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3 things to know for the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Need a brief primer before you attempt to watch all 40 bowl games this season? We’ve got you covered. Here are three things you need to know about the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
ZAXBY’s HEART OF DALLAS BOWL
Army (7-5) vs. North Texas (5-7)
Dec. 27, Noon ET
ESPN
– The Heart of Dallas Bowl is the only rematch of bowl season. The two teams played each other Oc. 22 and North Texas won 35-18 thanks to seven Army turnovers. Yes, seven.
Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw threw four interceptions while the Black Knights lost three fumbles. We say “lost,” because Army fumbled seven times in total. It was a bad, bad day.
The game dropped Army to 4-3 and moved North Texas to 4-3, meaning Army has finished the season 3-2 while North Texas went 1-4 to end the season. Though it’s worth noting that all five of UNT’s games came against teams who went to bowl games.
– Passing offense isn’t going to be a big thing in Tuesday’s game. Army runs the triple-option offense and five players have run for over 300 yards. Bradshaw, the team’s second-leading rusher, has thrown for 657 yards all season with four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Backup quarterback Alec Morris is slated to start for North Texas. Freshman QB Mason Fine took over in September as the team’s starter but missed the final two games of the season with a shoulder injury. Morris, a senior, is 79-147 passing for 822 yards and has thrown for six touchdowns and six interceptions in 2016.
– Army finished the season No. 4 in total defense. While the Black Knights’ defense has been good, the statistic is a bit misleading. Army is the only team in the top 50 to have faced less than 700 plays (677) this season. And Army’s rate of allowing 4.99 yards per play is nearly 0.75 yards more per play than No. 5 Ohio State.
North Texas’ defense, meanwhile, is nowhere near the top. The Mean Green have given up 6 yards a play and 5.12 yards a carry. Expecting a repeat of the October win vs. Army without a bunch of turnovers may be farfetched.
Mascot prediction: We’ll go with the black knight, as an eagle wouldn’t be able to break through the knight’s armor.
Real predictions
Graham Watson: North Texas 35, Army 17
Nick Bromberg: Army 31, North Texas 20
Sam Cooper: Army 28, North Texas 24
Chris Herbert: North Texas 24, Army 21
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
