The San Diego State Aztecs and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders clash Christmas Eve in the college football Hawaii Bowl from the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders come in on behalf of Conference USA after going 7-5 in the regular season. Chase Cunningham has thrown for 2,920 yards, 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions on 67.4% passing while Frank Peasant has rushed for a team-high 747 yards and 9 TDs. Jaylin Lane leads Middle Tennessee with 59 receptions for 829 receiving yards while Izaiah Gathings has 490 receiving yards along with 53 receptions and Elijah Metcalf, DJ England-Chisolm and Yusuf Ali each have 300+ receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Tra Fluellen has a team-high 97 total tackles including 54 solo tackles while Jordan Ferguson has 8.5 sacks as part of Middle Tennessee’s 33 sacks as a group this season. The Blue Raiders also have 17 interceptions this season.
The San Diego State Aztecs will try to finish strong on behalf of the Mountain West after going 7-5 in the regular season as well this year. Jalen Mayden has thrown for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 62.9% passing this season. Jordan Byrd leads San Diego State with 389 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns while Jaylon Armstead has 313 rushing yards and three other Aztecs have at least 200 rushing yards this season. Tyrell Shavers leads the Aztecs with 581 receiving yards while Jesse Matthews has a team-high 38 grabs for 409 receiving yards and Mekhi Shaw has 349 receiving yards as well this season. Michael Shawcroft has a team-high 77 total tackles with a team-high 5.5 sacks this season.
Middle Tennessee is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games and 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall while the over is 6-0 in their last 6 bowl games. San Diego State is 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games following an ATS loss and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in December while the under is 12-5-1 in their last 18 games against a team with a winning record.
Maybe it’s just personal preference but I’m not sure how anyone can feel good laying points with San Diego State given how this is normally a defense first team to begin with, but the offense was downright anemic against a really down Mountain West Conference this season. Middle Tennessee wasn’t a world-beater by any means but they sure are good enough to keep themselves in this one if not win this game outright. I just trust the Blue Raiders more here to be able to score. Give me the Blue Raiders and the points.