2016-17 Bowl Projections Before Championship Weekend
By Zach Bigalke
December 23
| Popeyes Bahamas Bowl | Thomas Robinson Stadium | Eastern Michigan |
| Nassau, Bahamas | Old Dominion | |
| Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Amon G. Carter Stadium | Navy |
| Fort Worth, TX | Mississippi State | |
| Dollar General Bowl | Ladd Peebles Stadium | Arkansas State |
| Mobile, AL | Central Michigan |
BEST GAME: Navy v. Mississippi State
With an extra opening from the glutted bowl schedule, Navy will likely get the opportunity to play a Power Five school despite missing out on the New Year’s Six bowl berth to Western Michigan. Of course, that opponent will be a five-win Mississippi State team that lost three games by a field goal or less and another by one touchdown. The Midshipmen could reach 12 wins for the first time in school history by beating the Bulldogs.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (De/Arkansas State)
Rolland-Jones was one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the country, finishing the year tied for fifth nationally with 11 sacks. He also averaged one and a half tackles for loss per game, among the top 20 in the FBS in that stat. The redshirt junior should have a field day against Central Michigan, which allowed nearly three sacks per game during the regular season. Rolland-Jones could put himself on NFL watch lists with a solid performance in his final college game.