Article Written By: Justin Pollock
When: Monday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, Fla.
Watch: ESPN
Over/Under: 62 points
Spread: East Carolina (-14)
Monday, December 23, at 2:00 p.m. ET we are going to witness the Ohio Bobcats (7-5, 4-4 MAC) and the East Carolina Pirates (9-3, 6-2 C-USA) go to battle in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.
History
The Bobcats come into this bowl with a overall record of 7-5 (as stated above). The biggest win of the season for the Bobcats was against a 9-4 team of Marshall which the Bobcats won 34-31. Their biggest loss of the season was against a 4-8 team of Kent State which the Bobcats loss 44-13.
As for the Pirates of East Carolina they have both an impressive win and a disappointing loss. Week 5 the pirates managed to escape Chapel Hill and get a victory over the 6-6 Tar Heels 55-31. Their most disappointing loss was in OT against Tulane which they lost 36-33.
These programs have met each other only twice before this game, once in the 1996 season and the other in 1998, both of those games were won by the Pirates.
The Pirates are 5-8 all time in bowl games, their last bowl game was last year which they lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans bowl.
The Bobcats are not much better in the bowl history section as they’re 2-5 all time, last year they lost to Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl.
Impact Players
The top players to watch in this bowl game are Senior QB Tyler Tettleton for the Ohio Bobcats and for the Pirates keep an eye out for QB Shane Carden
Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
QB Tyler Tettleton is having a mediocre year throwing for 2,623 yards and 20 touchdowns, but he also has 9 interceptions under his belt. He is the leader of the 58th ranked passing offense in the FBS averaging only 238.5 passing yards per game. Tyler Tettleton is going throw against the 24th ranked defense in FBS who is only allowing 363.7 total yards per game.
Video by: College Football Live
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
QB Shane Carden for East Carolina has been the commander and chief of the 37th ranked offense averaging 459.8 total yards per game. Shane Carden has put up impressive numbers this season as a Junior airing out the ball for 3,866 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Video by: ECUAthletics
Prediction
I think that East Carolina is just too athletic for the Bobcats, but the Bobcats are going to be on the Pirates’ heels all game. With Frank as head coach of the Bobcats be ready for some trick plays in this game as it should be a close one.
East Carolina: 49-40