9:15 pm est CAMELLIA BOWL, Montgomery, Al....SOUTH ALABAMA vs. BOWLING GREEN
Two teams that struggled to finish down the home stretch of the season. USA lost 4 of their last 5, while BG lost 3 straight, including a 51-17 loss to NIU in the MAC championship. The Jags ended the year 6-6, and the Falcons 7-6. My question, who wants to be here?
BG has been to 11 bowls, and this will be their 3rd consecutive. In their history, the Falcons are 4-7 in bowls, and have loss their last 4 in a row.
USA is simple, this first FCS bowl appearance in the HISTORY of the program.
The game is being played in Montgomery, Al., just a couple hour bus ride from the home of the JAGS in Mobile, Al. Ticket sales have went really good for the South Alabama faithful, not so for the Ohio following.
BG a 10-4 team just a year ago, lost their starting QB early in the season, and the offense sputtered with replacement Knapke. The QB has thrown just 3 td passes combined over the last 6 games. The Falcons love the uptempo style, and they need better QB play going forward. There has been some whispers involving the Falcons possibly playing 2-QB's in this game (not the injured QB), shows the offense needs a spark and lack of confidence by coaching staff in Knapke (IMO). On the defensive side, after leading the MAC in defense the last 2 years, this season the Falcons D has allowed 500 ypg and and 34 ppg.
USA has been through some changes on the offensive side of the ball since the last game. OC was dismissed, and former QB coach at USA for 3 years, who was the OC at UAB this season (shut down program), was hired and immediately began coaching for the bowl game. Some may say this is a bad thing. Not IMO. This guy was the man in recruiting on the offensive side for 3 years at USA. He knows these players and they know him. QB Brandon Bridge has struggled at times this year, although he threw 4 td passes against Navy the last game. Word has it, Bridge is happy to have his old coach back, as well as the other guys. The new OC has come in and implemented a uptempo style of offense, something the Jags did very little of this year, with the spread concept, to involve more of the skill guys. That also means that the BG coaching staff does not have film on the Jags in this style of offense. Matchups will favor USA.
On the D-side of the ball for the Jags, not bad, allowing 391 ypg (191 on ground/200 in the air), while giving up 25 ppg.
A final tid-bit on this game, USA was alot of experts pick to win the SunBelt Conf in the summer with 15 returning starters and 8 pre-season 1st-2nd team ALL-CONF selections. Also, to show the love and respect for the new OC has, at last count 5 of his former players at UAB, will transfer to USA next season.
9:15 PM EST....SOUTH ALABAMA - 2 1/2 (LOSER).. OVER 53..(WINNER)
BOL Pregamers. GET AFTER THEIR ASS!!!