Boca Raton Bowl

Marshall Thundering Herd (12-1) vs. Northern

Illinois Huskies (11-2)

Florida Atlantic University Stadium, Boca Raton, Fl. (29,419)

6 PM ET/5 PM CT

ESPN

Dave Lamont, Desmond Howard, Quint Kessenich

Series Record: NIU leads 4-3

Coaches: Marshall: Doc (Gunfight at the OK Corral) Holliday: 57 years old, 39-25 overall in five seasons and 2-0 in bowls; Northern Illinois: Rod Carey: 43 years old, three seasons, 23-5, 0-2 bowls.

Refs: Mountain West Conference, Rick Loumiet, head ref

Weather: 77 @ kickoff, 0 % rain, Wind SSE @ 12 MPH

Line: Marshall by 8 1/2

Teams:

Two years ago Kirk Herbstreit had his famous line when Norther Illinois was selected for a BCS bowl: “Northern Illinois? Are you kiddin me?” But the Huskies have been a consistent program the last five to six years. They’re not a New Year’s 6 bunch, but they are a quality team.

Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato threw for 37 sevens and 3,622 yards this season, but in Marshall’s only loss to Western Kentucky, 67-66, he threw four interceptions despite throwing for seven TDs. Cato did throw 13 ints this year and the Northern Illinois defense picked off 14 passes this year led by Dechan Durante, who had four, and Paris Logan, who added three. For Northern Illinois, Drew Hare did a nice job taking over for departed All-American Jordan Lynch this season, passing for 2,097 yards, 17 TDs against only two ints. Camer Stingly led the ground game with 895 yards and 13 sevens. Devon Johnson, a converted tight end for the Thundering Herd, rushed for 1,636 yards and 16 TDs.

Final Verdict:

Cato will have a good game, but he’s going to make some mistakes with throws against a ball hawking Huskies’ secondary. But he’ll make a lot of big plays and the Thundering Herd are just too explosive for the Huskies, though the Huskies will give the Herd everything they want. Cato and the Herd squeak out a W.

Marshall 38, Northern Illinois 34

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

(man that’s lengthy)

Navy Midshipmen (7-5) vs. San Diego State

Aztecs (7-5)

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego (71,294)

9:30 PM ET/8:30 PM CT

ESPN

Tom Hart, Mike Belotti, Heather Mitts

Series record: San Diego State leads series, 3-0

Coaches: Navy: Ken Niumatalolo, 49 years old,, 56-35 in eight seasons at the Academy, 2-4 bowls; San Diego State: Rocky Long: 64 years old,  four years as head coach, 32-19; 97-68 overall as head coach, 1998-2008 at New Mexico. 2-6 in bowls.

Refs: Mid American Conference: Jeff “Matthew” Maconaghy (hope he’s not a strange one like the actor is)

Weather: 64, clear, wind ENE 3 MPH

Line: San Diego State by 3 1/2

Teams:

Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds carries the career (64) and single season (31 in 2013) record for rushing despite missing two games this season due to injury. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season and 21 TDs. San Diego State has some injures, but does have a stud running back in Donnell Pumphrey, who has rushed for 1,755 yards and 19 TDs this season.

Final Verdict:

I’m going to go with the upset here. Like the Midshipmen to get the job done behind their awesome signal caller Reynolds. The Academy pulls off the upset.

Navy 34, San Diego State 31