Military Bowl

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

This year's Military Bowl features not exactly the sexiest matchup of the bowl season, but it does present an interesting clash in styles, as well as the absence of defense on either side. As a result, plan on much scoring to ensue in the 2011 Military Bowl. As the two teams embark on the final game of their season, we take a look back on how they each earned the right to freeze at RFK stadium on December 29th.

We Are All Here Because They Are Not Good Enough To Be Here!

The word on the college football street was that Navy was the pre determined team to represent the services academy in the Military Bowl in 2011. However, due to an apparent attack of futility on the gridiron, the Midshipmen will be home in Annapolis for the Holidays, or most likely hitting up pretty Co-eds in each of their own towns of upbringing. The loss to San Jose State on November 29th sealed that fate for the Midshipmen. The cadets of Army did not even qualify for bowl this year (A team must have at least 6 wins against Division I-A opponents). Hence, the Air Force Academy, with their bruising running attack takes their place as the military representative in the event.

Toledo brings an 8-4 record and a second place finish from the MAC conference into the game. They have won seven out of their last 8 games and feature a stellar offense. They have arrived at this point via ACC Champion Virginia Tech being selected to the Sugar Bowl, which, then resulted in the North Carolina Tar Heels being picked to play in the Indolence Bowl against Missouri.

The Matchup

Since neither team likes to play defense, this could be one of those handful of games you watch during the bowls season where whoever has the ball last will win. Air Force averages 27 points per game on offense, while Toledo gives up a very gracious 30 points per game on defense. Toledo went with a two QB system until the final two games of the season. Austin Dantin, who has been hurt since the final two games of the season, threw for 1, 398 yards and 15 touchdowns. Terrance Owens, the other part to the QB equation for Toledo, has thrown for 1, 812 yards, as well as 15 TD's. These two guys threw to junior Wide Receiver Eric Page most of the time. The explosive and athletic receiver had a season high 5 TD's and 149 receiving yards against Northern Illinois earlier in the year.

In keeping with the service academy tradition, Air Force tends to go mostly to the ground. But with Toledo's poor defense, this could prove tiring for Toledo. Asher Clark, Air Force's leading rusher is bruising, though not an explosive runner. He rushed for 1,096 yards this season, but only 6 touchdowns. They will need their other players in the backfield to step up in this game, as they are without their best WR, Drew Coleman. Additionally, their only real threat on defense, Linebacker Jordan Waiwalole is out for this game.

The game will no doubt hinge on whose offense will control the tempo. Will it be Toledo's passing game, or Air Force's running game?

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

The EagleBank Bowl located in Washington, DC is one of the newest bowls on the NCAA college football bowl schedule. The game takes place in the RFK stadium in Washington DC and was created by the Washington DC in late 2006 by the Washington DC Bowl Committee. One year later the Washington DC Bowl Committee gained the full support of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation.

The series has a rotating agreement in the first five years of existence. For the inaugural EagleBank Bowl the two invited conferences were the ACC and Navy. Navy is considered a big draw in the Washington DC area. The game's first two participants were the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Navy Midshipmen. It was was the first bowl game to be played on the 2008 NCAA college football bowl schedule.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated the Navy Midshipmen, defeating them 29-19. The game was a rematch from earlier in the season. A game in which Riley Skinner, the Wake Forest quarterback, threw four interceptions and lost 24-17. The rematch looked like more of the same as Navy came out loaded for bear, opening up by scoring the first 13 points until quarterback Riley Skinner rallied the Demon Deacons.

Skinner lead a late drive in the second quarter to score Wake Forest's first points and then came out of the locker room to score on the first drive of the third quarter to take the lead. Both teams traded scores once more and then the Demon Deacons finished the job. Running back Rich Belton broke off a 35 yard run and scored the game clinching touchdown. The games first MVP was Riley Skinner of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, redeeming himself for the loss to Navy earlier in the season.

The second EagleBank Bowl featured the Mid-American Conference versus an at large team. The EagleBank Bowl chose the UCLA Bruins from the Pac 12 to take on the Mid-American Conference representative, Temple. The game was another spirited confrontation that led to a UCLA victory over Temple, 30-21.

The game was played in frigid, below freezing weather December 29th, 2009. The UCLA Bruins struggled to defeat the Temple Owls and the key play of the game was a two yard interception return by Akeem Ayers the UCLA linebacker. The interception led to Akeem Ayers winning the MVP Award. The UCLA Buins held the EagleBank Trophy, a trophy with a silver football atop of a wooden plaque, in the aftermath of hard fought second EagleBank Bowl. At Allpro we'll have all kinds of wagers for the holiday bowl season, which include props for bowl game MVPs an player performance for best QB or WR. The NFL MVP odds are also at an interesting point at this time of the year. If you need a break from the college bowls we also have hundreds of NFL odds for each every weekend.

The next three EagleBank Bowls will feature three different match ups. The 2010 EagleBank Bowl will showcase the ACC versus Conference USA, the 2011 version presents Navy versus the ACC and the 2012 EagleBank Bowl will feature the ACC versus the Army. The last scheduled EagleBank Bowl at this time will be in 2013 with the ACC taking on a Big 12 school.

Although in their infancy, the EagleBank Bowl Committee has created the beginnings of a Washington DC tradition. The attendance has been lacking in the first two games but weather has played a factor in both games.

Don't forget we have pro football game previews as well for all the best divisional matchups and all games each week like the Ravens vs Browns, the Dolphins vs Jets, the Chargers vs Broncos. The EagleBank Bowl Betting and Game Preview will become available when the matchup is set. We'll have many EagleBank Bowl odds to cover all aspects of the game. All bowl games are setup at the end of the regular NCAA football season.