This might be one of the worst matchups of the bowl season. Its lone saving grace is that it’s got the benefit of a lower-level team getting to take a shot at a Power 5 squad.
It’s homecoming for San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who closes out his college football career in his hometown of Honolulu. Unfortunately, the matchup of top quarterbacks won’t materialize. Grayson McCall’s injured again and hopped into the transfer portal, so Coastal Carolina will go with Ethan Vasko under center.
The past six editions of this bowl have all been decided by double digits. In the 24-year history of bowl games in Mobile, Ala., only five have been decided by one score. This one looks like another dud, as Eastern Michigan really did not do enough to deserve a bowl game.
On paper, the unstoppable force meets immovable object in Fort Worth, as the nation’s No. 2 rushing offense faces the top run defense. Air Force has made the triple option its identity for years (as have the other service academies), to the point where the Falcons barely bother to pass. But this marks the best run defense Air Force has seen all season, and it comes with the Falcons on a four-game losing streak.
A 7-5 season certainly isn’t bad by the Blue Devils’ standards, but Duke’s gotten one bad thing after another since September.
The biggest question with this game is simple: which team really wants to be here? UCLA clearly didn’t look like a team that wanted anything to do with its season finale, and things aren’t a lot better in Boise.
New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana: Expert Pick and Prediction – December 16, 2023
The knock on Jacksonville State has been clear from Week 1: if you want to beat the Gamecocks, you do it by throwing the football. And that’s not what Louisiana does well.
Florida A&M was denied a chance to play for the HBCU national title in 2019 because of sanctions. Now the Rattlers are back with a chance to make up for that year.
Army’s still got plenty to play for as it looks to secure the Commander in Chief’s Trophy for the fifth time in seven years. The Mids can’t win the Commander in Chief’s trophy given that they lost to Air Force, but they can deny it to Army, which would be just as satisfying.