2022 Boca Raton Bowl: Odds, predictions and how to watch

Looking ahead to the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl between Toldeo and Liberty with a look at the odds, a prediction, and how to watch. 

The college football bowl season continues on Tuesday night with the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl in a battle of eight-win teams between Liberty and Toledo.

Despite its 8-5 record, Toledo is the MAC champion. The Rockets lost their last two regular-season games but defeated Ohio in the MAC title game and will take on a solid Liberty team, albeit one going through a coaching transition from Hugh Freez to Jamey Chadwell.

Losing Freeze was tough but replacing him with Chadwell is doing about as well as could be expected so kudos to Liberty.

Between the two teams, only the Toldeo offense ranks in the top 50 in the FBS in terms of scoring. Liberty ranks outside the top 50 in both categories, while the Rockets’ defense does too.

The Rockets averaged 405 yards per game during the season and have a balanced attack that averages 178 yards on the ground. DeQuann Finn is expected to get the start and he accounted for 30 touchdowns this season for the Rockets with 22 passing and eight rushing. He was also the second-leading rusher with 608 yards on the ground and 5.4 yards per carry.

Finn has been dealing with an injury though so Tucker Gleason is the other option. He also has eight touchdown passes this season.

Both teams struggle to take care of the ball. Toledo averages 1.9 giveaways per game, while Liberty averages 2.2. That’s a really high number and it makes you wonder how these teams even made the postseason.

Neither is notably good on offense or defense and both have a penchant for turning the ball over. The Rockets do have a pretty good offense though and have scored at least 27 points in nine of 13 games. There are just some odd stats for both teams.

Liberty is led by a couple of talented threats at running back and receiver. The passing attack has been up and down behind Johnathan Bennett but averaged 221 yards.

The Flames averaged 400 total yards per game but scored just 28 per game to rank 68th in scoring. They are 56th in scoring defense after allowing 24 points per game.

Bennett threw nine interceptions this season but has a talented receiver in Demario Douglas who has 1,082 total yards from scrimmage this season and 977 as a receiver.

Dae Dae Hunter leads Liberty with 854 rushing yards. He averages 6.6 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns. Both Douglas and Hunter will need to have big games and will be focal points for the Toldeo defense.

2022 Boca Raton Bowl odds

Toledo is a 4.5-point favorite right now over Liberty according to Fanduel. The over/under is 53.5 points. The money line for the Rockets is -178 and +146 for Liberty.

(Odds are subject to change)

2022 Boca Raton Bowl prediction

It’s always hard to win bowl games when you have an interim head coach. Sometimes, it can rally a team but it does make it more difficult to predict the outcome. Finn has been dynamic at quarterback for Toledo when healthy and that should give the Rockets enough of an edge to win.

Yet, both teams turn the ball over a lot so a lot could happen. Liberty has some talented skill guys too so I’d take the over, as well as the Rockets who will win the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl 31-24.

How to watch the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl

Kickoff: 7:30 PM EST

TV: ABC

Streaming: Fubo TV