With the NCAA Football 2015-16 Bowl Season upon us, this Christmas Eve, the 24th of December 2015 there are two Bowl games to spice up football fans and keep them busy before Christmas rolls in. The first game that we will preview here is the 2015 Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl with the 7-5 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (Conference USA) playing the 7-5 Western Michigan Broncos (Mid-American Conference) with the Bahamas Bowl game being played at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas with the kick-off scheduled for 12:05 PM ET and seen on ESPN TV.
The SBG Sportsbook for those that Bet on College Football, have the Western Michigan Broncos favored at -4 ½ with the Over/under at 63 ½ and -185 on the Money Line, while the underdog Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders State are at +4 ½ and +165 on the ML.
The Blue Raiders are coming off a 4 game winning streak while the Broncos who are desperately seeking a Bowl win since they have lost their school 6 Bowl games. Fans are wondering if the Broncos can win their 1st Bowl game of will the Blue Raiders ruin the party.
For the fans of the 7-5 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, if they are to win this Bowl game they step up their passing game from the start. Their QB B. Stockstill a freshman has played well this season as he averaged 8.3 yards in each of his passes, while passing for 3.680 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season with only 8 interceptions and averaged completing 67 % of his passing attempts.
To assist QB Stockstill has some talented receivers to test the Broncos secondary as WR R. James has 1,222 yards on receptions while E. Batties has 13 touchdowns on t he season, and these two give QB Stockstill 2 great targets for scoring touchdowns against the defense of the Broncos that to date has allowed some 21 TD passing!
Their running game had not fare as well with RB J. Parker leading the team with 6 rushing touchdowns while rushing for 470 yards. Thus, it is expected that he will succeed with his running game since the Broncos are allowing opponents some 187 yards a game and 5.4 yards on each carry. On defense the Broncos have had a solid defensive front that is allowing just 5.1 yard each play to date, and their object is to limit the Broncos offense, which will give their team more playing time for their freshman QB.
If you are fans of the 7-5 Western Michigan Broncos you realize you team has struggled somewhat on defense, but have excelled on offense ranking 21st with 482 total yards per game on offense.
Their success has come from ball control and a balanced offensive scheme. Their QB Z. Terrell passed for 27 touchdowns this season and 3,230 yards. He has a duo of talented receivers in D. Braverman and C. Davis who combined for 23 touchdowns and each had receptions of over 1, 210 yards this season.
The running game for the Broncos is led by RB J. Bogan who rushed for some 12 touchdowns this season and 840 rushing yards. This balanced offense and defense of the Broncos allows them to control the game and they should be able to limit the Blue Raiders offense and keep them off the field. This season the Broncos are second in time of possession each game at 34.40 minutes per game.
The Broncos expect their offense to control the game and they also have a strong DB in Sophomore D. Phillips whom has been problematic for opposing QB’s with his 5 interceptions this season, one of which went for a TD. In the ultimate 10 games where the Broncos were picked as favorites, t hey won 7 of those games.
The sport betting prediction for this game is that Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will win this game and upset the Western Michigan Broncos in this Bahamas Bowl Game on Christmas Eve.