The 2021 Bahamas Bowl is featuring the Middle Tennessee Blue Raider and the Toledo Rockets. Middle Tennessee finished the regular season at 6-6, just making it to bowl eligibility. Whereas the Rockets of Toledo ended the regular season 7-5. The Blue Raiders went 4-4 in Conference USA, with a back and forth season, barely able to get any momentum going. It was a similar story in Toledo with the Rockets going 5-3 in the MAC. This will be both teams’ second trip to the Bahamas but the first shot at playing each other.
2021 Bahamas Bowl: What to Know
The game is being played in Nassau, the Bahamas on Friday, December 16th at noon eastern time. Toledo enters the game as a 10-point favorite. The Blue Raiders appeared in the Bahamas Bowl in 2015, losing to Western Michigan 45-31. Middle Tennessee then went on to lose two of the next three bowl appearances and haven’t appeared in a bowl game since the 2018 loss in the New Orleans Bowl. 2018 was also the Blue Raiders’ last winning season. Finishing 2019 and 2020 below .500. They are looking to get back on track this year against a tough C-USA opponent. Toledo also had its last bowl appearance in 2018. The Rockets lost a close game to Florida International in the Bahamas Bowl. However, unlike Middle Tennessee, Toledo hasn’t had a losing season since 2009.
Something that both teams have in common? Both are gracious for the opportunity to play in the Bahamas. Both coaches shared these sentiments on Wednesday. Toledo head coach Jason Candle stated, “… Many of our players will never have the opportunity to leave the country and what a great way to do it at such a very influential time in their life…This is unlike any bowl game or any experience you can have playing a college football game. This is very unique…” Middle Tennessee head coach, Rick Stockstill echoed Candle, stating, “…Not everybody gets to do this. Like CJ and Reed said, most of our team had never been out of their hometowns. Now, to be able to come out of the country, it’s a very humbling experience.” In the ever-changing landscape of college football, it is refreshing to see this take on a bowl game experience.
Players to Watch
The defenses for both teams have been the shining spot in an up and down season. While both offenses have had their moments, it is the defenses that have held steady (for the most part). Even though Toledo’s offense leads the nation in the fewest turnovers, the quarterback play has been spotty. For Middle Tennessee, its quarterback, Chase Cunningham, went down with a season-ending leg injury against Southern Miss. Young quarterbacks Nicholas Vattatio and Mike DiLiello will lead the Blue Raiders in the Bahamas.
Toledo
Jamal Hines (Linebacker) – First Team All-MAC; team leader in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (9.5)
Tycen Anderson (Defensive Back) – First Team All-MAC; one forced fumble
Samuel Womack (Defensive Back) – First Team All-MAC; MAC leader with 14 passes defended
DeQuan Finn (Quarterback) – 1,862 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, one interception
Bryant Koback (Running Back) – leads MAC with 15 rushing touchdowns and 18 total touchdowns
Middle Tennessee
Reed Blankenship (Safety) – First Team All-C-USA; leads C-USA in total tackles with 106
Quincy Riley (Defensive Back) – First Team All-C-USA; leads NCAA in interceptions (five) and interception return yards (153)
Final Analysis
This is an interesting matchup, Toledo leads the nation in the fewest turnovers, but Middle Tennessee has the nation’s leader in interceptions. The Blue Raiders are looking to get to a winning season again, but Toledo wants to keep its three-game win streak alive. Both defenses will likely come out tough and it will come down to which offense can consistently move the ball downfield. In the end, Toledo has the edge with all-around consistency on both sides of the ball.
Courtesy of the Bahamas Bowl.
