Day 1 of Bowl Mania did not disappoint.
Saturday’s action brought a school record performance, a walk off winner and enough terrible weather to make even the referees add some field paint to their uniforms.
Day 2 features just a single game, though it is in the middle of the day, fitting for bowl season.
In the Von Hugendong Bowl Mania group, a familiar entry currently sits atop the standings after a bold strategy to put the first two games of the bowl season at the top of its confidence list. Kudos to you, Andrew, as the gamble paid off handsomely.
Let’s take a quick look at the game taking place on Monday afternoon.
Famous Toastery Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion (Monday, 2:30 PM ET – ESPN)
So much for a “vacation” to paradise – due to renovations currently underway at Thomas Robinson Stadium in the Bahamas, the bowl normally known as the Bahamas Bowl has been moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to be contested at Jerry Richardson Stadium (capacity 15,314 and home to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte football team). The Hilltoppers and Monarchs both come into this game with question marks, making the prediction a bit of a toss-up.
For Old Dominion, offense hasn’t really been a strength all season, but absences on the defense could be an issue for the team against the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky has its own questions to answer, however, primarily at the quarterback position. The coach’s nephew, freshman Turner Helton, is expected to start in place of Austin Reed, Conference USA’s leader in passing yards, passing yards per game and passing touchdowns. Reed has been the engine for the Tops’ Air Raid offense, but something tells us that the younger Helton may know what he’s doing as well. If he does, Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton will be the proudest papa on the planet by Monday evening.
Around The Corn’s Pick: 34-17 Western Kentucky
Bowl Mania Confidence: 25 points
