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The Middle Tenn. Blue Raiders and the Toledo Rockets have had some time off and are no doubt ready to hit the field. Bowl season is underway, and the Blue Raiders and Toledo will compete for postseason bragging rights in the Bahamas Bowl at Thomas Robinson Stadium at noon ET on Friday.
Middle Tenn. had a touchdown and change to spare in a 27-17 victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls three weeks ago. Middle Tenn.'s success was spearheaded by the efforts of WR Yusuf Ali, who caught five passes for 95 yards, and QB Mike DiLiello, who passed for one TD and 131 yards on 19 attempts in addition to rushing for one TD and 43 yards. Ali's performance made up for a slower contest against the Old Dominion Monarchs four weeks ago.
Meanwhile, you can't lose the game if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Toledo's strategy against the Akron Zips three weeks ago. Toledo steamrolled past Akron 49-14 at home. The matchup was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point the Rockets had established a 35-7 advantage. Their RB Bryant Koback did his thing and rushed for two TDs and 135 yards on 15 carries in addition to snatching one receiving TD. One of the most thrilling moments was Koback's 51-yard TD reception in the second quarter.
A couple defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: The Blue Raiders are 191st worst in the nation in passing touchdowns allowed, with 20 on the season. The Rockets have had an even harder time: they are stumbling into the game with the 148th most passing touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 15 on the season. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
