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Colorado State, Marshall in New Mexico
December 15, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State (7-5) vs Marshall (7-5), Dec. 16, 4:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)

Line: Colorado State by 5+.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Colorado State is playing in its fifth consecutive bowl game but has lost in its last three postseason appearances. The Rams started the season 6-2 then dropped three of the final four games. Marshall is 5-0 in bowl games since 2009 and has a 10-2 overall bowl record. The Thundering Herd also started the season strong by going 6-1 only to lose four of their last five. Both teams are limping into the New Mexico Bowl with hopes of catching some of that early magic to redeem their seasons.

KEY MATCHUP

Colorado State's highly ranked offense versus Marshall's stingy and aggressive defense. The Rams are led by quarterback Nick Stevens, who threw for 3,479 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Colorado State also is ranked 10th in the FBS in yards per game with 501.1. The Thundering Herd rank 18th in the nation in scoring defense and 24th in total defense. Marshall has won 30 of its last 34 when holding offenses to 5 yards per play or fewer.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado State: Senior running back Dalyn Dawkins leads the Rams with 1,349 rushing yards and is ranked 16th in the country. Wide receiver Michael Gallup is Colorado State's deep threat and has 1,345 receiving yards this season. Gallup this year also has had six 100-yard games.

Marshall: Tight end Ryan Yurachek is the Thundering Herd's active leader in career receptions and has caught a pass in 41 consecutive games. In addition, he has 25 career touchdown receptions. Quarterback Chase Litton has thrown for 2,853 yards this season and hopes to exploit the Rams' shaky defense, which has given up 27.5 points per game.

FACTS & FIGURES

Colorado State played in the New Mexico Bowl in 2013 and the Rams came from behind to beat Washington State, 48-45, despite trailing by 22 in the second half. That was the last time Colorado State won a bowl game. ... Under coach Doc Holliday, the Thundering Herd are 44-7 when they score first. Marshall has won 34 of its last 35 games when leading at halftime. ... Marshall's Chase Litton is fifth in school history in career passing yards with 8,070. Only three other quarterbacks have thrown for at least 8,000 yards and 70 touchdowns for the Thundering Herd, including former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. ... Rams offensive coordinator Will Friend is joining newly named head coach Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee. ... The New Mexico Bowl is the final game for Rams defensive coordinator Marty English, who is retiring.

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Arkansas State-Middle Tennessee meet
December 15, 2017

Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State (7-4) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-6), Dec. 16, 8 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)

Line: Arkansas State by 4.

Series Record: Middle Tennessee leads 9-5.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Arkansas State is trying to rebound from a 32-25 loss to Troy when a share of the Sun Belt Conference title was on the line. Middle Tennessee wants to continue a strong finish after winning three of its final four games to become bowl eligible.

KEY MATCHUP

Middle Tennessee's defense against an Arkansas State team that leads the Sun Belt Conference in total, scoring and passing offense. The Blue Raiders have one of the better defenses in Conference USA but has only picked off four passes. Arkansas QB Justice Hansen presents a major challenge, having thrown for 3,630 yards and a Sun Belt-record 34 touchdowns. Hansen has been intercepted 15 times.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Middle Tennessee: QB Brent Stockstill, coach Rick Stockstill's son, led the team to a 3-1 finish after missing six games with a left (throwing) shoulder injury. He has thrown for at least one touchdown in 22 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the nation.

Arkansas State: DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones needs one more sack to break the career FBS record of 44 held by Terrell Suggs and Jonathan Peterson. The two-time Sun Belt player of the year has 13 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss this season while forcing three fumbles.

FACTS & FIGURES

The first three Camellia Bowls have gone down to the final minute and been decided by a combined eight points. ... Arkansas State is playing in its seventh consecutive bowl and eighth overall. Middle Tennessee is in its seventh bowl under Rick Stockstill and fourth in five years. ... The teams are former rivals in the Sun Belt, where Middle Tennessee was a member from 2001-2012. ... Middle Tennessee players have missed a combined 125 games due to injury, including Stockstill and top receiver Richie James. Only four players started every regular season game. ... Arkansas State has held five of its last six opponents to less than 100 rushing yards. ... Stockstill has passed for a combined 759 yards and seven touchdowns in two bowl games.

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 16

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R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Betting Preview and Odds: Troy vs. North Texas
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Troy Trojans vs. North Texas Mean Green (+7, 62)

Game to be played at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Former Sun Belt Conference rivals Troy and North Texas will meet in the New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Dec. 16. Troy leads the series 8-2, including a 2005 win that snapped the Mean Green's 26-game conference win streak. Troy won a share of its sixth Sun Belt title this season while the Mean Green won four Sun Belt titles between 2001-2004.

Troy senior quarterback Brandon Silvers (2,985 passing yards, 13 touchdowns) and the Trojans have scored 38.7 points during a six-game win streak - 17.4 points more than their first six games. North Texas sophomore quarterback Mason Fine broke single-season school records with 3,749 yards and 28 touchdowns on the way to first-team All-Conference USA honors. The Mean Green are on track to break single-season records in scoring (467 points) and total offense (467.0).

The Trojans finished the regular season leading the nation in red-zone defense, holding opponents to 23 scores (six rushing TDs, 10 passing TD and seven field goals) in 39 attempts. The Troy defense is ranked 11th in scoring defense (17.5 points) and has 101 tackles for loss - five away from setting a single-season school record. The Trojans could get a break if North Texas is without 1,000-yard rusher Jeffery Wilson, who missed the last two games with a broken bone in his foot.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The Trojans opened this bowl game as 6.5-point chalk and at most books were bet up slightly to a converted touchdown. The total hit the betting board at 62 and briefly went up to 62.5 before returning to the opening number.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: As of Thursday night Troy was getting 76 percent of the total tickets and 81 percent of the money according to William Hill US.

INJURY REPORT:

Troy - CB Orlando Lacey (Out For Season, Knee),

North Texas - WR Jalen Guyton (Questionable, Concussion), RB Jeffrey Wilson (Out Indefinitely, Ankle), DL Sid Moore (Out Indefinitely, Ankle), DT Bryce English (Out Indefinitely, Foot).

WEATHER REPORT: Dome

ABOUT TROY (10-2 SU, 5-7 ATS, 3-9 O/U): Silvers - who has 82 total career touchdowns and needs two sores to tie Corey Robinson's school record - has thrown 11 of his touchdowns during the win streak. Freshman cornerback Marcus Jones (44 tackles) returned an interception 100 yards in the season finale and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns on the way to a conference-record 32.9-yard kickoff return average. Troy, which is 2-1 at the New Orleans Bowl, has won 21 of its past 26 games under coach Neal Brown after he started 3-8 in 2015.

ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS, 8-5 O/U): Wilson rushed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns - and sits third in school history with 32 career rushing scores - before getting hurt. Sophomores Michael Lawrence (56 catches, 749 yards, three TDs), Jalen Guyton (48 catches, 764 yards, nine TDs) and Rico Bussey (43 catches, 613 yards, six TDs) account for more than half of Fine's touchdown passes. The Mean Green, who are playing in the New Orleans Bowl for the fifth time, are seeking their first 10-win season since 1977.

TRENDS:

* Trojans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.

* Mean Green are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.

* Over is 6-0 in Trojans last 6 Bowl games.

* Over is 6-0 in Trojans last 6 neutral site games.

* Over is 5-1 in Mean Green last 6 non-conference games.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the favorite Troy Trojans at a rate of 56 percent and the Over is getting 53 percent of the totals action.


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NCAAF

Saturday, December 16

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Autonation Cure Bowl Betting Preview and Odds: Western Kentucky vs Georgia State
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Georgia State Panthers (+6.5, 53.5)

Game to be played at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

A first-year head coach is going to cap his debut season with a victory when Western Kentucky faces Georgia State in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 16 in Orlando, Fla. Under former Boise State quarterback Mike Sanford, the Hilltoppers went .500 in Conference USA and finished ninth in FBS in passing offense. Directed by former South Carolina offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott, Georgia State won five road games en route to a fourth-place finish in the Sun Belt.

Both teams rely on strong passing attacks. Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White is a Senior Bowl invitee who led Conference USA in total offense, passing yards, completion percentage and passing yards per game. Georgia State quarterback Conner Manning paced the Sun Belt in completion percentage and often directed his passes toward Penny Hart, who set a school record with 73 receptions for 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns.

Western Kentucky and Georgia State each stumbled to finish the regular season. The Hilltoppers dropped four of their final contests, three of those defeats by 14 or more points. The Panthers mustered only 20 points in back-to-back losses to conclude the regular season, and their defense gave up 28.3 points per game while losing two of their final three contests.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened Western Kentucky as 5-point favorites and money continued to come in on the Hilltoppers pushing that line to 6.5 at most shops. The total hit the betting board as 51 and has been bet up to 53.5.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: As of Thursday night Western Kentucky was getting 72 percent of the total tickets and 71 percent of the money according to William Hill US.

INJURY REPORT:

Western Kentucky - DB Marcus Ward (Probable, Knee), DL Jaylon George (Questionable, Disciplinary), WR Cameron Echols-Luper (Out for Season, Back), LB Demetrius Cain (Out for Season, Lower Body), RB Quinton Baker (Out for Season, Upper Body).

Georgia State - WR Penny Hart (Probable, Foot), OL Pat Bartlett (Questionable, Undisclosed).

WEATHER REPORT: kickoff is clear and 74 degrees - 6 mph winds

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (6-6 SU, 3-9 ATS, 6-6 O/U): White directed the Hilltoppers to 333.7 passing yards per game and averaged 300.3 total yards of offense per contest. Western Kentucky did not have much success rushing, averaging just 66.1 yards per contest. Linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe finished fifth in the conference with 105 tackles, including four games of 10 or more, and earned All-C-USA honors to help the Hilltoppers reach a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season.

ABOUT GEORGIA STATE (6-5 SU, 4-7 ATS, 3-8 O/U): Manning finished with 13 passing touchdowns while averaging 260.9 passing yards per game, as the Panthers ranked 31st in the nation in passing offense. Hart missed most of last season with a hamstring injury and broken foot, but the sophomore averaged 99.5 receiving yards per game in 2017 - eighth-most in the nation. Georgia State gave up 30 or more points five times, but won six out of seven games in a midseason stretch to clinch its second Cure Bowl berth in three years.

TRENDS:

* Hilltoppers are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

* Panthers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

* Over is 4-0 in Hilltoppers last 4 neutral site games.

* Under is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games following a ATS loss.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the chalk Hilltoppers at a rate of 56 percent and the Over is getting 57 percent of the totals action.

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 16

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Las Vegas Bowl Betting Preview and Odds: Boise State vs. Oregon
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Boise State Broncos vs. Oregon Ducks (-7, 61.5)

Game to be played at Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Las Vegas Bowl could come down to one man's performance as Boise State and Oregon face off in the annual Sin City spectacular on Dec. 16. Quarterback Justin Herbert will look to lead the Ducks to victory in their first Las Vegas Bowl appearance since 2006. Oregon averaged an absurd 52.1 points in the seven games Herbert played this year, and just 15 points in the five games he missed due to injury.

Oregon is garnering as much attention for who won't be at the game as it is for who will be. Head coach Willie Taggart, who turned the Ducks' fortunes around after doing the same in four years at South Florida, will forego his duties after accepting the lead job at Florida State. Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mario Cristobal will lead the Ducks in Las Vegas.

The Broncos had a more high-profile bowl appearance in mind heading down the stretch, but a 28-17 loss to Fresno State in their pre-championship meeting put the brakes on that. Boise State did well to bounce back with a 17-14 victory in the Mountain West title game, and will look for a similar result Dec. 16 after finishing in the top 40 nationally in both scoring offense (32.1) and scoring defense (22.5 allowed).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE HISTORY: The Ducks opened this bowl game as 6.5-to-7 point favorites and were bet as high as -7.5. Oregon is currently favored by a converted touchdown. The total hit the board at 59.5 and has risen all the way to the current number of 61.5.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: As of Thursday night Oregon was seeing 56 percent of the total tickets and 64 percent of the money according to William Hill US.

INJURY REPORT:

Boise State - TE J. Roh (Probable Saturday, foot), RB A. Mattison (Probable Saturday, leg), LB R. Whimpey (Questionable Saturday, upper body).

Oregon - RB T. Brooks-James (Proabable Saturday, leg), RB R. Freeman (Questionable Saturday, personal), OL J. Pisarcik (Questionable Saturday, undisclosed).

WEATHER REPORT: gametime is 60 and partly cloudy - 9 to 11 mph winds during the game

ABOUT BOISE STATE (10-3, 8-5 ATS, 5-8 O/U): The Broncos could be without one of their top offensive weapons at Sam Boyd Stadium, with running back Alexander Mattison considered questionable after he suffered an ankle injury in the title game victory over Fresno State. Mattison, who racked up 1,074 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, left the game in the third quarter and was spotted the next day in a walking boot. That said, the Broncos' offense is in good hands even if Mattison is out, with Boise State quarterbacks combining for 24 TDs against five interceptions while completing 63.5 percent of their attempts.

ABOUT OREGON (7-5, 6-6 ATS, 5-7 O/U): While Herbert will be the obvious focus for the Boise State defense, the Broncos can't afford to ignore standout running back Royce Freeman. The electrifying senior bulldozed his way to 1,475 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, and finished 2017 with six consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. Freeman has a more-than-capable sidekick in the backfield, as well, with Kani Benoit adding 573 yards on the ground and 10 scores despite seeing just 80 carries this season; Benoit erupted for 122 yards and a TD in the Ducks' season-ending 69-10 obliteration of Oregon State.

TRENDS:

* Boise State is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games vs. Pac-12 opponents.
* Oregon is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Under is 4-1 in Boise State's last five games vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 8-2 in Oregon's last 10 games following a SU win.

CONSENSUS: Bettors are on the underdog in this matchup, with 56 percent of wagers backing the Broncos. When it comes to the total, 63 percent of bettors arre on the Over.

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GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL BETTING PREVIEW AND ODDS: MARSHALL VS. COLORADO STATE

Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Colorado State Rams (-5, 58)

Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico

The New Mexico Bowl at the University of New Mexico’s Dreamstyle Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16 will feature two first-time opponents in Marshall of Conference USA and Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference. It’s also a clash of two programs that have been on opposite ends of the postseason-success spectrum of late. The Thundering Herd own an FBS-best 10-2 record in NCAA-sanctioned bowl games (among teams with a minimum of four appearances), including a 4-0 mark under current coach Doc Holliday, while the Rams possess a 6-10 all-time bowl record and have dropped three straight, including losses as a point-spread favorite in each of the last two postseasons under current coach Mike Bobo.

Although both teams are bringing 7-5 records to Albuquerque, neither exactly finished the regular season with a flourish. Marshall roared out to a 6-1 start, including a 3-0 mark in conference play, but dropped four of its final five games to finish tied for third in the C-USA’s East Division. Similarly, Colorado State opened with a 6-2 record, including a 4-0 mark in the Mountain West, but then lost three straight before routing San Jose State 42-14 in its regular-season finale to finish third in the conference’s Mountain Division.

The game will feature a classic strength vs. strength matchup pitting the Rams’ high-scoring offense against the Thundering Herd’s stout defense. Led by All-Mountain West first-team quarterback Nick Stevens and wide receiver Michael Gallup, a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Colorado State ranks 10th nationally in total offense (501.1 yards per game) and finished the regular season as the Mountain West’s highest-scoring team at 33.8 points per outing, but the Rams will have to reconfigure the coaching responsibilities with offensive coordinator Will Friend having departed to join the new coaching staff at Tennessee. Marshall, meanwhile, had a quartet of defenders garner All-Conference USA recognition and ranks in the FBS top 25 in total (337.7 yards allowed) and scoring (19.3 points) defense.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Colorado State opened this bowl game as 5.5-point favorites and has been bet down slightly to the current number of -5. The total hit the board at 55 and has been bet up three points to the current number of 58. Check out the complete line history here.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: As of Thursday Night, the Rams are seeing 58 percent of the total tickets printed and 68 percent of the total dollars wagered, according to William Hill US.

INJURY REPORT:

Marshall - WR T. Brady (Probable Saturday, Undisclosed), S M. Gant (Probable Saturday, Undisclosed), OL S. Jean-Felix (Questionable Saturday, Undisclosed), DL N. Harris (Out indefinitely, Undisclosed), DL A. Dopson (Out indefinitely, Undisclosed).

Colorado State - I. Matthews (Probable Saturday, Collarbone), DL T. McBride (Questionable Saturday, Back), OL T. Bjorklund (Questionable Saturday, Concussion).

ABOUT MARSHALL (7-5, 8-4 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Junior quarterback Chase Litton has started 33 contests for the Thundering Herd, throwing 70 touchdown passes and 29 interceptions, and ranked third in the conference this season with 237.8 passing yards per game. His top targets are a pair of first-team All-Conference USA selections in wideout Tyre Brady, a transfer from Miami, and tight end Ryan Yurachek, who combined for 103 catches, 1,207 yards and 16 TDs even through the former missed the last two games of the season due to injury, while freshman Tyler King totaled a team-high 714 rushing yards in 10 contests. Linebacker Chase Hancock, an All-Conference Second Team selection, made 120 total tackles while cornerback Chris Jackson recorded a team-leading three interceptions and eight pass breakups for a defense which limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points in five games.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (7-5, 4-89 ATS, 6-6 O/U): The Rams are quite familiar with Albuquerque, playing division-rival New Mexico there every other season, and now are seeking their third New Mexico Bowl victory after beating Fresno State 40-35 in 2008 and rallying late to stun Washington State 48-45 in 2013. Stevens led the conference in passing yards (289.9), TD tosses (27) and passing efficiency (152.4 rating) while the 6-foot, 200-pound Gallup is tied for third in the nation in receptions (94, seven touchdowns) and is fifth in receiving yards (1,345). Center Jake Bennett and tackle Zack Golditch also were All-Mountain West First-Team selections from an offensive line which allowed only eight sacks, while linebackers Josh Watson (103 total tackles, seven passes defensed) and Evan Colorito (11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) led a defense that struggled at times as it surrendered 27.5 points and 425.8 yards per contest.

TRENDS:

* Marshall is 5-0 ATS in its last five bowl games.
* Colorado State is 0-6 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Over is 7-1 in Marshall's last eight non-conference games.
* Under is 6-1 in Colorado State's last seven neutral site games.

COVERS CONSENSUS: Bettors are siding with Colorado State here, with 60 percent of the action on the Rams. As for the total, 55 percent of wagers are on the Over. For up to date consensus analysis click here.

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RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL BETTING PREVIEW AND ODDS: MIDDLE TENNESSEE VS. ARKANSAS STATE

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (-3.5, 61.5)

Game to be played at Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama

Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State will face off in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Dec. 16 in a matchup of two teams that were conference foes from 2001-13 in the Sun Belt Conference. In the last game for the Blue Raiders before they moved to Conference USA, they lost 45-0 to the Red Wolves with the Sun Belt title on the line. Don’t think that won’t come up a time or two in coach Rick Stockstill’s talks with his Blue Raiders, that his team has a chance at a bowl win and a little revenge.

The fact Middle Tennessee State is even in a bowl game is quite an accomplishment, considering the team was 3-5 heading into November. After winning three of its last four contests – and averaging 36 points over that stretch – Stockstill’s squad still didn’t think they’d made it on Selection Sunday, holding a season-ending team meeting before getting word of their selection by the Camellia Bowl. With new life, Middle Tennessee is looking to make the best of it - especially with the possibility of having a strong fan showing since the game is four hours away from Murfreesboro after their bowl games in the last two seasons were played in Hawaii and the Bahamas.

Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen will get a chance to prove himself on a big stage after a fantastic season that had some ups and downs. The junior threw for 3,630 yards and 34 touchdowns, including six games with three or more passing scores. But Hansen also had three contests with three or more interceptions, so he'll need to be at his best if the Red Wolves are to win their second straight bowl game.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers installed Arkansas State as 3.5-point chalk and there hasn't been much movement. There are a few locations dealing Arkansas State -4. The total opened as high as 63.5 and can be found at most shops at 61.5.

WHERE THE ACTION IS: Over 70 percent of the total ticket count and 79 percent of the money wagered on this game have both been on the favored Red Wolves according to William Hill US.

INJURY REPORT:

Middle Tennessee - RB Brad Anderson (Questionable, Leg), LB Tavares Thomas (Questionable, Ankle)

Arkansas State - DB Trent Ellis-Brewer (Out, Knee), DL Javier Carbonell (Out, Ankle)

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS, 2-9-1 O/U): Quarterback Brent Stockstill really has taken over since returning from a cracked sternum and separated collarbone, which he suffered in the second game of the season. Middle Tennessee State was 3-5 when Stockstill took over as the starter again, and the team is 3-1 since his return, with the only loss coming in overtime. The junior has thrown for 1,440 yards and 14 touchdowns and has a very dangerous target in sophomore wide receiver Ty Lee (74 catches, 916 yards, five touchdowns), meaning a big game in this contest could lead to an even bigger 2018 for the duo.

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE (7-4 SU, 7-4 ATS, 4-7 O/U): While the Red Wolves' offense is potent behind Hansen, the big name for Arkansas State is defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, the two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year. Rolland-Jones already is the career sacks leader both at Arkansas State and in the Sun Belt Conference, and his 43.5 career sacks put him one shy of breaking the NCAA FBS record of 44, set by Arizona State's Terrell Suggs. Rolland-Jones is able to take over a game with the pressure he applies, and he'll be looking for a big game in his final contest as a Red Wolf, which would only mean good things for Arkansas State.

TRENDS:

*The Blue Raiders are 0-4 ATS in their last four bowl games.
*The Red Wolves are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games.
*The under is 9-2-1 in the Blue Raiders' last 12 games.
*The under is 16-5-1 in the Red Wolves' last 22 games.

COVERS CONSENSUS: Nearly 65 percent of Covers contest players expect Arkansas State to cover as a 3.5-point favorite and 55 percent are picking the game to go over the 61.5-point total. Find out all the latest consensus data on this game here.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TROY at NOTEX 01:00 PM
NOTEX +6.5
O 62.5

WKEN at GeoSt. 02:30 PM
WKEN -7.0
O 53.5

BOIST at ORE 03:30 PM
BOIST +7.0
U 61.5

MARSH at COLST 04:30 PM
MARSH +3.5
O 58.0

MTENN at ARKST 08:00 PM
MTENN +3.0
U 61.0

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Silvers lifts Troy over No. Texas in NOLA
December 16, 2017

NEW ORLEANS (AP) When Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers glanced around the Superdome, his eyes would stop on the name of Archie Manning, who has become one of his mentors, or on spots in the stands where he's sat during games he attended as a fan.

During his next visit, he'll be able to look at spots on the field where he threw four touchdown passes, as well as the end zone where he ran for a short score, to help the Trojans beat North Texas 50-30 in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday.

''Just being on that field today is going to be one of my great memories for a long time,'' Silvers said.

Silvers, a former counselor at Manning's football camp, threw for 305 yards, completing 24 of 31 passes. The Orange Beach, Alabama, native was intercepted once on a deep throw, but that hardly mattered in a game controlled by Troy's defense, which produced five North Texas turnovers.

''Our ability to get pressure on quarterback was probably the difference,'' said Troy coach Neal Brown, who has presided over 21 victories in the past two seasons.

Josh Anderson, filling in for injured starter Jordan Chunn, rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns for Troy (11-2).

Two of Silvers' TD passes went to Damion Willis, whom Silvers targeted more than usual because of an early injury to receiver Deondre Douglas. Willis had 136 yards on a New Orleans Bowl-record-tying 11 catches.

''I hated that Deandre went down, but like coach said, you can't flinch,'' Willis said. ''I didn't flinch today.''

Mason Fine passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns for North Texas (9-5), but was intercepted twice and fumbled twice. He finished with Mean Green single-season records of 4,052 yards and 31 TDs passing.

''Their font seven- that defensive line - gave me fits all day,'' Fine said. ''We never got in a rhythm. We never got comfortable.''

The Trojans were threatening to take a three-touchdown lead in the second quarter when a bad snap sailed over Silvers' head and linebacker Colton McDonald scooped it for a 56-yard fumble return to make it 22-13. Fine later found Michael Lawrence for a 13-yard TD on a diving catch near the sideline, making it 22-20.

But early in the third quarter, Fine's short pass was deflected back to linebacker Hunter Reese, whose interception set up Silvers' keeper to make it 29-20.

Troy widened the lead when Silvers rifled a 59-yard TD pass down the middle to Tevaris McCormick, who had 107 yards on five catches.

Troy raced to a 15-0 lead, starting with Anderson's 1-yard run before converting Fine's first fumble - forced by defensive tackle Jamal Stadom - into Anderson's 2-yard touchdown.

THE TAKEAWAY

Troy: The Trojans received one vote in the last AP Poll, but might get more after arguably the greatest season in program history. One of the Trojans' 11 victories came on the road against, No. 16 LSU, which has a chance to finish with 10 wins.

North Texas: The Mean Green's struggles on defense this season meant its offense would need a clean, efficient performance. Instead, UNT was turnover-prone and struggled to protect Fine. Missing injured top rusher Jeffery Wilson only made matters worse as UNT had minus-8 yards rushing.

BATTERED

Fine was hit often and sacked six times, sometimes getting up slowly and limping - but never leaving the game.

''Everybody who watched the game understands how tough he is,'' UNT coach Seth Littrell said. ''He's not going to quit on his teammates. That's why he's so respected in our locker room.''

Troy's sacks were split among six players.

''There's not a dominant guy on our defense because everybody makes plays,'' Stadom said.

DIVERGENT FORTUNES

A lingering knee injury denied senior Troy running back Jordan Chunn a chance to set a Sun Belt Conference career record for touchdowns rushing.

Troy did not reveal until kickoff that Chunn was unable to return from his Dec. 2 injury against Arkansas State.

Chunn has 47 career rushing TDs, one short of the league-record set by Tyrell Fenroy of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2008.

Chunn's absence, meanwhile, produced the first 100-yard day for Anderson, a fellow senior.

''I don't think you could really go out any (better) way,'' Anderson said.

UP NEXT

Troy's offense will have to move forward without Silvers and Chunn. Their replacements will debut in Troy's 2018 opener on Sept. 1 at home against Boise State.

North Texas has a relatively young squad with only a handful of senior starters. UNT will have to replace starters at safety, defensive end, linebacker and right tackle. North Texas opens 2018 at home on Sept. 1 vs. SMU.

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Manning-led Georgia St. tops WKU in Cure
December 16, 2017

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) From 0-12 to Cure Bowl champions in four years.

Georgia State's fledgling football program took a bow Saturday, celebrating a 27-17 victory over Western Kentucky - the first postseason win in school history.

Conner Manning threw for 276 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (7-5), who had a winning record for the second time in the program's eight-year history and set a school record for victories in a season.

''I told them before we stepped on the field that the team that wanted this game the most was going to win,'' first-year coach Shawn Elliott said.

''There was no doubt in my mind that we were the team that wanted it and we were going to win it,'' Elliott added. ''We're a bunch of misfit coaches and misfit players that learned how to work hard and fight every day.''

The Panthers (7-5) started their program from scratch in 2010, going 6-5 as an FCS independent. They began the transition to FBS with a 1-10 record in 2012, then sank to a program-worst 0-12 the following year - Georgia State's first in the Sun Belt Conference.

Saturday's appearance in the Cure Bowl was the team's second in three years. The Panthers lost to San Jose State 27-16 here in 2015, finishing 6-7.

''Coming into the year a lot of us believed we could have a special year,'' Manning said. ''The new coaches brought a lot of energy, and we started this during the winter. We got to work early with the goal of being in this position.''

Manning threw a 42-yard TD pass to Roger Carter, Demarcus Kirk scored on a 26-yard run, and Kyler Neal finished a 16-play drive consuming nine minutes of the fourth quarter with a 1-yard TD run that put Georgia State up 27-10.

Mike White tossed TD passes of 54 and 4 yards to Deon Yelder, finishing with 351 yards - the senior's eighth consecutive 300-yard game passing - for Western Kentucky (6-7). Yelder had five receptions for 112 yards for the Hilltoppers.

Georgia State star Penny Hart, the Sun Belt Conference leading receiver, did not start and played sparingly because of an ankle injury. His lone reception - for 27 yards midway through the third quarter - came on the play before Manning threw his TD pass to Carter.

Western Kentucky finished with a losing record in their first season under coach Mike Sanford. The Hilltoppers also were denied in their bid to set a school record with four consecutive bowl wins.

''Today's game, honestly, it's been what's ailed us all year,'' Sanford said.

''We needed to identify opportunities to run the football, I thought we had some early opportunities but not enough,'' Sanford added. ''That made us one dimensional and more difficult to throw the football. To win championships we have to run the ball effectively, and we didn't do that.''

FAREWELL

White finished 26 of 39 passing and threw an interception on the final play of his career. He also lost a fumble late in the second quarter.

It wasn't the way the Hilltoppers envisioned him finishing up.

''Mike is up there with some of the best (quarterbacks) that I've ever been around,'' Sanford said. ''It's disappointing for Mike to not go out the way he deserves to go out.''

SETTING THE TONE

Georgia State DE Mackendy Cheridor had two sacks in the opening half, sending a message to White that the Western Kentucky quarterback could be in for a long day. Chase Middleton, Hardrick Willis, Terry Thomas and Dontae Wilson also had sacks for the Panthers.

TARGETING

Western Kentucky defensive end Julien Lewis was penalized for roughing the passer early in the second quarter. Officials reviewed the play and determined the 6-foot-3, 300 -pound redshirt junior should be ejected for targeting.

THE TAKEAWAY

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers won the Bahamas, Miami Beach and Boca Raton bowls the past three seasons, joining Clemson, Georgia, Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Utah, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin as the only team with bowl wins each of the past three years. The chances for a fourth straight win were hindered by three turnovers - one of them on a trick play early in the fourth quarter - and six sacks.

Georgia State: Playing in the Cure Bowl for the second time in three seasons is a nice accomplishment for an eight-year-old program. The Panthers finished fourth in the Sun Belt under first-year coach Shawn Elliott, but placed nine players on the league's all-conference team.

UP NEXT

Western Kentucky: The game was the last for 19 seniors, including White, who began his career at nearby South Florida. The class won 37 games - second-most by the Hilltoppers as a FBS program. In addition to a new starting quarterback, there will be opportunities to shine at wide receiver, where departing seniors Nacarius Fant, Cameron Echols-Luper and Kylen Towner combined to catch 134 passes for 1,423 yards and 10 TDs this season.

Georgia State: Like Western Kentucky, the Panthers will try to build off this year's success with a new quarterback. Manning's successor will have some productive players to work with, beginning with Hart -a 5-foot-8, 180-pound sophomore who led the Sun Belt in receiving with 74 receptions for 1,121 yards and eight TDs.

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No. 25 Boise State beats Oregon 38-28 in Las Vegas Bowl
December 16, 2017

LAS VEGAS (AP) Bryan Harsin didn't have to say anything.

Boise State had committed two turnovers that were returned for touchdowns in the final minute of the first half, turning a 24-0 rout in the making into a competitive 24-14 contest and allowing Oregon back into the game.

Without any special speech from their head coach, the Broncos regrouped and responded.

Cedrick Wilson caught 10 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, Kekaula Kaniho returned an interception 53 yards for a score and No. 25 Boise State beat Oregon 38-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday.

''New slate. It's a whole different half. As far as we were concerned, it was 0-0,'' Broncos linebacker Leighton Vander Esch said.

Brett Rypien threw for 362 yards and two touchdown passes - with two interceptions - to help the Broncos (11-3) break a three-game losing streak against Power 5 opposition. Ryan Wolpin rushed for two touchdowns.

Troy Dye and Tyree Robinson each scored a defensive touchdown, and Justin Herbert was 26 of 36 passing for 233 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Ducks (7-6) in new head coach Mario Cristobal's debut.

Boise State forced four turnovers in the first half, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on Wolpin's 1-yard touchdown run and Rypien's 26-yard scoring pass to Wilson. Haden Hoggarth added a 39-yard field goal before an off-balance Herbert heaved a pass toward the sideline that was easily picked off and run back by Kaniho, who also had a strip-sack.

Oregon clawed back after Dye recovered a fumble on a botched Statue of Liberty handoff and returned it 86 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining.

A 65-yard reception by Wilson to set the Boise State single-season record for yards receiving got the Broncos right back in the red zone, but Robinson picked off Rypien's pass in the end zone and took it back 100 yards on the longest interception return in school history with 7 seconds remaining to make it 24-14.

If not for those defensive scores, the full extent of Boise State's dominance would have been evident. The Broncos outgained the Ducks 294-77 in the first half and reached Ducks' territory on 10 of 15 meaningful possessions in the game. They held Oregon to 47 yards rushing and 1.7 yards per carry, recording nine tackles for loss with four sacks while outclassing their Pac-12 foe on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

''They are a great team, and we came out and we played some awesome football,'' said Vander Esch, who had 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss with one sack. ''We didn't take any days off from the moment we won that Mountain West championship. We knew as soon as we won that we still had part of our goal left to go finish.''

After Alec Dhaenens caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rypien in the third quarter, the Ducks pulled back within 31-21 on a 24-yard scoring throw from Herbert to Brendan Schooler with 10:07 remaining.

Oregon had a chance to cut it to a one-possession game but Herbert was sacked near midfield, and Boise State drove 86 yards in 11 plays capped by Wolpin's second 1-yard touchdown run.

''I think a lot of teams would fold their tent when they're down 24-0 or things don't go their way,'' Cristobal said. ''You look at the way they just kept fighting, scratching and clawing to make this thing a competitive game, to me, that's the positive.''

THE TAKEAWAY

Boise State: The Broncos are still the class of the Mountain West. After being written off in September after losses to Washington State and Virginia, Boise State closed the season by winning nine of their last 10 games, including the conference title game and the conference's marquee bowl tie-in.

Oregon: The Ducks didn't exactly do much to back up their push for Cristobal's promotion to head coach. Oregon got pushed around on both lines of scrimmage and make plenty of ill-advised decisions, best exemplified by running back Tony Brooks-James throwing a ball at a defender in the third quarter to scuttle a promising drive.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

It wasn't a vintage season for Boise State, but the Broncos will finish ranked for the third time in the last six seasons. Oregon has plenty of work to do before making itself a regular in the top 25 again.

UP NEXT

Boise State: With 18 players that started the Las Vegas Bowl eligible to return next season, including all 11 defenders, the Broncos should be back in the mix to reach a New Year's 6 bowl game. An early road game at Oklahoma State will give a good indication of just how high Boise State's ceiling might be in Harsin's fifth season.

Oregon: A soft non-conference slate and favorable home schedule bodes well for Oregon's record in Cristobal's first season in change, but the Ducks need significant personnel upgrades over the long haul to compete in the loaded Pac-12 North.

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Marshall holds Colorado State in NM Bowl
December 16, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Leading up to the New Mexico Bowl, Marshall wide receiver Tyre Brady kept hearing about Colorado State's explosive offense. Doubters were overlooking the Thundering Herd's own weapons, he thought.

So when Brady's chance came in the second quarter, the junior separated himself from Rams coverages and sprinted to a 76-yard touchdown reception for the first of three big scoring plays that allowed Thundering Herd hold off the Rams 31-28 on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl.

''Every time when you play for yourself, you force things, you press things,'' said Brady, who had 165 yards receiving. ''But when you play for your teammates, things just fall into place the right way.''

He was joined by Keion Davis, who rushed for 141 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown run . Tyler King added a 90-yard rushing touchdown for the Herd (8-5).

Chase Litton threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, overshadowing the much-hyped Colorado State quarterback Nick Stevens, who was sacked five times.

''I think it's the entire defense played tremendous,'' Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. ''That's an excellent offensive football team''.

The Thundering Herd are 11-2 in bowl games - 5-0 under Holliday.

For Colorado State (7-6), it was another disappointing postseason. The Rams have lost four straight bowl games, and lost four of their last five this season after a 6-2 start.

''Yeah, it's pretty much a microcosm of our season,'' Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo said. ''Played pretty good at times, then giving up big plays, explosive plays for touchdowns. Those kill you defensively.''

Stevens threw for 320 yards and ran for two touchdowns for the Rams, but was sacked five times. Olabisi Johnson had 119 yards receiving, but Stevens was unable to connect consistently with standout Michael Gallup.

''I got to hit Gallup in those shots. I think it's a different ballgame,'' Stevens said. ''There were a number of them that he was open, and protection was solid.''

Colorado State's offense began to surge in the fourth quarter with 14 points, but Marshall's defense was able to hold the Rams.

Colorado State is 6-11 in bowl games.

THE TAKEAWAY

Colorado State: The Rams continued to struggle despite having being ranked 10th in the FBS in yards per game with 501.1. Stevens and Gallup failed to challenge Marshall's stingy defense and couldn't respond to Marshall's big plays despite a late game scoring surge.

''This hurts but we'll regroup and get ready for next year,'' Bobo said.

Marshall: Marshall's defense also kept constant pressure on Colorado State's high-octane offense preventing the Rams from threatening with an air attack most of the game.

UP NEXT

Colorado State: Bobo has led the Rams to three bowl games in each of his first three seasons. He recently signed a contract extension where he will earn $2 million by 2020. But at the same time, he's only won seven games each season and lost all his bowl games so 2018 may be key season for him.

Marshall The Herd are losing 13 seniors, including key tight end Ryan Yurachek. The four-year players in that group won 34 games and a conference championship and went to three bowl games. But many key players are set to return.

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Middle Tennessee tops Arkansas State 35-30 in Camellia Bowl
December 16, 2017

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Brent Stockstill and Middle Tennessee produced a triumphant finish to an injury-riddled season.

Stockstill passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and the Blue Raiders came up with some key stops to hold off Arkansas State 35-30 in the Camellia Bowl on Saturday night.

A team that had players miss a combined 125 games with injuries earned its first bowl win since 2009.

''We never made excuses this whole year,'' said Rick Stockstill, the quarterback's coach and father. ''A lot of people wanted to give up on us but this team never gave up.''

There were some chances to fold in this one, too.

The Blue Raiders (7-6) ran out most of the final 5 minutes with a series of short passes from Stockstill after losing much of an 18-point lead over the Red Wolves (7-5).

Punter Matt Bonadies pinned Arkansas State's prolific offense 91 yards from the end zone with 1:27 left and no timeouts. Middle Tennessee defenders then sacked Justice Hansen three times, including one by Darrius Liggins on the final play.

That capped a wild game that included DJ Sanders' 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown, six turnovers and 17 penalties.

''Stockstill, as we expected, played really, really well,'' Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson said. ''They made plays they had to make and we made too many mistakes to win a game against a good football team. I thought all along they were better than their record and they proved that tonight.''

The Blue Raiders won four of their final five games after Brent Stockstill's return from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for half the season. He was intercepted three times.

''Not very often as a quarterback can you throw three picks and (have) your defense bail you out like that'' the quarterback said.

The Red Wolves had cut a 28-10 deficit down to 35-30 on Hansen's 41-yard touchdown pass to Christian Booker with 5:03 left.

Middle Tennessee linebacker Darius Harris was MVP after collecting 12 tackles, a sack and two pass breakups. He forced the fumble that allowed Sanders to scoop and score.

Hansen completed 31 of 57 passes for 337 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He had a 2-yard touchdown pass to Warren Wand after Arkansas State converted a fake punt with Cody Grace's 21-yard pass to Chris Murray on fourth-and-14. The 2-point attempt failed.

Stockstill then swiftly gave the Blue Raiders a bigger cushion with a pair of big plays. He hit CJ Windham on a 34-yard catch and then threw a 30-yard touchdown to Shane Tucker.

Arkansas State then marched down to Middle Tennessee's 1 with help from a couple of pass interference calls but the Blue Raiders held with Darryl Randolph's tackle for loss and an incompletion.

THE TAKEAWAY

Arkansas State: Is 3-4 in bowls over the last seven seasons. Outgained Middle Tennessee 462-352 and ran 33 more plays (97-64). Justin McInnis had seven catches for 107 yards.

Middle Tennessee: Finished strong after only clinching bowl eligibility with a win over Old Dominion in the regular season finale. Had 10 penalties for 87 yards. Terelle West scored on a 45-yard run.

ROLLAND-JONES: Arkansas State defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones finished his career with 43.5 sacks, just shy of Terrell Suggs' record of 44. He had one sack negated by a penalty but didn't get one that counted, though he did have a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.

WILD PLAYS: Sanders' fumble return wasn't even the wildest defensive sequence of the first half. Arkansas State's Justin Clifton grabbed an interception and fell on his back late in the first quarter. He got up and ran most of the way down the field before fumbling. Darreon Jackson tried to pick it up but the ball bounced to Kyle Wilson in the end zone. Officials ruled Clifton down at the Red Wolves' 1 so none of that counted.

UP NEXT

Arkansas State's Hansen and leading rusher Warren Wand both return on the offense, but tight end Blake Mack and left tackle Jaypee Philbert are seniors, and so is Holland-Jones and star defensive back Blaise Taylor.

Middle Tennessee returns virtually every key player on offense, including Stockstill, and loses four seniors on defense.

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BOWL WEEK 2

TUESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
7:00 PM Boca Raton Bowl Akron Zips Florida Atlantic Owls

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
8:00 PM Frisco Bowl Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Southern Methodist Mustangs

THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
8:00 PM Gasparilla Bowl Temple Owls Florida International Golden Panthers

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
12:30 PM Bahamas Bowl Alabama-Birmingham Blazers Ohio Bobcats
4:00 PM Idaho Potato Bowl Central Michigan Chippewas Wyoming Cowboys

SATURDAY DECEMBER 23, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
12:00 PM Birmingham Bowl Texas Tech Red Raiders South Florida Bulls
3:30 PM Armed Forces Bowl Army Black Knights San Diego State Aztecs
7:00 PM Dollar General Bowl Appalachian State Mountaineers Toledo Rockets

SUNDAY DECEMBER 24, 2017
Time (ET) Bowl Away Home
8:30 PM Hawaii Bowl Houston Cougars Fresno State Bulldogs


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2017 CFB Bowls Record:..............( BASED ON 5 UNITS )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

12/16/2017 5-5-0 50.00% -2.50


Best Bets:..............ATS...............Units............. .....O/U..................Units

12/16/2017....................3 - 2................+11.00,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2 - 3.................-6.50

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Tuesday, December 19

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AKRON (7 - 6) at FLA ATLANTIC (10 - 3) - 12/19/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FLA ATLANTIC is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
FLA ATLANTIC is 25-42 ATS (-21.2 Units) in home games since 1992.
FLA ATLANTIC is 25-42 ATS (-21.2 Units) in home lined games since 1992.
FLA ATLANTIC is 13-26 ATS (-15.6 Units) in home games after playing a conference game since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Tuesday, December 19

AKRON @ FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Akron is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Akron is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Florida Atlantic is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Florida Atlantic is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

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December 19

Akron @ Florida Atlantic (-22.5), Boca Raton Bowl

7-6 Akron is 4-3 vs spread as a double digit underdog this year; you don’t see many bowl games with a 22-point spread. Over last five years, double digit favorites are 18-12 vs spread in bowls, with biggest spread Oklahoma St (-17) over Purdue in a 2012 bowl they won 58-14. Zips are 1-1 in bowl games, winning 23-21 (+7) in Potato Bowl two years ago. Florida Atlantic is in its first bowl since 2008, but they’re at home here; Owls won last nine games (7-2 vs spread) after a 1-3 start; they’re 3-1 as a double digit favorite this year. FAU won both its bowl games; Kiffin was 0-2 in bowls at Tennessee/USC, scoring total of 21 points and he was favored in both games. Under is 9-3 in Akron games, 3-5 in last eight FAU games. Last three years, MAC teams are 13-6-1 vs spread when facing a C-USA opponent.

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Tuesday, December 19

Akron @ Florida Atlantic

Game 211-212
December 19, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Akron
77.302
Florida Atlantic
94.779
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida Atlantic
by 17 1/2
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida Atlantic
by 23
61 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Akron
(+23); Over

---------------------------------

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Boca Raton Bowl
December 18, 2017

The Lane Train doesn’t even have to leave the station for the postseason. Florida Atlantic (10-3 straight up, 9-4 against the spread) will play host to Akron in Tuesday’s Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium.

As of Monday night, most betting shops had FAU installed as a 22.5-point favorite with a total of 64. 5Dimes.eu and *** Global had Akron at +1250 on the money line (risk $100 to win $1,250).

This is the richest spread on a side in the history of college football bowl games. For bettors that don’t want to lay the enormous number, there is the opportunity to back FAU in the first half as a 13-point favorite.

In his first season at the South Florida school after spending three years as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama, Kiffin led FAU to 10 wins and its first Conference USA Championship. FAU has won nine consecutive games while going 7-2 ATS. The Owls haven’t tasted defeat since losing a 34-31 decision at Buffalo as 1.5-point road underdogs.

Since getting drilled 42-19 by Navy in its season opener, FAU has won six in a row at home while going 5-1 ATS. The Owls hosted the C-USA Championship game, blasting North Texas 41-17 as 11-point home favorites. Sophomore RB Devin Singletary stole the show with 164 rushing yards and three TDs on 26 attempts. QB Jason Driskel completed 15-of-27 passes for 269 yards and one TD without an interception. John Franklin III completed his only pass attempt for 49 yards, in addition to making a 22-yard TD catch and rushing for 75 yards on only two carries.

During FAU’s nine-game winning streak, it has won by at least 14 points eight times. The Owls are 3-1 ATS in four games as double-digit favorites.

Singletary led the nation in scoring with 29 rushing TDs and one TD catch. He is already the school’s third-leading all-time rusher after producing 1,794 rushing yards while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Singletary also has 185 receiving yards on 18 receptions. After rushing for only 94 combined yards in losses vs. Navy and at Wisconsin (31-14), Singletary has ripped off 11 straight games with at least 104 rushing yards.

Driskel has connected on 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,977 yards with a 13/4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has run for 360 yards and six TDs, averaging 5.1 YPC. Driskel does an excellent job of spreading the wealth around. Five players have at least 20 catches and minimum of 317 receiving yards led by Willie Wright, who has 49 receptions for 586 yards and four TDs. Kalib Woods has 20 catches for 540 yards and four TDs, while Harrison Bryant has 32 grabs for 408 yards and a team-best five TDs.

FAU is ranked 14th in the nation in total offense, ninth in scoring with a 39.8 points-per-game average and sixth in rushing yards. The Owls have won their last four games by margins of 24, 19, 28 and 25 points.

The FAU defense is led by junior LB Azeez Al-Shaair, who has recorded 134 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, four passes broken up, four QB hurries and one forced fumble.

FAU is bowling for only the third time in the program’s history and the first time since 2008. The Owls defeated Central Michigan 24-21 as a seven-point underdog at the ’08 Motor City Bowl. They also beat Memphis 44-27 as three-point ‘chalk’ at the 2007 New Orleans Bowl.

Akron (7-6 SU, 9-4) won the MAC’s Eastern Division, only to take a 45-28 loss at Toledo in the MAC Championship Game. Nevertheless, the Zips covered the spread as 20-point underdogs thanks to a 28-7 run in the last 15:30 of the game. They trailed 38-0 until Manny Morgan’s seven-yard TD scamper with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.

Terry Bowden’s club secured the spread cover thanks to Kobie Booker’s five-yard TD catch from Robbie Kelley with 20 seconds remaining. Akron used three different QBs with redshirt freshman Kato Nelson throwing for 177 yards and two TDs without an interception. Morgan rushed for 51 yards and one TDs on 11 attempts, while Kwadarrius Smith had three receptions for 114 yards and one TD.

Senior QB Thomas Woodson has been Akron’s starting QB for most of the last three seasons, but he was suspended for three games late in the regular season. Nelson took over and went 2-2 in four starts. The RS freshman out of Flanagan HS in Hollywood, Florida, about 20 miles south of Boca, threw for 909 yards with an 8/2 TD-INT ratio. Nelson completed only 48.8 percent of his passes, though. He is a dangerous runner who had 177 rushing yards and one TD.

Nelson is expected to get his fifth career start, but Woodson is likely to see playing time as well. Woodson has completed 57.2 percent of his passes for 1,777 yards with a 14/9 TD-INT ratio.

Smith leads Akron in receiving yards (719) and TD catches (seven) and has 33 receptions. A.J. Coney has 41 catches for 523 yards and three TDs, while Tra’Von Chapman has 51 grabs for 463 yards and two TDs. Senior WR Austin Wolf has 30 receptions for 450 yards and five TDs.

Akron has seen RBs Warren Ball and Deltron Sands go down to season-ending injuries. Morgan has rushed for a team-high 393 yards and four TDs, while Van Edwards has 348 rushing yards and two TDs.

Akron is ranked 118th in the country in both total offense and rushing yards. The Zips are 103rd in scoring with a 23.6 PPG average. As for the other side of the ball, Akron is ranked 98th in total defense, 99th at defending the run and 82nd in pass defense. This unit is opportunistic, though, forcing 27 turnovers that have helped it rank 60th in scoring ‘D’ (26.3 PPG).

There are two keys players for the Akron defense, junior LB Uslysees Gilbert and sophomore safety Alvin Davis. Gilbert has produced three interceptions, one pick-six, one fumble recovery for a 40-yard TD return, a team-best 127 tackles, five sacks, 3.5 TFL’s, four PBU and five QB hurries. Davis has 72 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, one TFL, one forced fumble and two PBU.

Akon owns a 5-3 spread record with a pair of outright wins in eight games as a double-digit underdog this year. The Zips are 2-4 SU and 4-2 ATS in six road games. As a road underdog during Terry Bowden’s tenure, Akron has compiled a 17-9 spread record in 26 such spots.

Akron is in the postseason for the third time in school history and the second time during Bowden’s six-year tenure. The Zips went out to the smurf turf in Boise two seasons ago and won 23-21 decision over Utah State as 7.5-point underdogs at the 2015 Idaho Potato Bowl.

The ‘under’ is 7-6 overall for the Owls, 5-2 in their home games. They’ve seen their games average combined scores of 64.1 points per game.

The ‘under’ is 10-3 overall for Akron, 5-2 in its road assignments. However, the ‘over’ has hit in two of the Zips’ last three outings. They’ve seen their games average combined scores of 49.9 PPG.

According to our weather reports, the forecast is for partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 74 degrees at kickoff, which will be at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.