Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Expect a shootout between FIU and Toledo
Florida International and Toledo meet in Nassau in what should be a very entertaining 2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl between two offensive powerhouses.
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In what could be one of the more entertaining match-ups in the bowl season in terms of offense, the Florida International Panthers of Conference-USA will face off with the Toledo Rockets of the MAC in Nassau for the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl. Both teams come into the contest averaging well over 400 yards of total offense per game respectively and both teams rank in the top 30 nationally in points per game.
Florida International comes into the game under the direction of veteran head coach Butch Davis, who helped resurrect college programs such as Miami (FL) and North Carolina. Davis quickly turned around the Panthers program, taking them to a bowl game last season in year one. FIU centers their offense around quarterback James Morgan, who was thrown for over 2,700 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first year with the program after transferring from Bowling Green.
Toledo comes into the game with one of the best offenses in college football, averaging 41.1 points per game and almost 450 yards per game. What makes this even more impressive is the fact they’ve done it without their starting quarterback for the second half of the season as Mitchell Guadagni went down with an injury against Western Michigan. In his absence, backup Eli Peters has shown the Toledo offense shows no signs of slowing down.
Here’s where to find the Bahamas Bowl come Friday afternoon
Date: Friday, Dec. 21
Time: 12:30 p.m. EST
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Venue: Thomas Robinson Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live stream: Watch ESPN
Keys to the Game
FIU’s defense will have to come out of the gates and be a lockdown defense the entire game. Toledo isn’t one of the best offenses in the country just because they play in the MAC, the Rockets have some bad boys on the offensive side of the football who have the ability to make plays at any possible time. James Morgan will have to be able to lead the Panthers offense and match Toledo punch-for-punch as the explosive Rockets will score, just a matter of how much.
Toledo has to keep FIU’s defense on its heels all day long and the balance of their offense will be critical to their success. The Rockets boast a three-headed rushing attack consisting of Bryant Koback, Shakif Seymour and Art Thompkins, all of whom have at least 500 yards rushing this year. That, paired with Eli Peters staying away from mistakes, such as interceptions, can help ensure Toledo gets it done and could get it done in style.
Vegas Odds
Line: Toledo -4 1/2
Over/under: 59
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Prediction
Going through my bowl pick ’em this game confused me, 61% of users in ESPN’s Bowl Mania selected FIU even though Las Vegas has Toledo as four-point favorites. I believe Vegas knows what it’s doing, yes the Rockets have 5 losses on the season but they have been competitive in every game and their offense is going to score a boatload of points. I just don’t think FIU has the horses to compete in the kind of shootout that Toledo will bring.
Prediction: FIU 28, Toledo 45