MAC Bowl Grades
MAC Bowl Grade: A-
MAC Straight Up: 4-2
MAC Against The Spread: 5-1
Take that bowl season and serve it up hot.
The MAC champion Toledo struggled, but got by Liberty. The runner-up Ohio pushed past Wyoming, Buffalo stunned Georgia Southern and it’s great offense, and Eastern Michigan rocked a decent San Jose State team. Okay, so Bowling Green should’ve beaten New Mexico State and didn’t, but Miami University came within one yard of beating UAB.
Bowling Green Bowl Grade: C
Quick Lane Bowl
Prediction: Bowling Green 34, New Mexico State 30
Line: Bowling Green -3.5, o/u: 48.5
Final Score: New Mexico State 24, New Mexico State 19
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
It’s not like Bowling Green was some big favorite, but Ford Field is the MAC’s house, and the conference team didn’t defend it. The offense didn’t get on the board early, the defense couldn’t get off the field late, and the fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough. The Falcons should’ve made this more of a shootout, and didn’t/couldn’t.
Buffalo Bowl Grade: A
Camellia Bowl
Prediction: Georgia Southern 38, Buffalo 27
Line: Georgia Southern -3.5, o/u: 66.5
Final Score: Buffalo 23, Georgia Southern 21
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
Georgia Southern and its high-powered offense was supposed to come in, get rolling, and get out with an easy win over a limited Buffalo team that needed to survive against Akron to get here. Instead, UB dominated the narrative, the defense came up with one of its best games of the season, and it all turned into a winning season – with a whole lot of twists and turns to get there.
Eastern Michigan Bowl Grade: A
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Prediction: San Jose State 27, Eastern Michigan 23
Line: San Jose State -3.5, o/u: 54
Final Score: Eastern Michigan 41, San Jose State 27
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
The Eagles had to travel into Mountain West country to deal with a San Jose State team looking to close strong. Instead of sputtering along, it got through a rough start with 33 straight points as the team reversed the momentum on a two-point conversion return. San Jose State never had a shot from there. The program that’s still getting used to bowl games come up with its second post-season win ever.
Miami University Bowl Grade: B
HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl
Prediction: UAB 31, Miami University 20
Line: UAB -11.5, o/u: 45.5
Final Score: UAB 24, Miami University 20
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
It was a terrific game that just so happened to go the other way. Miami University clawed back from being down 10-0 in the first quarter, the offense pulled through with a strong late scoring drive to get up, and UAB managed to pull it out with a good drive of its own. This was one of those someone-had-to-lose games, and with no turnovers and good toughness on fourth downs, Miami came close.
Ohio Bowl Grade: A-
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Prediction: Ohio 26, Wyoming 23
Line: Ohio -2.5, o/u: 41.5
Final Score: Ohio 30, Wyoming 27 OT
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
Ohio got it done. Wyoming pulled out a field goal in overtime, Ohio pulled out a touchdown. It should’ve been easier – UW was missing way too many parts – but it was a good back-and-forth fight that would’ve been a whole lot easier had the Bobcats turned a few more field goals into touchdowns. They came up with the drive needed to force overtime in the final seconds on a bomb of a field goal, and they finally got into the end zone when they had to.
Toledo Bowl Grade: A-
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
Prediction: Liberty 30, Toledo 26
Line: Toledo -3.5, o/u: 51
Final Score: Toledo 21, Liberty 19
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
It would’ve been nice if the MAC Champion was a little more dominant, and it would’ve been nicer for some had they not let things get so loose over the final ten minutes, but it was a great way to close out a strong season. The O worked, it held on to the ball for over 40 minutes, and it controlled just about everything right up until the end. The Rockets still walked out with the win.
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