Triple Option

By Michael Maynard

Walk On’s Independence Bowl (12:30 PM CT, ESPN, Independence Stadium, Shereveport, LA): Temple vs. Duke

LINE: TEM -3.5, O/U: 53.5, FPI: Duke 55.9%, Public: 57% Duke

Why I Care: Temple Interim HC Ed Foley. I don’t know how anyone could hear this and not be absolutely pumped for the Independence Bowl.

https://twitter.com/sinow/status/1072550820217044992?s=21

Why You Should Care: Daniel Jones. Especially with the news of Justin Herbert returning to Oregon, the 2019 NFL QB class becomes even more wide open. There are probably ten guys that could be considered, and none are incredibly exciting. But a 6’5″ strong-armed kid will certainly be of interest. The Independence Bowl will be Jones’s last opportunity to make a game impression should he choose to enter the draft

Team Stats:

Temple: 8-4, 7-1 AAC (4-1 EAST). BER: 3-3. OPPG: 38.1, DPPG: 24.7, Pt. Diff: +161

Duke: 7-5, 3-5 ACC (3-3 COASTAL). BER: 5-5. OPPG: 27.2, DPPG: 27.4, Pt. Diff: -3

Game Notes:

• The Independence Bowl has been played since 1976, so it is a staple of bowl season.

• 2nd of 3 ACC vs. AAC bowl matchups. Wake Forest won the first.
• Temple reeled out of the gate in 2018, losing to Villanova and Buffalo to start the season. The Owls then switched QBs to Anthony Russo and are 8-2 since.
• Temple makes their 4th consecutive bowl appearance, and Foley coached the 2016 game as well after Matt Rhule left for Baylor, a 26-34 loss in the Military Bowl to Wake Forest.
• As implied with “Interim HC,” Temple had a coaching change recently as Geoff Collins left to take the Georgia Tech job. Their new Head Coach will have an impact on the next game.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl (4:15 PM CT, ESPN, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY): Miami (FL) vs. Wisconsin

LINE: MIAMI -2.5, O/U: 45.5, FPI: Miami 55.5%, Public: 67% Wisconsin

Why I Care: The traditional tropical, sunny bowl climate will take a break in the infamous Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. This will look more like a B1G game.

Why You Should Care: Lot of wild cards for the matchup. Both teams are missing their preferred QB, as Alex Hornibrook still has concussion symptoms and N’Kosi Perry was suspiciously benched for Malik Rosier. Wisconsin has the better running game with Jonathan Taylor, and in this cold weather game the running game will be crucial. Miami gets a significant boost as DC Manny Diaz stays on for one more game before taking the reigns at Temple.

Team Stats:

Miami (FL): 7-5, 4-4 ACC (3-3 COASTAL). BER: 4-5. OPPG: 30.9, DPPG: 24.3, Pt. Diff:+153

Wisconsin: 7-5, 5-4 B1G (4-2 WEST). BER: 3-5. OPPG: 24.3, DPPG: 24.3, Pt. Diff: 0

Game Notes:

• 2nd bowl game at baseball stadium
• Only bowl game that is a rematch from 2017 (Orange, Wisconsin W 34-24)
• 1 of 3 cold weather bowls

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl (8 PM CT, ESPN, NRG stadium, Houston, TX): Baylor vs. Vanderbilt

LINE: VAN -4.0, O/U: 56.5, FPI: Vandy 55.5%, Public: 65% Vanderbilt

Why I Care: Baylor took a program step forward with a 5-win improvement. Vanderbilt figures to be in a peak season as next year could be a transition year with Kyle Shurmur graduating.

Why You Should Care: Could be the bizarro Cheez-It Bowl where the defenses take a game off and it becomes entertaining. Both teams should be equally motivated.

Team Stats:

Baylor: 6-6, 5-4 Big 12. BER: 1-6. OPPG: 28.3, DPPG: 31.2, Pt. Diff: -35

Vanderbilt: 6-6, 3-5 SEC (1-5 EAST). BER: 2-6. OPPG: 27.7, DPPG: 24.2, Pt. Diff: +42

Game Notes:

• Only matchup of 6-6 teams. So far no team has a losing record after bowl game as any 6-6 team won. That will change here.
• Texas teams are 5-5 all time in the Texas bowl. Texas beat Missouri last year.

Published December 28, 2018 @12:00 PM C.T.

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