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Bahamas Bowl 2019: Can Charlotte take next step as program vs. Buffalo?

By Dante Pryor

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 19: Benny LeMay #32 of the Charlotte 49ers runs with the ball against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first quarter of the game on October 19, 2019 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 19: Benny LeMay #32 of the Charlotte 49ers runs with the ball against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first quarter of the game on October 19, 2019 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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The Charlotte 49ers take on the Buffalo Bulls in the 2019 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl. Here’s a preview, prediction and live stream.

Bowl season kicks off with a destination game. What better place to play or watch football than Nassau, Bahamas. Charlotte and Buffalo will tangle in the first bowl game of the post season in the Maker’s Wanted Bahamas Bowl.

Both teams come into this game at 7-5 looking to add an exclamation mark to end their respective seasons.

For Charlotte, this season marks a milestone in their brief football history. The 49ers started playing football in 2015 and in five short years they find themselves in a bowl game. Their first coach, Brad Lambert, helped establish the 49ers as an FBS program, and their current head coach Will Healy took over this season leading them to a 7-5 record.

Buffalo’s head coach, Lance Leipold, did an outstanding job getting the Bulls to a bowl game this season. They lost Tyreke Jackson to the NFL last season’s leading receiver Anthony Johnson to graduation and second leading receiver K.J. Osborn transferred to Miami.

With a stingy defense, and a 1-2 punch at running back, the Bulls find themselves in a bowl game for the second game in a row and only the fourth time since returning to the FBS.

Here’s more information about Friday’s game:

Date: Friday, Dec. 18
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Venue: Thomas Robinson Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

The Bulls are favored in this game. It’s going to be difficult for a small-ish defensive front to stop the power running game of Buffalo. The 49ers have been susceptible to the run game allowing almost 200 yards rushing per game.

If Charlotte wants to stay in this game they’ll have to turn this game into a shootout which might be a case of easier said than done. The Bulls don’t give up much on defense surrendering under 300 yards of total offense and 22.3 points per game. If the Bulls get their running game going it’s going to be a long day for the 49ers.

Odds

Odds courtesy of The Action Network

Line: Buffalo -6.5
Over/Under: 57

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Prediction

The 49ers should be happy with what they’ve done this season getting to a bowl game. They have something they can build on for seasons to come. However, they might be over matched against Buffalo’s defense and run game.

Final Score: Buffalo 28, Charlotte 14

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