite missing three of the last five games with an ankle injury and faces a Wyoming defense that allows 34.8 points per game - 24th-most among the 128 FBS teams in the nation - and an average of 464 total yards (17th-most). Williams rushed for 618 yards and nine scores in a three-game stretch versus West Virginia, Toledo and Michigan State this season, including a school-record five TDs and a career-high 286 yards against Toledo, and seems healthy again after rushing for 131 and a score on 18 carries in a 28-10 victory over Utah State on Nov. 26 in the Cougars' last contest.
3. Craig Bohl made a name for himself by coaching North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS titles from 2011-13 before taking on the challenge of bringing the Cowboys back to respectability. Bohl was 6-18 in his first two seasons before nearly leading Wyoming to an MWC championship, losing to San Diego State 27-24 in the conference title game Dec. 3. Bohl was named MWC Coach of the Year on Nov. 30 and the Cowboys didn't waste much time extending his contract through 2023 on Dec. 2, with athletic director Tom Burman explaining in a release: "When I hired Craig three years ago, I believed he was the best coach to turn around our football program. He has certainly delivered and the turnaround is evident in the performance of our team this season.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: BYU -11.....O/U 57
ABOUT BYU (8-4): Mangum saw action in the last three games, completing 14-of-18 pass for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and appears to be less of a running threat than Hill (603 yards, eight TDs this season) although he carried seven times for 30 yards in 2016. Only one of the Cougars' eight victories came against a winning FBS team (9-3 Toledo) while the four-game winning streak they ride saw them outscore clubs with a combined 15-32 record 136-29, including 37-7 over FCS member Southern Utah (6-5). BYU's four losses to Utah, UCLA, West Virginia and Boise State were by a combined eight points while their victories include Arizona, Michigan State and Cincinnati on the road, along with Mississippi State and Toledo at home.
ABOUT WYOMING (8-5, 6-2 MWC): The Cowboys could find the going better through the air and sophomore Josh Allen (2,996 yards, 26 touchdown passes) appears capable of exploiting this weakness in the Cougars' defense, although his 13 interceptions are cause for concern. Senior wide receiver Tanner Gentry (18.7 yards per 65 receptions, 12 touchdowns) is Allen's favorite target while senior tight end Jacob Hollister boasts seven TDs among his 30 receptions. Wyoming's non-conference schedule included a 40-34 triple-overtime victory over Northern Illinois and a 52-17 loss at Nebraska.
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Head to Head
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL STORYLINES
1. There will be a new quarterback under center when BYU meets old Mountain West Conference rival Wyoming on Dec. 21 at the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego after Taysom Hill when down in the last game with a season-ending injury for the fourth time in five years. The Cougars fortunately have an experienced backup as sophomore Tanner Mangum completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a freshman while replacing Hill, who missed all but the first half of last season's opener with a fractured foot. BYU, which leads the series 44-30-3 and won the last seven meetings before leaving the MWC in 2010, appears in its 12th straight bowl but hasn't won one since a 23-6 victory over San Diego State in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl.
2. The game could come down to who better stops the run as Cowboys junior Brian Hill rushed for 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns - good for third and second, respectively, in the MWC, but faces a stiff challenge in a Cougars' rushing defense that is eighth in the country at 108.4 yards allowed per game. BYU senior Jamaal Williams rushed for 1,165 and 11 TDs despite missing three of the last five games with an ankle injury and faces a Wyoming defense that allows 34.8 points per game - 24th-most among the 128 FBS teams in the nation - and an average of 464 total yards (17th-most). Williams rushed for 618 yards and nine scores in a three-game stretch versus West Virginia, Toledo and Michigan State this season, including a school-record five TDs and a career-high 286 yards against Toledo, and seems healthy again after rushing for 131 and a score on 18 carries in a 28-10 victory over Utah State on Nov. 26 in the Cougars' last contest.
3. Craig Bohl made a name for himself by coaching North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS titles from 2011-13 before taking on the challenge of bringing the Cowboys back to respectability. Bohl was 6-18 in his first two seasons before nearly leading Wyoming to an MWC championship, losing to San Diego State 27-24 in the conference title game Dec. 3. Bohl was named MWC Coach of the Year on Nov. 30 and the Cowboys didn't waste much time extending his contract through 2023 on Dec. 2, with athletic director Tom Burman explaining in a release: "When I hired Craig three years ago, I believed he was the best coach to turn around our football program. He has certainly delivered and the turnaround is evident in the performance of our team this season.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: BYU -11.....O/U 57
ABOUT BYU (8-4): Mangum saw action in the last three games, completing 14-of-18 pass for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and appears to be less of a running threat than Hill (603 yards, eight TDs this season) although he carried seven times for 30 yards in 2016. Only one of the Cougars' eight victories came against a winning FBS team (9-3 Toledo) while the four-game winning streak they ride saw them outscore clubs with a combined 15-32 record 136-29, including 37-7 over FCS member Southern Utah (6-5). BYU's four losses to Utah, UCLA, West Virginia and Boise State were by a combined eight points while their victories include Arizona, Michigan State and Cincinnati on the road, along with Mississippi State and Toledo at home.
ABOUT WYOMING (8-5, 6-2 MWC): The Cowboys could find the going better through the air and sophomore Josh Allen (2,996 yards, 26 touchdown passes) appears capable of exploiting this weakness in the Cougars' defense, although his 13 interceptions are cause for concern. Senior wide receiver Tanner Gentry (18.7 yards per 65 receptions, 12 touchdowns) is Allen's favorite target while senior tight end Jacob Hollister boasts seven TDs among his 30 receptions. Wyoming's non-conference schedule included a 40-34 triple-overtime victory over Northern Illinois and a 52-17 loss at Nebraska.
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Head to Head
- Cougars are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Favorite is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
| Wednesday, Dec 21, 2016 - NCAA Football Game | ||||||||||||||||||
| 09:00 PM | Brigham Young | -11 | -115 | -450 | Ov | 57 | -110 | |||||||||||
| Wyoming | +11 | -105 | +375 | Un | 57 | -110 |
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FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL STORYLINES
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 22, 2016
Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
1. Idaho is concluding its next-to-last season as an FBS program before dropping levels with a matchup against Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho. The Vandals qualified for a bowl game for only third time in 21 seasons in the FBS by winning six of their last seven games. The Rams have been torrid down the stretch, winning four of their last five contests - including a 63-point eruption in a triumph over Mountain West champion San Diego State.
2. The Vandals were dismissed from the Sun Belt effective after next season and are electing to drop down to the FCS level in hopes of enjoying more success and losing less money. Not much was expected from this Idaho squad when it lost consecutive games against Washington and Washington State in September by a combined 115-20 score, but coach Paul Petrino guided the team to a strong turnaround and is relishing the bowl appearance. "That's one reason I'm so proud of our players," Petrino said during a press conference. "They've been kicked out of a conference and told they were going to change divisions. They never worried about that. They worried about playing one game at a time."
3. The Rams are playing in a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, the second-longest streak in school history behind a string of five under Sonny Lubick from 1999-2003. Colorado State averaged an impressive 47.4 points and 520.6 yards over its final five games, with the four victories during the stretch coming by an average of 26.5 points. "Our football team has consistently improved throughout this season by the way they have worked and learned to compete, and I believe we are playing our best football late in the season," Rams coach Mike Bobo told reporters. "We are appreciative of this invitation to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and I'm excited for this football team to have one more chance to play together, to keep improving and finish the season on a high note."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Colorado State -13.5
ABOUT IDAHO (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt): Junior quarterback Matt Linehan, who is the son of Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, has passed for 2,803 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Aaron Duckworth (615 yards, four touchdowns) and Isaiah Saunders (584, six) share the rushing workload while senior tight ends Trent Cowan (46 receptions, 532 yards, six touchdowns) and Deon Watson (36, 555, two) are Linehan's top targets. The defense held three of its last four opponents to 14 or fewer points and is led by middle linebacker Tony Lashley (team-best 99 tackles), defensive end Aikeem Coleman (team-leading eight sacks) and senior cornerback Jayshawn Jordan (team-high five interceptions).
ABOUT COLORADO STATE (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West): Things appeared bleak when standout freshman quarterback Collin Hill (1,096 yards, eight touchdowns) was lost to a torn ACL in his left knee in October, but former starter Nick Stevens was up to the task of saving the Rams' season. The junior tossed 14 touchdowns against just one interception over the final six games and standout receiver Michael Gallup (70 catches, 1,164 yards) recorded eight of his 11 receiving scores after Stevens regained the job. The defense is led by senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis, who posted a team-leading 101 tackles, with middle linebacker Josh Watson (80 tackles) and free safety Braylin Scott (team-high three interceptions) also enjoying solid campaigns.
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When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 22, 2016
Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
1. Idaho is concluding its next-to-last season as an FBS program before dropping levels with a matchup against Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho. The Vandals qualified for a bowl game for only third time in 21 seasons in the FBS by winning six of their last seven games. The Rams have been torrid down the stretch, winning four of their last five contests - including a 63-point eruption in a triumph over Mountain West champion San Diego State.
2. The Vandals were dismissed from the Sun Belt effective after next season and are electing to drop down to the FCS level in hopes of enjoying more success and losing less money. Not much was expected from this Idaho squad when it lost consecutive games against Washington and Washington State in September by a combined 115-20 score, but coach Paul Petrino guided the team to a strong turnaround and is relishing the bowl appearance. "That's one reason I'm so proud of our players," Petrino said during a press conference. "They've been kicked out of a conference and told they were going to change divisions. They never worried about that. They worried about playing one game at a time."
3. The Rams are playing in a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, the second-longest streak in school history behind a string of five under Sonny Lubick from 1999-2003. Colorado State averaged an impressive 47.4 points and 520.6 yards over its final five games, with the four victories during the stretch coming by an average of 26.5 points. "Our football team has consistently improved throughout this season by the way they have worked and learned to compete, and I believe we are playing our best football late in the season," Rams coach Mike Bobo told reporters. "We are appreciative of this invitation to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and I'm excited for this football team to have one more chance to play together, to keep improving and finish the season on a high note."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Colorado State -13.5
ABOUT IDAHO (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt): Junior quarterback Matt Linehan, who is the son of Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, has passed for 2,803 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Aaron Duckworth (615 yards, four touchdowns) and Isaiah Saunders (584, six) share the rushing workload while senior tight ends Trent Cowan (46 receptions, 532 yards, six touchdowns) and Deon Watson (36, 555, two) are Linehan's top targets. The defense held three of its last four opponents to 14 or fewer points and is led by middle linebacker Tony Lashley (team-best 99 tackles), defensive end Aikeem Coleman (team-leading eight sacks) and senior cornerback Jayshawn Jordan (team-high five interceptions).
ABOUT COLORADO STATE (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West): Things appeared bleak when standout freshman quarterback Collin Hill (1,096 yards, eight touchdowns) was lost to a torn ACL in his left knee in October, but former starter Nick Stevens was up to the task of saving the Rams' season. The junior tossed 14 touchdowns against just one interception over the final six games and standout receiver Michael Gallup (70 catches, 1,164 yards) recorded eight of his 11 receiving scores after Stevens regained the job. The defense is led by senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis, who posted a team-leading 101 tackles, with middle linebacker Josh Watson (80 tackles) and free safety Braylin Scott (team-high three interceptions) also enjoying solid campaigns.
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| Thursday, Dec 22, 2016 - NCAA Football Game | |||||||||||||
| 07:00 PM | Colorado State | -15½ | -110 | -700 | Ov | 65 | -110 | ||||||
| Idaho | +15½ | -110 | +535 | Un | 65 | -110 |
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FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL.....Idaho Covers +15.5.....The Total Goes Over 65
Final
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[h=2] Idaho [/h] (9-4) | 0 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 61 |
[h=2] Colorado State [/h] (7-6) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 50 |
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Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
When: 1:00 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Nassau
POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL STORYLINES
1. A pair of postseason strangers face off when Eastern Michigan meets Old Dominion in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas, on Dec. 23. While the Monarchs have never played in a bowl game, the Eagles make their first appearance in 29 years. The two teams are no strangers to each other, however, as Old Dominion defeated Eastern Michigan in a shootout on the road last season 38-34, getting a 45-yard touchdown run with 1:57 to play for the winning margin.
2. Chris Creighton directed the turnaround for Eastern Michigan, which won a combined three games in his first two years with the program. Creighton took over for coach Ron English, who was fired after addressing his team with what the school's administration deemed as “wholly inappropriate language” in 2013. Quarterback Brogan Roback fuels the offense, throwing for 2,394 yards with 16 touchdowns and he passed for 468 yards and three scores in the Eagles' bowl-clinching win over Ball State earlier in the season.
3. Old Dominion's only loss in Conference USA play came to Western Kentucky but it proved to spell the end of its title hopes as both teams finished 7-1 in conference play. The Monarchs averaged 36 points per game (27th in the FBS) led by David Washington, who is one of four FBS quarterbacks to have thrown for 25 touchdown passes with four or fewer interceptions. Washington threw for 2,648 yards overall while completing 59.7 percent of his passes for the Monarchs, who ride a five-game winning streak all of which came by double figures.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Old Dominion -5.5.....O/U 63.5
ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN (7-5, 4-4 MAC): The Eagles may not have leading running back Ian Eriksen (741 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) who missed the team's regular season finale with an undisclosed injury and remains listed as questionable. Pat O'Connor paced the Eastern Michigan defense, which allowed 30.3 points per game, with eight sacks to set the school's career mark with 19.5. The Eagles finished fourth in the MAC's West Division and were outscored by 27 points in conference play but cemented their bowl bid with a late come-from-behind victory over Central Michigan and won seven games for the first time since 1989.
ABOUT OLD DOMINION (9-3, 7-1 Conference USA): Coach Bobby Wilder guided the Monarchs since 2007 and is rumored to be on the Temple short list after Matt Rhule took the Baylor job. Ray Lawry powered the Old Dominion running game amassing 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns and capped his junior campaign with a career-high 194 yards and three scores in a 42-28 victory over Florida International. Linebacker TJ Ricks became the first defensive player in school history to earn first-team All-Conference USA honors, leading the team with 93 tackles, and Zach Pascal and Jonathan Duhart both caught eight touchdown passes.
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When: 1:00 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Nassau
POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL STORYLINES
1. A pair of postseason strangers face off when Eastern Michigan meets Old Dominion in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas, on Dec. 23. While the Monarchs have never played in a bowl game, the Eagles make their first appearance in 29 years. The two teams are no strangers to each other, however, as Old Dominion defeated Eastern Michigan in a shootout on the road last season 38-34, getting a 45-yard touchdown run with 1:57 to play for the winning margin.
2. Chris Creighton directed the turnaround for Eastern Michigan, which won a combined three games in his first two years with the program. Creighton took over for coach Ron English, who was fired after addressing his team with what the school's administration deemed as “wholly inappropriate language” in 2013. Quarterback Brogan Roback fuels the offense, throwing for 2,394 yards with 16 touchdowns and he passed for 468 yards and three scores in the Eagles' bowl-clinching win over Ball State earlier in the season.
3. Old Dominion's only loss in Conference USA play came to Western Kentucky but it proved to spell the end of its title hopes as both teams finished 7-1 in conference play. The Monarchs averaged 36 points per game (27th in the FBS) led by David Washington, who is one of four FBS quarterbacks to have thrown for 25 touchdown passes with four or fewer interceptions. Washington threw for 2,648 yards overall while completing 59.7 percent of his passes for the Monarchs, who ride a five-game winning streak all of which came by double figures.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Old Dominion -5.5.....O/U 63.5
ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN (7-5, 4-4 MAC): The Eagles may not have leading running back Ian Eriksen (741 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) who missed the team's regular season finale with an undisclosed injury and remains listed as questionable. Pat O'Connor paced the Eastern Michigan defense, which allowed 30.3 points per game, with eight sacks to set the school's career mark with 19.5. The Eagles finished fourth in the MAC's West Division and were outscored by 27 points in conference play but cemented their bowl bid with a late come-from-behind victory over Central Michigan and won seven games for the first time since 1989.
ABOUT OLD DOMINION (9-3, 7-1 Conference USA): Coach Bobby Wilder guided the Monarchs since 2007 and is rumored to be on the Temple short list after Matt Rhule took the Baylor job. Ray Lawry powered the Old Dominion running game amassing 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns and capped his junior campaign with a career-high 194 yards and three scores in a 42-28 victory over Florida International. Linebacker TJ Ricks became the first defensive player in school history to earn first-team All-Conference USA honors, leading the team with 93 tackles, and Zach Pascal and Jonathan Duhart both caught eight touchdown passes.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL
When: 4:30 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL STORYLINES
1. Both Navy and Louisiana Tech carry two-game losing streaks - including setbacks in their respective conference title games - into the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Midshipmen, who fell to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship before losing to Army for the first time in 15 years, have won three straight bowl games - including this one in 2013. The Bulldogs have won two bowl games in a row and are seeking their third consecutive nine-win season.
2. Navy has not been the same team since losing senior quarterback Will Worth - the nation's leader with 25 rushing touchdowns - early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games. Abey and his crew will need to get some early points in order to prevent a situation where they need to play catch up through the air opposite Louisiana Tech's relentless passing attack.
3. Bulldogs quarterback Ryan Higgins was named Conference USA MVP after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44 points per game) and third-ranked passing unit (359.8 yards). Navy's rushing game is fourth in the country at 310.9 yards, making for an intriguing clash of styles. "It certainly has some interesting dynamics when you look at the two teams and where both of our strengths are and both of our weaknesses are," Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz - who is 4-3 in bowl games - told reporters.
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Louisiana Tech -7.....O/U 68
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-5, 6-2 C-USA): Higgins has one of the nation's top targets in senior Trent Taylor, who is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs but nearly the same number of yards (1,406) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior running back Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,350 total yards this season and 13 TDs, nine of which came on the ground.
ABOUT NAVY (9-4, 7-1 AAC): The Midshipmen will be challenged early and often by Higgins after allowing 25 TDs through the air and ranking 122nd in the country in passing efficiency defense. It'll be up to Abey and a fleet of backs - led by junior Chris High (500 rushing yards, five TDs) - to maintain possession and burn the clock. Senior fullback Shawn White had 310 of his 443 yards over the final five games, as well as four of his seven scores, while senior wideout Jamir Tillman has team highs of 38 catches and 615 receiving yards.
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When: 4:30 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL STORYLINES
1. Both Navy and Louisiana Tech carry two-game losing streaks - including setbacks in their respective conference title games - into the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Midshipmen, who fell to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship before losing to Army for the first time in 15 years, have won three straight bowl games - including this one in 2013. The Bulldogs have won two bowl games in a row and are seeking their third consecutive nine-win season.
2. Navy has not been the same team since losing senior quarterback Will Worth - the nation's leader with 25 rushing touchdowns - early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games. Abey and his crew will need to get some early points in order to prevent a situation where they need to play catch up through the air opposite Louisiana Tech's relentless passing attack.
3. Bulldogs quarterback Ryan Higgins was named Conference USA MVP after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44 points per game) and third-ranked passing unit (359.8 yards). Navy's rushing game is fourth in the country at 310.9 yards, making for an intriguing clash of styles. "It certainly has some interesting dynamics when you look at the two teams and where both of our strengths are and both of our weaknesses are," Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz - who is 4-3 in bowl games - told reporters.
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Louisiana Tech -7.....O/U 68
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-5, 6-2 C-USA): Higgins has one of the nation's top targets in senior Trent Taylor, who is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs but nearly the same number of yards (1,406) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior running back Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,350 total yards this season and 13 TDs, nine of which came on the ground.
ABOUT NAVY (9-4, 7-1 AAC): The Midshipmen will be challenged early and often by Higgins after allowing 25 TDs through the air and ranking 122nd in the country in passing efficiency defense. It'll be up to Abey and a fleet of backs - led by junior Chris High (500 rushing yards, five TDs) - to maintain possession and burn the clock. Senior fullback Shawn White had 310 of his 443 yards over the final five games, as well as four of his seven scores, while senior wideout Jamir Tillman has team highs of 38 catches and 615 receiving yards.
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Dollar General Bowl
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two teams that ended the season with close losses to miss out on conference championships get a chance to remove that bitter taste when Ohio meets Troy in the Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 23. The Bobcats gave No. 14 Western Michigan all it could handle before losing 29-23 in the MAC championship game. The Trojans were upset by Georgia Southern 28-24 to miss out on a share of the Sun Belt crown.
2. This is the eighth straight season of bowl eligibility for Ohio under coach Frank Solich, who also guided the Bobcats to Mobile in 2007. The MAC East Division champion missed out on its first conference crown since 1968 but still can reach nine wins for the first time since 2012 - the last time Ohio won a bowl game. The Bobcats are 2-7 overall in bowl games.
3. Troy led the Sun Belt in scoring, passing and total offense with 49 touchdowns and 5,263 total yards. The Trojans are 2-3 in bowl games and are making their first bowl appearance since 2010 - when they beat the Bobcats 48-21 in the New Orleans Bowl. Troy nearly upset No. 3 Clemson in a 30-24 nail-biter Sept. 10.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Troy -5.....O/U 49
OHIO (8-5, 6-2 MAC): Since allowing 56 points to Texas State in triple overtime in the season opener, the Bobcats have held every opponent to fewer than 30 points, with MAC Defensive Player of the Year Tarell Basham being a big reason why. The senior defensive lineman led the conference with 11.5 sacks and is the school’s career leader with 29.5. Senior linebacker Blair Brown had a conference-high 116 tackles (13.5 for loss), and MAC Freshman of the Year Javon Hagan had 50 tackles and led the team with five forced fumbles and three interceptions.
ABOUT TROY (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt): The Trojans got as far as 8-1 and became the first Sun Belt team to be ranked in the Top 25 before losing two of their final three games and missing out on their sixth conference title. Despite the slide, it still was a season of major strides for Troy, which improved by five wins in coach Neal Brown’s second season - tied for the fifth-best turnaround in the nation. Junior running back Jordan Chunn led the resurgence, rushing for 1,232 yards and a conference-best 13 touchdowns.
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When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, December 23, 2016
Where: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two teams that ended the season with close losses to miss out on conference championships get a chance to remove that bitter taste when Ohio meets Troy in the Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 23. The Bobcats gave No. 14 Western Michigan all it could handle before losing 29-23 in the MAC championship game. The Trojans were upset by Georgia Southern 28-24 to miss out on a share of the Sun Belt crown.
2. This is the eighth straight season of bowl eligibility for Ohio under coach Frank Solich, who also guided the Bobcats to Mobile in 2007. The MAC East Division champion missed out on its first conference crown since 1968 but still can reach nine wins for the first time since 2012 - the last time Ohio won a bowl game. The Bobcats are 2-7 overall in bowl games.
3. Troy led the Sun Belt in scoring, passing and total offense with 49 touchdowns and 5,263 total yards. The Trojans are 2-3 in bowl games and are making their first bowl appearance since 2010 - when they beat the Bobcats 48-21 in the New Orleans Bowl. Troy nearly upset No. 3 Clemson in a 30-24 nail-biter Sept. 10.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Troy -5.....O/U 49
OHIO (8-5, 6-2 MAC): Since allowing 56 points to Texas State in triple overtime in the season opener, the Bobcats have held every opponent to fewer than 30 points, with MAC Defensive Player of the Year Tarell Basham being a big reason why. The senior defensive lineman led the conference with 11.5 sacks and is the school’s career leader with 29.5. Senior linebacker Blair Brown had a conference-high 116 tackles (13.5 for loss), and MAC Freshman of the Year Javon Hagan had 50 tackles and led the team with five forced fumbles and three interceptions.
ABOUT TROY (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt): The Trojans got as far as 8-1 and became the first Sun Belt team to be ranked in the Top 25 before losing two of their final three games and missing out on their sixth conference title. Despite the slide, it still was a season of major strides for Troy, which improved by five wins in coach Neal Brown’s second season - tied for the fifth-best turnaround in the nation. Junior running back Jordan Chunn led the resurgence, rushing for 1,232 yards and a conference-best 13 touchdowns.
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OU Trends
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Head to Head
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| Friday, Dec 23, 2016 - NCAA Football Game | |||||||||||||||||||
| 01:00 PM | Eastern Michigan | +5½ | -110 | +190 | Ov | 63½ | -107 | ||||||||||||
| Old Dominion | -5½ | -110 | -220 | Un | 63½ | -113 | |||||||||||||
| 04:30 PM | Louisiana Tech | -7 | -117 | -285 | Ov | 68 | -105 | ||||||||||||
| Navy | +7 | -103 | +240 | Un | 68 | -115 | |||||||||||||
| 08:00 PM | Ohio | +5 | -110 | +180 | Ov | 49 | -110 | ||||||||||||
| Troy | -5 | -110 | 210 | Un | 49 | -110 |
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POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL.....E.Michigan Covers +5.5.....The Total Stays Under 63.5
Final
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Final
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[h=2] Eastern Michigan [/h] (7-6) | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 20 |
[h=2] Old Dominion [/h] (10-3) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
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LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL.....Navy Covers +7.....The Total Goes Over 68
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Final
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[h=2] Louisiana Tech [/h] (9-5) | 17 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 48 |
[h=2]25 Navy [/h] (9-5) | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
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