A double-header of college football bowl action awaits bettors this Friday.
Bahamas Bowl
Buffalo Bulls (-6.5) vs Charlotte 49ers
Moneyline: Bulls -245, 49ers +205
Betting Total: 58 points
Time (Eastern), TV: 2 p.m., ESPN
The Buffalo Bulls (7-5) and Charlotte 49ers (7-5) kick off bowl season in Nassau’s Thomas Robinson Stadium with the sixth annual Bahamas Bowl. The programs profile similarly on offense but Buffalo’s superior defense should enable them to win and cover here.
The Bulls’ attack usually centers on the phenomenal sophomore running back tandem of Jaret Patterson (5.8 yards per attempt, 280 carries, 17 TDs) and Kevin Marks (4.7 yards per attempt, 215 carries, eight TDs). They’ve led Buffalo to a ninth-place ranking in rushing yards per game this season. Charlotte is a modest 98th in stopping the run this year, so look for either or both tailbacks to go off on the ground on Friday.
Chris Reynolds is a far better passer than the Bulls’ Kyle Vantrease and he also contributes to the 49ers’ 26th-rated rushing attack (5.4 yards per carry, 139 attempts, six TDs) along with senior tailback Benny LeMay (5.7 yards per carry, 180 attempts, nine TDs). But Buffalo’s defense was fourth in the country in clamping down the rush this year (95.3 yards allowed per game). This is what should carry the Bulls to victory in the Bahamas Bowl.
The play: Buffalo spread
Frisco Bowl
Utah State Aggies (-7) vs Kent State Golden Flashes
Moneyline: Aggies -265, Golden Flashes +225
Betting Total: 65.5 points
Time (Eastern), TV: 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX is the site for Friday night’s Frisco Bowl between the Utah State Aggies and the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Aggies (7-5) could be a bit short on motivation here, making the Golden Flashes (6-6) appealing as sizable underdogs.
Utah State had high aspirations when the season began, but Air Force, BYU and Boise State all beat the Aggies by multiple scores in conference play. Junior signal caller Jordan Love leads the way on offense, and he took a big step backwards off a stellar junior campaign by posting a mediocre 17-16 TD-INT ratio this year. Kent State is not a great defensive team (91st in scoring) but they are better at stopping the pass (56th) than the run.
The Golden Flashes seek their first bowl victory in school history in just their second postseason appearance since 1972. They posted three consecutive straight-up victories as underdogs to become bowl eligible. Utah State’s defense is soft in the middle (103rd in rushing yards allowed per game), so look for dual-threat quarterback Dustin Crum to use his legs to get the job done.
The play: Kent State spread
