Beef O'Brady's Bowl: Ball State vs. UCF

This is as good of a time as any to note that George O’Leary’s actions led to UCF’s Athletic Dept. being held liable in a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit. He’s still employed. College football.

Bowl: Beef O’Brady’s
Toasting Town: St. Petersburg, Fla
Vintage: 2008

UCF: The Knights postponed their bowl ban for a year with an appeal to make a run at a conference title and possible BCS bid, and ended up in the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl. That said, there is not too much to be ashamed of with their 9-4 record. They lost by two touchdowns at Ohio State, by five points to Missouri and twice at Tulsa by a combined two points in regulation. They have a Top 50 yards per play offense and a top 50 yards per play defense. Ball State has neither.

Ball State: Ball State went 9-3, losing to Northern Illinois and Clemson on the road and Kent State at home. That said, their defense is terrible, 107th nationally in yards per play. Consequently, they had to win a number of shootouts. Six of their nine wins came by a touchdown or less. Only one came by more than 11 points. Much will depend on quarterback Keith Wenning, returning after having surgery on a fractured ankle bone.

Player to Watch: UCF’s Quincy McDuffie is second nationally in kick return average at 34.24 and took back three of his 17 returns for touchdowns.

Recreational Prediction: UCF (-7.5). The glaring difference between these teams is that UCF has a much better defense. After the two really Tulsa losses cost them the Conference Title, they should play with a bit of a chip. Bowl Record ATS: 2-1

[Photo via Presswire]

Get ready to be inundated with awkward Beef O Brady’s commercials…