2022 Quick Lane Bowl: Odds, prediction and how to watch

Looking ahead to the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl here is a breakdown of the odds, a prediction, and how to watch. 

After a one-day break, college football bowl games are back on the menu. Middle Tennessee State notched a dramatic win on Christmas Eve night to take the Hawaii Bowl.

The 2022 Quick Lane Bowl should be another tight matchup. I often talk about motivation being a key factor for bowl games, but there won’t be any of those issues here.

New Mexico State is 6-6 under head coach Jerry Kill and the Aggies are playing in their first bowl game in 2017 which is something few would have predicted before the start of the season. Bowling Green (6-6) also hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2015.

New Mexico State, which won its last game to reach 6-6, averages just over 25 points per game and ranks 81st in the FBS in scoring. Bowling Green is 93rd with an average of 23.8, which is 97th. They also allow over 33 points a game which is 117th in the FBS.

The Aggies allow just 24 points per game and rank 53rd in scoring defense. Yet, they force just one turnover per game compared to 1.8 for the Falcons. Diego Pavia is expected to play at quarterback which will be huge for New Mexico State.

He only completed 52 percent of his throws and had 11 touchdowns but he was the team’s third-leading rusher with 443 yards and five touchdowns.

Matt McDonald will lead the way for Bowling Green at quarterback. He threw 22 touchdown passes this season for the Falcons, who actually averaged more yards but fewer points per game than the Aggies.

New Mexico has played well against the pass but hasn’t faced a really tough schedule either and not a lot of passing offenses as talented as Bowling Green.

The Falcons notched a nice win over Marshall as well as five in the MAC, which is a tough league this year so they are more battle-tested. The Falcons also have 10 players with at least 10 receptions this season and over 125 yards.

2022 Quick Lane Bowl odds

Bowling Green is favored by 3.5 points going into the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl according to Fan Duel. The over/under is 48.5.

(odds are subject to change)

2022 Quick Lane Bowl prediction

Bowling Green has the edge at quarterback to me and while the Falcons’ defense isn’t great, if they can move the ball successfully, that will help keep that unit on the sideline. Bowling Green has been great at generating turnovers (1.8 per game) but gives it away nearly as much.

New Mexico State will likely try to establish the run and that should be doable against the Falcons. Yet, McDonald and the Falcon offense will prove to be better and will notch a solid win for the MAC in Detroit with a 24-17 victory.

How to watch the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl

Kickoff: 2:30 PM EST

TV: ESPN

Stream: Fubo TV