The military academies have their own bowl-contest opportunity. The nation’s capital is the venue of the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, being played in the shadow of the Pentagon.

In this year’s edition of the game, the U.S. Air Force Academy will be making its debut in this bowl game as it represents the military against MAC power Toledo.

These two schools have never squared off before on the gridiron.

The latest Miliatry Bowl odds show Toledo as a 3-point favorite, while the total sits at 70 points.

Toledo

After a 1-3 start, Toledo came back with seven victories in its final eight games to tie Northern Illinois for the MAC West Division title (7-1). Most recently, the Rockets recorded road victories over Central Michigan (44-17) and Ball State (45-28) en route to a 4-2 record on the road (winning the last four).

The Rocket offense rates a strong eighth in the nation in points scored (42 points per contest), gaining 493 yards per game (272 through the air, 221 via the run). Adonis Thomas and Morgan Williams anchor the running attack with a combined 1,634 yards and 22 touchdowns on 5.8 yards per attempt.

Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin have combined to connect on 68 % of their passes for 3,210 yards and 30 TDs with just six picks. The offensive line has allowed nine sacks. Eric Page is one of the national receiving leaders with 112 grabs (76 more than anyone else on the team) for 1,123 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Toledo lists just 89th in the country in points allowed (31 ppg), allowing 401 yards per game (278 via the pass, 123 via the run) while compiling 22 sacks and forcing 28 turnovers – three of which were returned for touchdowns (Dan Molls and Robert Bell, two fumbles; Jermaine Robinson, pick).

Desmond Marrow leads this defense with 78 stops and three picks, while Bell has 70 tackles to go with a team-best four forced fumbles, a team-high three recoveries, an interception and a sack. Ben Pike has five sacks, 11 tackles and a forced fumble, with Molls recording three fumble recoveries and 58 tackles.

Air Force

The Falcons won four of their last five contests to end up fifth in the conference (3-4) and to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight year with a 2-0 record vs. Army and Navy. Most recently, Air Force notched victories over UNLV (45-17) and Colorado State (45-21). The Falcons are 3-2 away from home, winning the last two.

With one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, Air Forced rates 22nd in the nation in offense (34 ppg) while racking up 459 yards per game (320 rushing, 139 passing).

The triple-option attack is led by the three prongs – Asher Clark (1,036 yards, six TDs, 7.3 yards per attempt), Mike Dewitt (543 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.9 ypc) and Tim Jefferson (492, 10, 3.5 ypc), while Jefferson completes 61 percent of his passes for 1,478 yards and 12 touchdowns with six INTs. The offensive line has surrendered nine sacks. Jonathan Warzeka and Zack Kauth anchor the receiving corps with 55 grabs for 935 yards and seven scores.

Defensively, Air Force ranks 67th in the nation in points given up (27 ppg), surrendering 391 yards per contest (228 rushing, 163 through the air) while recording 17 sacks and forcing 24 turnovers.

Brady Amack paces the defense with 125 total stops (36 more than any other player), adding a team-best four forced fumbles, one sack and a fumble recovery. Alex Means has six sacks, 71 stops, three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, two fumble recoveries and an pick, while Davis has four picks, 89 stops, a forced fumble and recovery.

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