Hawai'i Bowl
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2016
Where: Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
HAWAII BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two teams that ended their regular seasons on a strong note will do battle Dec. 24, as Hawaii tangles with Middle Tennessee in what is essentially a home game for the Rainbow Warriors. Hawaii reeled off back-to-back narrow victories over Fresno State and Massachusetts to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010. The Blue Raiders won shootouts over Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to clinch its first eight-win campaign since 2013.
2. The Rainbow Warriors weren't assured a bowl berth following their 46-40 victory over the Minutemen, but earned an exemption because not enough teams wound up bowl-eligible. Hawaii is 3-3 all-time in Hawaii Bowl contests, but this will be its first appearance as a member of the Mountain West Conference, which placed seven teams in bowl games this season. This is the first six-win season since 2011 for the Rainbow Warriors, who went 11-39 the previous four seasons.
3. The Blue Raiders capped a highly successful regular season in style, setting school records in points, offensive yards and touchdowns in a 77-56 slugfest with the Owls. It was a fitting end to the season for a Middle Tennessee team that broke season-long marks with 6,188 total offensive yards, 481 total points and 61 offensive touchdowns. It's the 10th bowl game in school history, and the Blue Raiders come in with a 3-6 bowl record all-time.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.....M.T. St. -7.....O/U 72
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (8-4, 5-3 Conference USA): The Blue Raiders appeared to be in peril after star quarterback Brent Stockstill was lost for the season to a broken collarbone in early November - but you wouldn't know it by looking at a Middle Tennessee offense that plastered the scoreboard for 115 points in the final two games of the season. While the Blue Raiders did the majority of their damage through the air with Stockstill at the helm, they were ruthless on the ground against Florida Atlantic, rushing for 495 yards and nine scores - three each by I'Tavius Mathers, Richie James and Dennis Andrews. Mathers was the pulse of the running game during the season, racking up 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns on 220 carries.
ABOUT HAWAII (6-7, 4-4 Mountain West): The Rainbow Warriors will need to lean heavily on sophomore quarterback Dru Brown, who threw for more than 2,200 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 283 yards and three scores on the ground. Hawaii's three-headed rushing tandem of Diocemy Saint Juste (836 yards, three TDs), Paul Harris (537 yards, two TDs) and Steven Lakalaka (415 yards, 12 TDs) will hope to help take the pressure off Brown, who bolstered his final numbers with a five-touchdown effort against UMass. The Rainbow Warriors do have a difference-maker on the defensive side in linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who was awarded All-Mountain West honors after posting a team-leading 118 tackles and seven sacks.
ATS Trends
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
OU Trends
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
Head to Head
No trends available.
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2016
Where: Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
HAWAII BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two teams that ended their regular seasons on a strong note will do battle Dec. 24, as Hawaii tangles with Middle Tennessee in what is essentially a home game for the Rainbow Warriors. Hawaii reeled off back-to-back narrow victories over Fresno State and Massachusetts to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010. The Blue Raiders won shootouts over Charlotte and Florida Atlantic to clinch its first eight-win campaign since 2013.
2. The Rainbow Warriors weren't assured a bowl berth following their 46-40 victory over the Minutemen, but earned an exemption because not enough teams wound up bowl-eligible. Hawaii is 3-3 all-time in Hawaii Bowl contests, but this will be its first appearance as a member of the Mountain West Conference, which placed seven teams in bowl games this season. This is the first six-win season since 2011 for the Rainbow Warriors, who went 11-39 the previous four seasons.
3. The Blue Raiders capped a highly successful regular season in style, setting school records in points, offensive yards and touchdowns in a 77-56 slugfest with the Owls. It was a fitting end to the season for a Middle Tennessee team that broke season-long marks with 6,188 total offensive yards, 481 total points and 61 offensive touchdowns. It's the 10th bowl game in school history, and the Blue Raiders come in with a 3-6 bowl record all-time.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.....M.T. St. -7.....O/U 72
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (8-4, 5-3 Conference USA): The Blue Raiders appeared to be in peril after star quarterback Brent Stockstill was lost for the season to a broken collarbone in early November - but you wouldn't know it by looking at a Middle Tennessee offense that plastered the scoreboard for 115 points in the final two games of the season. While the Blue Raiders did the majority of their damage through the air with Stockstill at the helm, they were ruthless on the ground against Florida Atlantic, rushing for 495 yards and nine scores - three each by I'Tavius Mathers, Richie James and Dennis Andrews. Mathers was the pulse of the running game during the season, racking up 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns on 220 carries.
ABOUT HAWAII (6-7, 4-4 Mountain West): The Rainbow Warriors will need to lean heavily on sophomore quarterback Dru Brown, who threw for more than 2,200 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 283 yards and three scores on the ground. Hawaii's three-headed rushing tandem of Diocemy Saint Juste (836 yards, three TDs), Paul Harris (537 yards, two TDs) and Steven Lakalaka (415 yards, 12 TDs) will hope to help take the pressure off Brown, who bolstered his final numbers with a five-touchdown effort against UMass. The Rainbow Warriors do have a difference-maker on the defensive side in linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who was awarded All-Mountain West honors after posting a team-leading 118 tackles and seven sacks.
ATS Trends
| Hawaii |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Middle Tennessee |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
OU Trends
| Hawaii |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Middle Tennessee |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
Head to Head
No trends available.
| Saturday, Dec 24, 2016 - NCAA Football Game | ||||||||||||||
| 08:00 PM | Middle Tennessee State | -7 | -110 | -280 | Ov | 72 | -110 | |||||||
| Hawaii | +7 | -110 | +235 | Un | 72 | -110 |
<tbody>
</tbody>
HAWAII BOWL.....Hawaii Covers +7.....The Total Goes Over 72
Final
Final
St. Petersburg Bowl
When: 11:00 AM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two talented sophomore quarterbacks get their first college postseason exposure when Mississippi State takes on Miami (Ohio) in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26. Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald led the SEC in total offense with 3,530 yards - 1,243 on the ground - and had a hand in 35 touchdowns - 21 passing and 14 rushing. The RedHawks became a different team when Gus Ragland took over at quarterback in midseason as he won all six games to rescue the team from a 0-6 start, throwing for 15 touchdowns - nine in the last three games - without an interception.
2. The Bulldogs make their school-record seventh straight trip to a bowl game despite a 5-7 record, getting added as an eligible team to help fill the enormous bowl schedule because of their academic standing after a 55-20 victory over Ole Miss in the regular season finale. Miami’s remarkable turnaround qualified the RedHawks for their first bowl since the 2010 season when they took down Middle Tennessee 35-21 in the Go.Daddy Bowl. “They are a much different team at the back end of the season than they were at the beginning of the season just based on the confidence they play with,” Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters. “It is going to be a great challenge for us.”
3. Mississippi State’s offense stepped it up in the second half of the season, averaging more than 45 points in the five games that were not against No. 1 Alabama, while Miami improved defensively after giving up an average of almost 30 points during the 0-6 start. The Bulldogs scored 24.8 points per game in the first six of the season and Fitzgerald was key to the revival, rushing for at least 100 yards in five of the six second-half contests - 258 against Ole Miss - while throwing for five touchdowns and no interceptions in the final two games. Sophomore De’Andre Montgomery and junior Heath Harding each have picked off four passes for the RedHawks.
TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Mississippi State -14 O/U 58
ABOUT MIAMI (6-6, 6-2 Mid-American Conference East): The Redhawks are the first team in NCAA history to start the season 0-6 before winning six straight and averaged almost 30 points during the streak to do it while limiting four of six opponents to 20 or fewer. Ragland completed 62.4 percent of his passes and also rushed for two scores while sophomores Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young combined for 1,179 yards to go along with five touchdowns on the ground. Sophomore James Gardner (40 catches, 658 yards, five TDs), junior Jared Murphy (42, 532, five) and senior Rokeem Williams (22, 463, three) give Ragland three dangerous options in the air.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-7, 3-5 SEC West): Senior Fred Ross is Fitzgerald’s top target with 68 receptions for 873 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Donald Gray has also contributed with 39 catches and 691 yards to go along with five scores. Fitzgerald logged 52 more carries than anyone else on the team, but sophomore Aeris Williams is quite capable after accumulating 656 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Bulldogs often struggled on defense (110th in the nation in yards allowed per game), but senior linebacker Richie Brown (93 tackles) and senior lineman Johnathan Calvin (seven sacks) had their moments.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h] No trends available.
When: 11:00 AM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL STORYLINES
1. Two talented sophomore quarterbacks get their first college postseason exposure when Mississippi State takes on Miami (Ohio) in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26. Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald led the SEC in total offense with 3,530 yards - 1,243 on the ground - and had a hand in 35 touchdowns - 21 passing and 14 rushing. The RedHawks became a different team when Gus Ragland took over at quarterback in midseason as he won all six games to rescue the team from a 0-6 start, throwing for 15 touchdowns - nine in the last three games - without an interception.
2. The Bulldogs make their school-record seventh straight trip to a bowl game despite a 5-7 record, getting added as an eligible team to help fill the enormous bowl schedule because of their academic standing after a 55-20 victory over Ole Miss in the regular season finale. Miami’s remarkable turnaround qualified the RedHawks for their first bowl since the 2010 season when they took down Middle Tennessee 35-21 in the Go.Daddy Bowl. “They are a much different team at the back end of the season than they were at the beginning of the season just based on the confidence they play with,” Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters. “It is going to be a great challenge for us.”
3. Mississippi State’s offense stepped it up in the second half of the season, averaging more than 45 points in the five games that were not against No. 1 Alabama, while Miami improved defensively after giving up an average of almost 30 points during the 0-6 start. The Bulldogs scored 24.8 points per game in the first six of the season and Fitzgerald was key to the revival, rushing for at least 100 yards in five of the six second-half contests - 258 against Ole Miss - while throwing for five touchdowns and no interceptions in the final two games. Sophomore De’Andre Montgomery and junior Heath Harding each have picked off four passes for the RedHawks.
TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Mississippi State -14 O/U 58
ABOUT MIAMI (6-6, 6-2 Mid-American Conference East): The Redhawks are the first team in NCAA history to start the season 0-6 before winning six straight and averaged almost 30 points during the streak to do it while limiting four of six opponents to 20 or fewer. Ragland completed 62.4 percent of his passes and also rushed for two scores while sophomores Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young combined for 1,179 yards to go along with five touchdowns on the ground. Sophomore James Gardner (40 catches, 658 yards, five TDs), junior Jared Murphy (42, 532, five) and senior Rokeem Williams (22, 463, three) give Ragland three dangerous options in the air.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-7, 3-5 SEC West): Senior Fred Ross is Fitzgerald’s top target with 68 receptions for 873 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Donald Gray has also contributed with 39 catches and 691 yards to go along with five scores. Fitzgerald logged 52 more carries than anyone else on the team, but sophomore Aeris Williams is quite capable after accumulating 656 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Bulldogs often struggled on defense (110th in the nation in yards allowed per game), but senior linebacker Richie Brown (93 tackles) and senior lineman Johnathan Calvin (seven sacks) had their moments.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
| Miami (Ohio) |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Mississippi State |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
| Miami (Ohio) |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Mississippi State |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h] No trends available.
Quick Lane Bowl
When: 2:30 PM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Quick Lane Bowl Storylines
1. Former ACC foes Maryland and Boston College both rebounded from three-win campaigns a season ago and look to finish on a winning note when they tangle in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit the day after Christmas. The Terrapins, in head coach D.J. Durkin's first year, are seeking their first bowl win since 2010, while the Eagles are looking to snap a five-game bowl losing streak that dates back to 2008. Durkin's squad had a four-game slide down the stretch in which it was outscored 191-49 before defeating Rutgers in the last game of the regular season to gain bowl eligibility, while Boston College won its final two contests to reach a bowl game for the third time in four years under coach Steve Addazio.
2. The game could be decided in the battle between Maryland's running game and Boston College's stout rush defense, which is ranked seventh in the country. The Terrapins have four players with more than 100 rushing yards and at least 6.0 yards per carry, and leader Ty Johnson (845 yards, four touchdowns) is second nationally with 8.9 per attempt after picking up 168 yards on 11 carries in the win over Rutgers. Freshman Lorenzo Harrison piled up 7.2 per carry and led the way with five rushing TDs, but his status is in doubt after a late-season suspension.
3. Durkin and Addazio were on the same staff at Florida in 2010 and the latter was singing the praises of Maryland's first-year leader. "When he came to Florida, we wanted him so desperately to come and I was the interim head coach at that time," Addazio told reporters. "He had worked with Urban Meyer in the past and had a chance to be around D.J., his passion, his energy, so his career path hasn't surprised me in the least. I always said to myself, this is a guy that's going to be destined to be a great head football coach." Durkin, who was in charge of special teams and linebackers while working alongside Addazio that year, expressed similar sentiments. "A lot of our program, what we do and what is based on is right in line with Steve and to be honest with you, the things I learned from Steve," Durkin told the media. "I can't say enough. I said earlier, Steve's a guy I look up to in the profession."
TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Maryland -2 O/U 43.5
ABOUT MARYLAND (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten): Perhaps a full month off between games will help senior quarterback Perry Hills recover from persistent shoulder issues that caused him to miss two games and leave four others early this season. Hills completed 66 percent of his passes and had 10 TDs against three interceptions when in there, helping the Terrapins to a 5-1 record in games he was able to start and finish. "We think he’s been a really good player for us this year when he's been healthy," Durkin said of Hills. "We've had some ups and downs based on his health. He was back for us the last game of the year. He's back healthy now."
ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (6-6, 2-6 ACC): Junior defensive end Harold Landry leads the way for Addazio's defense and is up for many postseason honors after tying for the FBS lead with 15 sacks and ranking third with 20.5 tackles for loss. The nation's 127th-ranked offense did just enough in the two-game winning streak to end the regular season, as senior quarterback Patrick Towles threw for 257 yards and two TDs with no interceptions. He is one of four players with at least 200 rushing yards but the Eagles - who own an 8-3 all-time series advantage - average just 3.4 yards per attempt, 117th in the country.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h]
When: 2:30 PM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Quick Lane Bowl Storylines
1. Former ACC foes Maryland and Boston College both rebounded from three-win campaigns a season ago and look to finish on a winning note when they tangle in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit the day after Christmas. The Terrapins, in head coach D.J. Durkin's first year, are seeking their first bowl win since 2010, while the Eagles are looking to snap a five-game bowl losing streak that dates back to 2008. Durkin's squad had a four-game slide down the stretch in which it was outscored 191-49 before defeating Rutgers in the last game of the regular season to gain bowl eligibility, while Boston College won its final two contests to reach a bowl game for the third time in four years under coach Steve Addazio.
2. The game could be decided in the battle between Maryland's running game and Boston College's stout rush defense, which is ranked seventh in the country. The Terrapins have four players with more than 100 rushing yards and at least 6.0 yards per carry, and leader Ty Johnson (845 yards, four touchdowns) is second nationally with 8.9 per attempt after picking up 168 yards on 11 carries in the win over Rutgers. Freshman Lorenzo Harrison piled up 7.2 per carry and led the way with five rushing TDs, but his status is in doubt after a late-season suspension.
3. Durkin and Addazio were on the same staff at Florida in 2010 and the latter was singing the praises of Maryland's first-year leader. "When he came to Florida, we wanted him so desperately to come and I was the interim head coach at that time," Addazio told reporters. "He had worked with Urban Meyer in the past and had a chance to be around D.J., his passion, his energy, so his career path hasn't surprised me in the least. I always said to myself, this is a guy that's going to be destined to be a great head football coach." Durkin, who was in charge of special teams and linebackers while working alongside Addazio that year, expressed similar sentiments. "A lot of our program, what we do and what is based on is right in line with Steve and to be honest with you, the things I learned from Steve," Durkin told the media. "I can't say enough. I said earlier, Steve's a guy I look up to in the profession."
TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Maryland -2 O/U 43.5
ABOUT MARYLAND (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten): Perhaps a full month off between games will help senior quarterback Perry Hills recover from persistent shoulder issues that caused him to miss two games and leave four others early this season. Hills completed 66 percent of his passes and had 10 TDs against three interceptions when in there, helping the Terrapins to a 5-1 record in games he was able to start and finish. "We think he’s been a really good player for us this year when he's been healthy," Durkin said of Hills. "We've had some ups and downs based on his health. He was back for us the last game of the year. He's back healthy now."
ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (6-6, 2-6 ACC): Junior defensive end Harold Landry leads the way for Addazio's defense and is up for many postseason honors after tying for the FBS lead with 15 sacks and ranking third with 20.5 tackles for loss. The nation's 127th-ranked offense did just enough in the two-game winning streak to end the regular season, as senior quarterback Patrick Towles threw for 257 yards and two TDs with no interceptions. He is one of four players with at least 200 rushing yards but the Eagles - who own an 8-3 all-time series advantage - average just 3.4 yards per attempt, 117th in the country.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
| Maryland |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Boston College |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
| Maryland |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Boston College |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h]
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Camping World Independence Bowl
When: 5:00 PM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
CAMPING WORLD INDEPENDENCE BOWL STORYLINES
1. Vanderbilt needed to win one of its final two games to become bowl eligible and got both, earning themselves a date with North Carolina State at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 26. The Wolfpack needed an unlikely finish as well and ended up knocking off rival North Carolina in the regular-season finale to earn its third straight bowl appearance. The Commodores are returning to postseason play after a two-year bowl absence.
2. Vanderbilt made three straight bowl appearances under former coach James Franklin, including a 38-24 triumph over N.C. State in the 2012 Music City Bowl, but is going for the first time since Derek Mason took over the program. Mason was in danger of missing out on a bowl for the third straight season until engineering a 4-2 finish that included wins over Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. The Commodores put up two of their three highest point totals of the season in the final two contests and piled up 608 yards in the 45-34 win over the Volunteers in the regular-season finale.
3. The Wolfpack looked as though they would miss out on bowl season during a four-game slide in the middle of conference play, but tight losses to ACC powers Clemson and Florida State showed glimpses of what N.C. State could become. The 28-21 upset win at North Carolina in the finale not only made the Wolfpack bowl eligible, but it likely saved coach Dave Dorean's job. "We remain committed to becoming a Top 25 program and Dave shares that vision," N.C. State athletic director Debbie Yow said in a statement after the win over the Tar Heels.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN 2. LINE: NC State -6 O/U 45
ABOUT VANDERBILT (6-6, 3-5 SEC): The Commodores averaged 13.2 points in going 1-5 in the first six SEC games but totaled 83 points in the final two games as junior running back Ralph Webb piled up 237 yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur threw for a career-high 416 yards in the win over Tennessee and threw four TD passes in the last two games - marking the only two times this season that he threw for multiple TDs in a game. Vanderbilt already had a bowl berth sewn up thanks to its strong Academic Progress Rate before the finale but wanted to make a statement that it belonged in the postseason with a win.
ABOUT N.C. STATE (6-6, 3-5 ACC): Wolfpack senior running back Matthew Dayes was a second-team All-ACC selection after running for 1,119 yards and saved his best for last with six touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season. Dayes was fortunate to be running behind a fellow All-ACC second-teamer in guard Tony Adams, and tight end Jaylen Samuels made it as a third-team selection after leading N.C. State with 49 receptions. The defense is led by defensive end Bradley Chubb, who led the nation with 21 tackles for loss.
ATS Trends
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
OU Trends
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
Head to Head
No trends available.
When: 5:00 PM ET, Monday, December 26, 2016
Where: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
CAMPING WORLD INDEPENDENCE BOWL STORYLINES
1. Vanderbilt needed to win one of its final two games to become bowl eligible and got both, earning themselves a date with North Carolina State at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 26. The Wolfpack needed an unlikely finish as well and ended up knocking off rival North Carolina in the regular-season finale to earn its third straight bowl appearance. The Commodores are returning to postseason play after a two-year bowl absence.
2. Vanderbilt made three straight bowl appearances under former coach James Franklin, including a 38-24 triumph over N.C. State in the 2012 Music City Bowl, but is going for the first time since Derek Mason took over the program. Mason was in danger of missing out on a bowl for the third straight season until engineering a 4-2 finish that included wins over Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. The Commodores put up two of their three highest point totals of the season in the final two contests and piled up 608 yards in the 45-34 win over the Volunteers in the regular-season finale.
3. The Wolfpack looked as though they would miss out on bowl season during a four-game slide in the middle of conference play, but tight losses to ACC powers Clemson and Florida State showed glimpses of what N.C. State could become. The 28-21 upset win at North Carolina in the finale not only made the Wolfpack bowl eligible, but it likely saved coach Dave Dorean's job. "We remain committed to becoming a Top 25 program and Dave shares that vision," N.C. State athletic director Debbie Yow said in a statement after the win over the Tar Heels.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN 2. LINE: NC State -6 O/U 45
ABOUT VANDERBILT (6-6, 3-5 SEC): The Commodores averaged 13.2 points in going 1-5 in the first six SEC games but totaled 83 points in the final two games as junior running back Ralph Webb piled up 237 yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur threw for a career-high 416 yards in the win over Tennessee and threw four TD passes in the last two games - marking the only two times this season that he threw for multiple TDs in a game. Vanderbilt already had a bowl berth sewn up thanks to its strong Academic Progress Rate before the finale but wanted to make a statement that it belonged in the postseason with a win.
ABOUT N.C. STATE (6-6, 3-5 ACC): Wolfpack senior running back Matthew Dayes was a second-team All-ACC selection after running for 1,119 yards and saved his best for last with six touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season. Dayes was fortunate to be running behind a fellow All-ACC second-teamer in guard Tony Adams, and tight end Jaylen Samuels made it as a third-team selection after leading N.C. State with 49 receptions. The defense is led by defensive end Bradley Chubb, who led the nation with 21 tackles for loss.
ATS Trends
| North Carolina State |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Vanderbilt |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
OU Trends
| North Carolina State |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| Vanderbilt |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
Head to Head
No trends available.
| Monday, Dec 26, 2016 - NCAA Football Game | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 AM | Miami Ohio | +14 | -113 | +430 | Ov | 58 | -110 | ||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | -14 | -107 | -525 | Un | 58 | -110 | |||||||||||||||
| 02:30 PM | Maryland | -2 | -115 | Ov | 43½ | -105 | |||||||||||||||
| Boston College | +2 | -105 | Un | 43½ | -115 | ||||||||||||||||
| 05:00 PM | Vanderbilt | +6 | -115 | +190 | Ov | 45 | -110 | ||||||||||||||
| NC State | -6 | -105 | -220 | Un | 45 | -110 |
<tbody>
</tbody>
St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Mississippi State
(11 a.m., ESPN, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida)
Mississippi State is 5-7 and Miami (Ohio) went from 0-6 to 6-6, so sizing up this one is tricky. But Bulldogs dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will make the difference against a good Miami defense, as another 5-7 squad finishes with a bowl victory. Mississippi State 33, Miami (Ohio) 24.
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs. Boston College
(2:30 p.m., ESPN, Ford Field, Detroit)
Maryland and BC are Nos. 75 and 76 in FPI, just above 3-9 Arizona, and both struggled mightily against the elite of their respective conferences. It comes down to which squad makes the most strides during bowl preparation. Boston College gets it done in Motown. Boston College 24, Maryland 21.
Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State vs. Vanderbilt
(5 p.m., ESPN2, Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana)
Two of the nation's best under-the-radar defenders share the field in Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham (16 tackles for loss) and NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb (21 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks). Neither offense gets much going, but NC State star Matthew Dayes reaches the end zone in the final minute for the win. NC State 20, Vanderbilt 17.
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL.....Miami Ohio Covers +14.....The Total Stays Under 58
Final
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
Final
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[h=2] Miami (OH) [/h] (6-7) | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
[h=2] Mississippi State [/h] (6-7) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
QUICK LANE BOWL.....Boston College Covers +2.....The Total Goes Over 43.5
Final
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
Final
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[h=2] Maryland [/h] (6-7) | 0 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 30 |
[h=2] Boston College [/h] (7-6) | 6 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 36 |
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
CAMPING WORLD INDEPENDENCE BOWL.....N.C. St. Covers -6.....The Total Goes Over 45
Final
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
Final
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[h=2] NC State [/h] (7-6) | 0 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 41 |
[h=2] Vanderbilt [/h] (6-7) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
<thead>
</thead> <tbody id="teams">
</tbody>
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
When: 12:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, Texas
ZAXBY’S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL STORYLINES
1. This year's Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 27 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas will feature a rematch between two teams that played in the regular season -- Army and North Texas. The visiting Mean Green defeated Army 35-18 on Oct. 22, handing the Black Knights their first home loss of the season. How well Army can slow down running back Jeffrey Wilson, who went for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the first matchup, will be a key to this game.
2. The Mean Green didn’t exactly take the regular route to a bowl game, dropping four of their last five to finish under .500. North Texas is only in a bowl because there weren’t enough 6-6 teams to fill all the available spots, allowing a handful of five-win squads into the party. Selections were based on academic progress rate scores, and the Mean Green ranked second among teams not bowl eligible, giving North Texas its ninth bowl game in school history.
3. Army is back in a bowl game for the first time since 2010, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw. The dual-threat junior signal caller finished second on the team in rushing with 695 yards and paced the passing game with 650 yards, accounting for 11 touchdowns either on the ground or in the air. The Black Knights aren’t going to pass much in any game, but after throwing four interceptions in the loss to North Texas earlier this season, Bradshaw will need to be especially choosy about his aerial attempts in this contest.
TV: Noon ET, Dec. 27, ESPN. LINE: Army - 10.5 O/U 48.5
ABOUT ARMY (7-5): The constant to the Army ground attack has been sophomore running back Andy Davidson, who leads the team with 178 carries for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns. Still, in the loss to North Texas he ran the ball just 16 times for 70 yards and no scores, and averaged 78.7 yards in the team's five losses -- missing one completely with injury. The Black Knights are able to attack on the ground with a number of different players, but if Davidson isn't having his usual success the Army offense can get slowed down.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA): If the Mean Green are going to repeat their win over Army from earlier this year, the defense must improve. In the five games since holding the Black Knights to 18 points -- the fewest by a North Texas opponent this year -- the Mean Green have allowed an average of 39.2 points while going 1-4. North Texas forced seven turnovers against Army but managed just six since, meaning the team's leading tackler defensive back Kishawn McClain (86 tackles) and the rest of the defense need to be more opportunistic in their season finale.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
<tbody>
</tbody>
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h]
When: 12:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, Texas
ZAXBY’S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL STORYLINES
1. This year's Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 27 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas will feature a rematch between two teams that played in the regular season -- Army and North Texas. The visiting Mean Green defeated Army 35-18 on Oct. 22, handing the Black Knights their first home loss of the season. How well Army can slow down running back Jeffrey Wilson, who went for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the first matchup, will be a key to this game.
2. The Mean Green didn’t exactly take the regular route to a bowl game, dropping four of their last five to finish under .500. North Texas is only in a bowl because there weren’t enough 6-6 teams to fill all the available spots, allowing a handful of five-win squads into the party. Selections were based on academic progress rate scores, and the Mean Green ranked second among teams not bowl eligible, giving North Texas its ninth bowl game in school history.
3. Army is back in a bowl game for the first time since 2010, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw. The dual-threat junior signal caller finished second on the team in rushing with 695 yards and paced the passing game with 650 yards, accounting for 11 touchdowns either on the ground or in the air. The Black Knights aren’t going to pass much in any game, but after throwing four interceptions in the loss to North Texas earlier this season, Bradshaw will need to be especially choosy about his aerial attempts in this contest.
TV: Noon ET, Dec. 27, ESPN. LINE: Army - 10.5 O/U 48.5
ABOUT ARMY (7-5): The constant to the Army ground attack has been sophomore running back Andy Davidson, who leads the team with 178 carries for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns. Still, in the loss to North Texas he ran the ball just 16 times for 70 yards and no scores, and averaged 78.7 yards in the team's five losses -- missing one completely with injury. The Black Knights are able to attack on the ground with a number of different players, but if Davidson isn't having his usual success the Army offense can get slowed down.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA): If the Mean Green are going to repeat their win over Army from earlier this year, the defense must improve. In the five games since holding the Black Knights to 18 points -- the fewest by a North Texas opponent this year -- the Mean Green have allowed an average of 39.2 points while going 1-4. North Texas forced seven turnovers against Army but managed just six since, meaning the team's leading tackler defensive back Kishawn McClain (86 tackles) and the rest of the defense need to be more opportunistic in their season finale.
[h=3]ATS Trends[/h]
| Army |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| North Texas |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]OU Trends[/h]
| Army |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
| North Texas |
|
<tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Head to Head[/h]
- Black Knights are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
