The Bowl Season continues this afternoon with Air Force and Georgia Tech in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. Below is a quick preview of the game with my pick at the end. Along with my pick, I will post the favorite and flip a coin for the game. Whichever method has the most points at the end of Bowl Season, I will use for next year's games.
Independence Bowl, Air Force (8-4, 5-3 in the MWC) vs Georgia Tech (6-6, 4-3 in the ACC), 2:00 PM on ESPN2
Why You Should Watch: To see the nation's top two rushing offenses. Be prepared for a lot of points in this one.
Air Force wrapped a pair of 3 game winning streaks around a 3 game mid-season losing streak to produce another decent if not great season, something they do pretty regularly. The Falcons won the Commander in Chief's trophy, something Navy has especially targeted of late, with wins over both of the other bowl bound service academies. Air Force also beat BYU early in the season, but a 3 point loss at Oklahoma, a 2 point loss to Poinsettia Bowl winner San Diego St, and a 5 point loss to Pac-12 bound Utah kept them from that great year. Only at TCU were the Falcons beat before the final horn.
Graduation was cited as the cause of Georgia Tech's backslide this season, but it wasn't until the second half of the season, when back to back road losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech, followed by a loss to Miami, did the Yellow Jackets actually drop off in terms of national standing.
Breakdown: Air Force won in four of the five categories I use to pick bowl games, with the teams only tying in motivation. Add to the fact that sophomore wide receiver Stephen Hill and senior safety Mario Edwards are both academically ineligible for the Yellow Jackets, I like the Falcons.
Independence Current Total to Date
Odds Air Force 6
Coin Air Force 4
Connor Air Force (3) 3 (67)