PREMIUM
Rogers' Hawaii Bowl SPECIAL ($25) >> SIZZLING 28-10-3 This Week!
(NCAAF) Middle Tennessee vs. Hawaii,
Point Spread: 7.00 | -110.00 Hawaii (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 7.00 | -110.00 Hawaii (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: Middle Tennessee State from C-USA will meet Hawaii of the MWC in this year's Hawaii Bowl. The Blue Raiders lost star QB Brent Stockstill to a broken collarbone in a Nov. 5 loss to UTSA and lost their next game, 42-17. However, they rebounded to win 38-31 and 77-56 in their final two regular season games to finish 8-4.The Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii wouldn't have made a bowl game had enough teams finished with winning records but their 6-7 record was good enough because they had the advantage of a 13th regular-season game, which they used to edge Massachusetts 46-40 on Nov. 26.It will be Hawaii's seventh appearance in the Hawaii Bowl but its first since 2010.
Middle Tennessee State: QB Brent Stockstill was thought to be out for the rest of the season when he broke his collarbone in that Nov. 5 loss but MTSU expects the redshirt sophomore to be back tonight in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Stockstill threw for 2,801 yards and 27 TDs in nine games. He completed 63.9 percent of his passes and tossed only five interceptions in 363 attempts. WR James was the top target, catching 97 balls for 1,463 yards with 11 TDs. Ole Miss transfer I'Tavius Mathers is one of the top dual-threat RBs in college football, rushing for 1,504 yards (6.8 YPC) and 16 TDs, while catching 62 passes for 589 yards and three more scores. The running game ranks 45th with 197.8 YPG on 6.1 YPC. The offense ranks 10th in total yards (514.8 YPG) and 16th in scoring, averaging 40.1 PPG. The Blue Raiders need to score, as the defense allows 34.4 PPG (102nd).
Hawaii: The Hawaii defense is worse than MTSU's, allowing 37.5 PPG (115th) and doesn't score nearly as well, averaging 26.5 PPG (79th). However, first-year head coach likes his team's effort this season. "I can't tell you how proud I am of this team and especially these seniors who'll be able to say they played in a bowl game," he said. Hawaii opened 1-3 but then put the offense in the hands of sophomore QB Dru Brown, who completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 15 TDs (7 INTs). The top receiver is Marcus Kemp, who caught 70 passes for 1,036 yards and seven TDs. Hawaii's three-headed rushing trio consists of Diocemy Saint Juste (836 yards, three TDs), Paul Harris (537 yards, two TDs) and Steven Lakalaka (415 yards, 12 TDs), averaging 160.6 YPG (83rd) on 4.8 YPC.
The pick: Not sure how much Stockstill's return means, as the team scored an amazing 115 points in the season's last two games without him. He may be rusty and his return could be a negative. Hawaii is 6-7 but remember that last bowl season, all three sub-.500 teams which made the bowl field won and covered their games. Why not Hawaii as well? After all, they get the bonus of playing on their home field. Make Hawaii an 8* play.
Middle Tennessee State: QB Brent Stockstill was thought to be out for the rest of the season when he broke his collarbone in that Nov. 5 loss but MTSU expects the redshirt sophomore to be back tonight in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Stockstill threw for 2,801 yards and 27 TDs in nine games. He completed 63.9 percent of his passes and tossed only five interceptions in 363 attempts. WR James was the top target, catching 97 balls for 1,463 yards with 11 TDs. Ole Miss transfer I'Tavius Mathers is one of the top dual-threat RBs in college football, rushing for 1,504 yards (6.8 YPC) and 16 TDs, while catching 62 passes for 589 yards and three more scores. The running game ranks 45th with 197.8 YPG on 6.1 YPC. The offense ranks 10th in total yards (514.8 YPG) and 16th in scoring, averaging 40.1 PPG. The Blue Raiders need to score, as the defense allows 34.4 PPG (102nd).
Hawaii: The Hawaii defense is worse than MTSU's, allowing 37.5 PPG (115th) and doesn't score nearly as well, averaging 26.5 PPG (79th). However, first-year head coach likes his team's effort this season. "I can't tell you how proud I am of this team and especially these seniors who'll be able to say they played in a bowl game," he said. Hawaii opened 1-3 but then put the offense in the hands of sophomore QB Dru Brown, who completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 15 TDs (7 INTs). The top receiver is Marcus Kemp, who caught 70 passes for 1,036 yards and seven TDs. Hawaii's three-headed rushing trio consists of Diocemy Saint Juste (836 yards, three TDs), Paul Harris (537 yards, two TDs) and Steven Lakalaka (415 yards, 12 TDs), averaging 160.6 YPG (83rd) on 4.8 YPC.
The pick: Not sure how much Stockstill's return means, as the team scored an amazing 115 points in the season's last two games without him. He may be rusty and his return could be a negative. Hawaii is 6-7 but remember that last bowl season, all three sub-.500 teams which made the bowl field won and covered their games. Why not Hawaii as well? After all, they get the bonus of playing on their home field. Make Hawaii an 8* play.
