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2016-17 Bowl Projections Before Championship Weekend

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer speak on the field prior to the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer speak on the field prior to the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view before the Hawaii Bowl between the Rice Owls and Fresno State Bulldogs at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view before the Hawaii Bowl between the Rice Owls and Fresno State Bulldogs at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports /

December 24

Hawaiʻi Bowl Aloha Stadium Hawaii
Honolulu, HI Middle Tennessee

BEST GAME: Toledo v. Tulsa

Your traditional Christmas Even gift is a mid-major matchup live from sunny Honolulu. This year the hometown Rainbow Warriors reached six wins and will represent the Mountain West. Their opponents, Middle Tennessee, upset Missouri and finished the regular season with eight wins. The Blue Raiders beat C-USA West champ Louisiana Tech by four points and fell by only one point to East champ Western Kentucky, but November losses to UTSA and Marshall took them out of the running in the conference race.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Richie James (WR/Middle Tennessee)

Brent Stockstill threw for 2800 yards this season, and Richie James was on the receiving end for more than half of that total yardage. The sophomore from Sarasota, Florida finished the regular season averaging more than 15 yards per catch, and he hauled in 11 touchdown receptions to average nearly six points per game. The Rainbow Warriors had a top-50 passing defense, but James could prove too much to handle even on their home turf.

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