Western Kentucky kicked tail and took names last night in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Caesar’s Superdome in a 44-23 victory.

Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed threw all over what was supposed to be a pretty stellar South Alabama defense. Reed completed 36 of 55 passes for 497 yards, 4 TDs against 1 int. Dalvin Smith caught 6 passes for 145 yards and a 6, Jaylen Hall caught 9 passes for 138 yards and another 6, and Malachi Corley caught 11 passes for 114 yards and 2, 6’s. It was complete domination by the high flying Western offense. Impressive stuff by Western KY coach Todd Helton as he schooled Kane Wommack and his Jaguars squad and the Blog. Western Kentucky moved to 9-5 and South Alabama fell to 10-3. Back to the drawing board.

Today, nice matchup in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. Here’s a look at it.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Baylor (6-6) vs Air Force (9-3)

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, 50,000

6:30 PM CT

ESPN

Brian Custer, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler

Refs, MAC, Jerry Valentine

Baylor by 3 1/2

Baylor

Bears quarterback Blake Shapen has completed 222 of 345 passes, 64%, for 16 TDs against 10 ints. His favorite target is Monaray Baldwin, who has posted 33 receptions for 565 yards and 4 TDs. Gavin Holmes has added 22 receptions for 470 yards and 3 TDs. But running back Richard Reese really gets the offense cookin. Reese has rushed for 962 yards and 14 TDs. He’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Linebacker Dillon Doyle (6’3”, 240) leads the defense in tackles along with safety Al Walcott. Both have posted 80. Walcott leads the defense in TFLs with 10 for -35 yards. Gabe Hall, a 6’6”, 296 defensive tackle, and Randolph Garmon, a 6’7”, 247 pound linebacker, lead the defense in sacks with 4 1/2 apiece. The Bears’ defense has posted 13 interceptions on the season. Safety Christian Morgan has 3 picks, and three others have 2 apiece.

Air Force

The Falcons are led by 5’11”, 215 pound running back Brad Roberts, who has rushed for 1,612 yards and 15 TDs. Running back John Lee Eldridge III has added 721 yards and 4 TDs. And athletic quarterback Haaziq Daniels has rushed for 675 yards and 7 TDs. The Academy, as per usual, leads the country in rushing averaging 330.9 yards per game. Daniels has completed 36 of 76 passes, 47%, for 733 yards, 6 TDs against 2 ints. His favorite target is David Cormier, who has caught 13 passes for 384 yards and 4 scores. Air Force doesn’t pass much, but Daniels is decently competent when called upon for that duty. Linebacker TD Blackmon (6’1”, 230) leads the defense in tackles with 67 and tackles for loss with 9 1/2 for -55 yards. He’s also posted 3 1/2 sacks for -32 yards. Safety Trey Taylor has added 66 tackles and is the co-leader on the defense with 2 ints. Safety Jayden Goodwin also has two picks. Linebacker Vince Sanford (6’1”, 225) leads the defense in sacks with 5 1/2 for -32 yards. The Falcons have 9 ints on the season and 22 sacks., along with 64 tackles for loss.

Final Decision

Baylor had a somewhat down year under Dave Aranda after winning the Big 12 Championship in 2021 with a 21-16 over Oklahoma State in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX., The Bears then defeated then No.8 Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, 21-7 and finished the year 12-2. Wow, what a season. The talent is on Baylor’s side, but the want to could be on Troy Calhoun and the Air Force side. Calhoun is going for his 5th, 10 win season at Air Force. He went 10-3 in 2014 and won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He went 10-3 in 2016 winning the Arizona Bowl. He went 11-2 in 2019 and won the Cheez-It Bowl. And in 2021, he went 10-3 and defeated Louisville in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, 31-28. So quite a resume. The Falcons are 6-5 in bowls under Calhoun. I like this prolific coach and his Academy squad to pull off the upset in Fort Worth.

Air Force 27, Baylor 24

Friday’s Previews/Predictions

Independence Bowl, 2 PM CT, ESPN

Louisiana (6-6) vs. Houston (7-5)

Houston by 7

Gaspirilla Bowl, 6:30 PM CT, ESPN

Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Missouri (6-6)

Wake by 2