Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Ohio (8-4) vs. Appalachian State (10-2)
Montgomery, Alabama
Dec. 19. 2015
Unless you're a college football die-hard, your biggest memory of Appalachian State is likely the team's 2007 upset over Michigan. And it's understandable; the win is still one of the biggest college football upsets of the past 20 seasons.
App State was an FCS school back then, and now, in its second season at college football's top level, the Mountaineers are going for an 11-win season. Not a bad way to make the jump to the big time, eh? And since the Mountaineers are in the Sun Belt conference, you probably haven't seen them play much. Here's a quick primer.
ASU is led by quarterback Taylor Lamb and running back Marcus Cox. Lamb threw for 2,263 yards and 29 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 2015. Cox ran for 1,261 yards on nearly six yards a carry with eight touchdowns. The Mountaineers don't have a go-to receiving threat, which can wreak havoc on opposing pass defenses. Shaedon Meadors is the team's leading receiver and he had 21 catches for 439 yards. Simms McElfresh, a player with one of the best names in college football, led the team in catches with 33 for 424 yards.
There's a better chance you've seen Ohio if you flipped on midweek #MACtion at some point in November. The Bobcats, still coached by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, are back to a bowl game after a one-year hiatus. Following a three-game losing streak in which it was outscored 152-55, Ohio ended the season on three-game win streak. Its win over Northern Illinois in the final game of the season could have precluded the Huskies from heading to the MAC Championship Game. But Toledo lost to Western Michigan so the game was irrelevant for NIU's title hopes.
Quarterback Derrius Vick threw for 1,809 yards and 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2015. The Ohio rushing attack is spearheaded by A.J. Ouellette (642 yards) and Daz'mond Patterson (497 yards). Patterson had nine touchdowns to Ouellette's five.
This will be a ground-based game. Both teams will likely look to create passing opportunities when the defenses cheat too much to the run.
Picks
Graham: The key to this game will be Appalachian State’s ability to score against a decent Ohio defense. I don’t think that will be a problem. I like the Mountaineers to win their first FBS bowl game 28-10.
Nick: Yeah, I think I did this last year, but I like this video too much to not post it again. I hope both teams visited Flea Market Montgomery. App State 24-13.
Sam: Camellia: Ohio played some of its best football – winning three straight – down the stretch, but do the Bobcats have enough to stop the Sun Belt’s best offense? I don’t think so. Appalachian State will win in its first FBS bowl appearance, 31-17.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
