Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Prediction
Can Eastern Michigan make the most of its rare bowl appearance when it takes on Old Dominion in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Old Dominion is favored in this game, as it is getting odds of -5.5 points against Eastern Michigan. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 63.5 points. These two meet from Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas at 1PM ET.
Eastern Michigan last appeared in a bowl game in 1987 when it beat San Jose State in the California Bowl. The Eagles went 7-5 this season, beating Central Michigan 26-21 to end the regular season. EMU was 9-3 against the spread in 2016. The team averaged 30.4 points per game and allowed 30.3 points per game on defense. Brogan Roback has handled most of the QB duties this year, throwing for 2,394 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions. Ian Eriksen is the leading rusher with 741 yards and nine touchdowns, but is dealing with an unspecified injury that could keep him off the field today. Sergio Bailey II is the leading receiver with 55 catches for 799 yards and six scores.
Old Dominion is set to play in its first bowl game as the program was brought back to life in 2009 and went 9-3 this year. The Monarchs won their last five games to close the regular season and were 4-0-1 against the spread in those wins. They went 8-3-1 against the spread for the season. The offense put up 36 points per game this year while allowing 27.8 points per game on defense. Ray Lawry was the leading rusher on offense with 1,122 yards and 11 touchdowns while Jeremy Cox had 685 yards and 13 scores. QB David Washington had 2,648 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Washington is battling a knee injury, but is expected to play in this game.
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Both teams should be pretty pumped up for this game, as it is a rare opportunity for their program to win a bowl game. Eastern Michigan has a very smash-mouth style of play that has carried them most of the season, but their run defense is suspect and that could be a real problem against the Monarchs. Old Dominion has a tremendous run attack and still have a very efficient QB if the run game isn’t quite clicking. The Monarchs variety in weapons is why I like them to win by at least a TD.
POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL PREDICTION: OLD DOMINION -5.5