Writer - Garin Turner
On December 23, another bowl game will be underway as the Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-4) out of the Sun Belt Conference take on the Toledo Rockets (11-2) of the MAC in the Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on ESPN 6 PM CST.
This year is the second year of the Dollar General Bowl as Troy defeated Ohio last year 28-23. The bowl has gone through a few different names over the years. Mobile Alabama Bowl (1999), GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl (2000), GMAC Bowl (2001-2010), GoDaddy.com Bowl (2011-2013), and finally GoDaddy Bowl (2014-2015).
The game is a rematch from last year's Camellia Bowl which saw the Mountaineers victorious over the Rockets 31-28.
Both teams won their conferences this year. Despite losing four games this year, Appalachian State only lost once in in the Sun Belt, 52-45 on the road against Louisiana Monroe. Besides their opening week loss to Georgia, who is part of the College Football Playoffs, 31-10, the other three loses were winnable games only losing by a total of 15 points.
The Mountaineers have a balanced rushing attack having ran the ball 477 times for 2,580 yards and 23 touchdowns. Junior running back Jalin Moore has 161 carries for 912 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Appalachian State, like so many other teams in college football, features a dual threat quarterback with senior Taylor Lamb. Lamb has 27 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions on the year. He's thrown for 2,606 yards. On the ground, he has 70 carries for 539 yards with 5 touchdowns.
This game could create a lot of big time plays. The Mountaineers average 33.4 points per game while the Rockets average 39.2. Both teams are allowing 20 plus points a game. This could very well come down to who has the ball last.
Toledo's two losses came at the hands of Ohio 38-10 and the University of Miami 52-30. The Rockets have a stellar running game as well. They feature three backs who have over 600 yards rushing on the year. Senior Terry Swanson leads the team with 231 carries for 1,319 yards and 14 touchdowns. Freshman Shakif Seymour has 113 carries for 704 yards and 12 scores. Adding to the rushing game is sophomore Art Thompkins who has 102 carries for 618 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Toledo also has a senior at the QB position with Logan Woodside. Woodside has 28 touchdowns against 5 interceptions for 3,758 yards. Both teams can get it done via the ground game or the passing attack.
This is Toledo's fourth bowl appearance in a row. Their overall bowl record is 10-6.This is Appalachian State's third straight bowl appearance. They had a winning record in 2014 but were ineligiable as it was their first year in the FBS. They are 5-6 overall in bowl games and 2-0 in the FBS era.
PREDICTION: Toledo 42 - Appalachian State 41.
This year is the second year of the Dollar General Bowl as Troy defeated Ohio last year 28-23. The bowl has gone through a few different names over the years. Mobile Alabama Bowl (1999), GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl (2000), GMAC Bowl (2001-2010), GoDaddy.com Bowl (2011-2013), and finally GoDaddy Bowl (2014-2015).
The game is a rematch from last year's Camellia Bowl which saw the Mountaineers victorious over the Rockets 31-28.
Both teams won their conferences this year. Despite losing four games this year, Appalachian State only lost once in in the Sun Belt, 52-45 on the road against Louisiana Monroe. Besides their opening week loss to Georgia, who is part of the College Football Playoffs, 31-10, the other three loses were winnable games only losing by a total of 15 points.
The Mountaineers have a balanced rushing attack having ran the ball 477 times for 2,580 yards and 23 touchdowns. Junior running back Jalin Moore has 161 carries for 912 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Appalachian State, like so many other teams in college football, features a dual threat quarterback with senior Taylor Lamb. Lamb has 27 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions on the year. He's thrown for 2,606 yards. On the ground, he has 70 carries for 539 yards with 5 touchdowns.
This game could create a lot of big time plays. The Mountaineers average 33.4 points per game while the Rockets average 39.2. Both teams are allowing 20 plus points a game. This could very well come down to who has the ball last.
Toledo's two losses came at the hands of Ohio 38-10 and the University of Miami 52-30. The Rockets have a stellar running game as well. They feature three backs who have over 600 yards rushing on the year. Senior Terry Swanson leads the team with 231 carries for 1,319 yards and 14 touchdowns. Freshman Shakif Seymour has 113 carries for 704 yards and 12 scores. Adding to the rushing game is sophomore Art Thompkins who has 102 carries for 618 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Toledo also has a senior at the QB position with Logan Woodside. Woodside has 28 touchdowns against 5 interceptions for 3,758 yards. Both teams can get it done via the ground game or the passing attack.
This is Toledo's fourth bowl appearance in a row. Their overall bowl record is 10-6.This is Appalachian State's third straight bowl appearance. They had a winning record in 2014 but were ineligiable as it was their first year in the FBS. They are 5-6 overall in bowl games and 2-0 in the FBS era.
PREDICTION: Toledo 42 - Appalachian State 41.