WKU Football: Staff Predictions - 2021 Boca Raton Bowl
Tops are set to play App State. Who do we think will win?
This is it. The last Hilltopper football game of the year.
We’re definitely sad that it’s coming to an end but the Tops have a big test against Sun Belt runner up Appalachian State in Boca Raton to end a strong season.
For the last time until September of 2022, here are our predictions.
Matt McCay (10- 3)
WKU football is so hard to predict in some ways. A defense that sometimes shows weakness, but an offense that could win the game on its own against anyone. Then again, if WKU plays well against most teams, they’re winning. Period. So against this team, heck yeah they’re really good. But I think this is a bad matchup for App State. The Mountaineers are loaded at every position defensively for sure. They also have good players up front and at skill positions on offense. The kicker kicks anything under 48 yards like it’s nothing.
However, what is the one weakness for App. State? Quarterback play. QB Chase Brice only averages 230 yards per game. Talk about a contrast in production! Bailey Zappe nearly averages double Brice’s production. So what does that mean? It’s not like the guy is incapable, but he’s going to have to produce the game of his life to beat the Hilltoppers. Now, unfortunately for the Tops, that has happened far too often against the WKU defense. I still think when you look at percentages, WKU wins unless Appalachian State defies the odds and becomes elite in several areas offensively for one game.
I’ve got WKU: 43, Appalachian State: 25. WKU kicks five field goals and scores four touchdowns.
Alex Sherfield (8–5)
After one of the most arguably challenging seasons in recent memory, the Tops have a chance to close out the season with a bowl game win over App State. As they were conference runners up, this still is a team that shouldn’t be overlooked at the slightest.Â
The Mountaineers are expected to use Camerun Peoples and Nate Noel to split an impressive running game as they’re combined for almost 2,000 yards.Â
Nick Hampton has 10 sacks of the season along with the defense being led by D’Marco Jackson’s 114 tackles. Despite having a 7-2 conference record, they’ve only allowed 325 yards a game from their opponents.Â
Just like WKU, this is a well rounded ball club that can show up at a facet to take over the ball game. One thing that I’m very confident about is the passing game getting some early traction.Â
Give me WKU: 35, App State: 30.
Jacob Gary (6–5) — no Rice or Marshall prediction
Bailey Zappe needs 4 touchdowns. So what is Zach Kittley going to do for the man who followed him from Houston Baptist to Bowling Green? He’s going to get him the record. At least I think he is. Expect the playbook to open up on both sides for this bowl game and expect a thrilling action packed slug fest where each team scores touchdowns to match the other. Zappe is gunning for records and WKU’s defense won’t stop App State. Should be a good one folks.
WKU: 45, App State: 41.
Devin Stewart (9–4)
Short and sweet like always. Give me WKU: 52, App St: 45.
Sam Gormley (10-3)
I’ll go short and sweet and hope I’m wrong. App State 38-35.
Jared Rosdeutscher (11–2)
Still disappointed with how the C-USA title game ended but this is a very winnable game for the Tops.
Obviously App State is really good (they beat #14 Coastal Carolina this season and are 10-3 overall so this should be a close game). ESPN has App State as field goal favorites but I’m interested to see if their defense is good enough to slow down Bailey Zappe and the WKU offense.
This will be the first game football has played since the tornadoes hit and I commend App State so much for raising money to help with disaster relief as well as donate supplies and other necessities as well. But with that in mind, I still think WKU will use that as fuel to represent BGKY as well as they can on ESPN and play well.
This one is for western and south central Kentucky. Give me the Tops, 49-39 #BGStrong