NEWS

September 21st, 2017 | BAHAMAS BOWL

SHARE

Bahamas Bowl Weekly Preview – 2017 Week 4 (September 23)

Click here to read the 2017 Bahamas Bowl Weekly Release – Week 4 – September 23 (PDF)

THIS WEEKEND: Saturday, there are 19 total games in Conference USA and the MAC, including three between the two conferences. C-USA has two league games on the schedule as UAB (2-1) goes to North Texas (1-2) in a Western Division matchup and FIU (1-1) is at Rice (1-2, 1-0). There are also a pair of key non-conference games in C-USA as Old Dominion (2-1) visits Virginia Tech and Louisiana Tech (2-1) is at South Carolina. In the MAC, conference play gets underway with a pair of contests. Ohio (2-1) is at undefeated Eastern Michigan (2-0) and Miami (1-2) goes to Central Michigan (2-1). In non-conference action, Toledo (3-0) visits Miami (Fla.) and Kent State (1-2) is at Louisville.

C-USA VS. MAC: The two participating conferences in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, Conference USA and the MAC have split the first four games between the leagues, 2-2. Saturday, the last three games between the two leagues before bowl season will take place as Ball State (2-1) visits WKU (1-2), Florida Atlantic (1-2) is at Buffalo (1-2) and Bowling Green (0-3) goes to Middle Tennessee (1-2).

MAC WEEK 3 REVIEW: The MAC went 6-5 during Week Three and picked up four FBS wins, including wins over Big Ten (Nebraska) and Big-12 (Kansas) opponents. The MAC also defeated Tulsa (American Athletic) and Idaho (Sun Belt) … The NIU 21-17 victory over Nebraska win was the program’s sixth win in the last 10 games against Big Ten opponents since 2009 and the fourth in five games under Huskies head coach Rod Carey … Ohio beat Kansas 42-30 in Athens, behind QB Nathan Rourke, who threw for 152 yards and two TDs … Toledo rallied from a 28-7 deficit to beat Tulsa 54-51 when kicker Jameson West made a 33-yard field goal as time expired … the Rockets are 3-0 for the third straight season.

C-USA WEEK 3 REVIEW: Louisiana Tech rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat WKU 23-22 in a rematch of the 2016 C-USA title game, thanks to a game-winning 21-yard FG by the Bulldogs’ Jonathan Barnes with :02 left … FAU set records for margin of victory and posted its first shutout since 2007 with a 45-0 win over Bethune-Cookman, thanks to a school-record 439 rush yards … Marshall beat Kent State 21-0, the third shutout by the Herd in the last 18 games, behind seven sacks … North Texas senior QB Mason Fine is C-USA’s leading passer, averaging 271.7 yards per game with six passing TDs … UTSA senior QB Dalton Sturm had a record-setting performance in a 51-17 victory over Southern as he completed 19-of-22 passes for 292 yards and four TDs and rushed for a score.

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

CONFERENCE USA

Saturday, Sept. 23
* UAB at North Texas (beIN)
* FIU at Rice (STADFB)
Old Dominion at Virginia Tech (ESPN3)
Louisiana Tech at South Carolina (SECN)
Georgia State at Charlotte (WCCB)
Florida Atlantic at Buffalo (ESPN3)
Bowling Green at Middle Tennessee (ESPN3)
Ball State at WKU (STAD)
UTSA at Texas State (ESPN3)
UTEP at New Mexico State (ESPN3)

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Saturday, Sept. 23
* Miami at Central Michigan (ESPN3)
* Ohio at Eastern Michigan (ESPN3)
Akron at Troy (ESPN3)
Ball State at WKU (STAD)
Bowling Green at Middle Tennessee (ESPN3)
Florida Atlantic at Buffalo (ESPN3)
Kent State at Louisville (ACC RSN)
Toledo at Miami (Fla.) (ACC RSN)
Wagner at Western Michigan (ESPN3)

* – conference games

WEEK 3 RESULTS

CONFERENCE USA

Friday, Sept. 15
Arizona 63, UTEP 16
Saturday, Sept. 16
* Louisiana Tech 23, WKU 22
Florida Atlantic 45, Bethune-Cookman 0
Marshall 21, Kent State 0
Southern Miss 28, Louisiana-Monroe 17
UAB 30, Coastal Carolina 23
UTSA 51, Southern 17
Minnesota 34, Middle Tennessee 3
Iowa 31, North Texas 14
North Carolina 53, Old Dominion 23
Houston 38, Rice 3
North Carolina A&T 35, Charlotte 31
FIU at Indiana (cancelled)

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Saturday, Sept. 16
Northern Illinois 21, Nebraska 17
Ohio 42, Kansas 30
Iowa State 41, Akron 14
Ball State 28, Tennessee Tech 13
Syracuse 41, Central Michigan 17
Buffalo 33, Colgate 10
Marshall 21, Kent State 0
Western Michigan 37, Idaho 28
Toledo 54, Tulsa 51
Northwestern 49, Bowling Green 7
Cincinnati 21, Miami 17

* – conference games

WEEK 3 INDIVIDUAL HONORS

CONFERENCE USA
Offensive Player of the Week
Southern Miss RB Ito Smith: The senior had 219 yards on 27 carries, 13 receiving yards and 22 kickoff return yards in a 28-17 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.

Defensive Player of the Week
Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson: The junior had six total tackles and two sacks in a 23-22 victory over WKU.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Louisiana Tech K Jonathan Barnes: The senior kicked a game-winning 21-yard field goal and two other FGs in a 23-22 victory over WKU.

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Ohio RB A.J. Ouellette: The junior rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown in a 42-30 victory over Kansas.

East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Miami DB De’Andre Montgomery: The junior had 10 tackles (one for loss) and an interception in a loss to Cincinnati.

East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Miami P Kyle Kramer: The sophomore had eight punts for a 45.5-yard average and four punts inside the 20 in a loss to Cincinnati.

West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Toledo QB Logan Woodside: The senior completed 22-of-33 passes for 458 yards and six touchdowns in a 54-51 victory over Tulsa.

West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Northern Illinois LB Jawuan Johnson: The junior intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown in a 21-17 victory over Nebraska.

West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Toledo K Jameson Vest: The junior connected on a 33-yard field goal with no time remaining in a 54-51 victory over Tulsa.

C-USA VS. MAC

The 2017 Bahamas Bowl will be contested between Conference USA and the MAC. The season series is tied 2-2. Teams from the two conferences will play each other three more times this season, all this Saturday.

Sept. 1
Eastern Michigan (MAC) 24, Charlotte (C-USA) 7
Sept. 2
Marshall (C-USA)31, Miami (MAC) 26
Sept. 9
Ball State (MAC) 51, UAB (C-USA) 31
Sept. 16
Marshall (C-USA) 21, Kent State (MAC) 0
Sept. 23
Ball State (MAC) at WKU (C-USA)
Bowling Green (MAC) at Middle Tennessee (C-USA)
Florida Atlantic (C-USA) at Buffalo (MAC)

AROUND THE CONFERENCES

• UTSA scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions for the first time in school history and held Southern to just 149 yards of total offense in cruising to a 51-17 victory.

• After a 21-17 victory over Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday to secure its fourth win over a Big Ten Conference opponent in the last five years, Northern Illinois was selected as the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

• Southern Miss senior RB Ito Smith set a career high with 27 carries for 219 yards and a TD in a 28-17 win at Louisiana-Monroe. Smith became the first Golden Eagle to run more than 200 yards in over two years. Smith, who caught three passes for 13 yards, also reached the 5,000-yard mark for all-purpose yardage.

• Northern Illinois RB Jordan Huff had a season-best 105 yards on 16 carries and the game-winning 2-yard TD run in the 4th quarter for a 21-17 win at Nebraska.

• UAB is the only Conference USA team that has scored at least 30 points in all three games this season.

“POWER FIVE” VICTORIES

A list of Conference USA and MAC victories over “Power Five” opponents (teams from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC).

Sept. 9
Central Michigan (MAC) 45, Kansas (Big 12) 27
Eastern Michigan (MAC) 16, Rutgers (Big Ten) 13
Middle Tennessee (C-USA) 30, Syracuse (ACC) 23
UTSA (C-USA) 17, Baylor (Big 12) 10
Sept. 16
Northern Illinois (MAC) 21, Nebraska (Big Ten) 17
Ohio (MAC) 42, Kansas 30 (Big 12) 30

SATURDAYS TO SUNDAYS

Seven players who played in the Bahamas Bowl are currently on NFL club active 53-man rosters in 2017.

S Kevin Byard – Tennessee (Middle Tennessee)
WR Corey Davis – Tennessee (Western Michigan)
S Kavon Frazier – Dallas (Central Michigan)
TE Tyler Higbee – Los Angeles Rams (WKU)
G Taylor Moton – Carolina (Western Michigan)
WR Taywan Taylor – Tennessee (WKU)
DE Leterrius Watson – Pittsburgh (Central Michigan)

BAHAMAS BOWL MEDIA PROJECTIONS

Media Organization (Reporter) – Date: Predicted Matchup
10thYearSeniors.com (John Marc Nutt) – Sept. 20: Southern Miss vs. Ohio
Nassau Tribune (Renaldo Dorsett) – Sept. 20: Louisiana Tech vs. Toledo
USA Today (Erick Smith) – Sept. 19: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
SI.com (Eric Single) – Sept. 19: UAB vs. Northern Illinois
The Score (Brett McMurphy) – Sept. 19: Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois
The Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Sept. 19: Marshall vs. Ohio
SB Nation (Jason Kirk) – Sept. 17: Southern Miss vs. Miami (Ohio)
ESPN.com (Kyle Bonagura) – Sept. 17: Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois
ESPN.com (David M. Hale) – Sept. 17: Southern Miss vs. Ball State
CBSSports.com (Jerry Palm) – Sept. 17: Southern Miss vs. Western Michigan
College Sports Madness (CSM Staff) – Sept. 17: Old Dominion vs. Toledo
Orlando Sentinel (Brant Parsons) – Sept. 17: Southern Miss vs. Northern Illinois
CollegeFootballNews.com (Pete Fiutak) – Sept. 17: WKU vs. Toledo
The Athletic (Stewart Mandel) – Aug. 29: UTSA vs. Northern Illinois
Bleacher Report (David Kenyon) – Aug. 23: Louisiana Tech vs. Western Michigan
Sports on Earth (Matt Brown) – Aug. 21: Southern Miss vs. Miami (Ohio)
Athlon Sports (Steven Lassan) – July 5: UTSA vs. Ohio
Phil Steele Magazine (Phil Steele) – Magazine: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (Ohio)

2017 BAHAMAS BOWL PARTICIPANT SELECTION

The highest-ranked conference champion by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee from the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West or Sun Belt will play annually in one of the College Football Playoff bowls (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl or Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for the 2017 season) if it is not selected for the Playoff Semifinals.

Conference USA has secured guaranteed commitments with six bowl partners for the 2017 season, as well as one secondary agreement: Bahamas, Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla, Boca Raton, Gildan New Mexico, Lockheed Martin Armed Forces and R+L Carriers New Orleans are primary agreements. The Independence Bowl is a secondary agreement, should the ACC or SEC not be able to provide a bowl-eligible team. There is no set selection order among C-USA’s bowl partners.

The MAC has 2017 primary bowl tie-ins with Bahamas, Dollar General, Famous Idaho Potato and Raycom Media Camellia Bowls. The MAC has secondary 2017 bowl agreements with Boca Raton, Frisco and Quick Lane Bowls. The Dollar General Bowl has first selection in 2017, and there is no order of selection for the remaining three primary MAC tie-ins.

The 2017 Bahamas Bowl participants – selected from among bowl-eligible teams in Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference – will be announced by the bowl, ESPN Events and conference partners once finalized.

ESPN EVENTS

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 31 collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 14 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 300-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football
AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); Camping World Kickoff (Orlando, Fla.); Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff (Montgomery, Ala.); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Baton Rouge, La.); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); Texas Bowl (Houston); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)

Collegiate Basketball
AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Armed Forces Classic (Ramstein Air Base, Germany); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s Classic presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona (TBD); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); PK80 (Portland, Ore.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); State Farm Champions Classic (Chicago) and Wooden Legacy (Fullerton, Calif.)

Tagline
Pre Footer