Our 2012 bowl predictions continue on Thursday, December 27th with the Military Bowl, and we are set to make our Military Bowl predictions, tips, and keys to the game for the duel between the San Jose State Spartans and the Bowling Green Falcons.

2012 Military Bowl: San Jose State Spartans vs. Bowling Green Falcons
2012 Military Bowl Location: RFK Stadium, Washington DC
2012 Military Bowl Date/Time: Thursday, December 27th, 3:00 p.m. (ET)
2012 Military Bowl On TV: ESPN, Watch ESPN

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012-13 Bowl Game Schedule And Other Bowl Game Previews

Key #1: Bene Benwikere and the Spartans ‘D’ has to make some big plays
The Spartans have had some troubles over the course of the year stopping some of the higher octane offenses that the nation has had to offer. Granted, we do recognize the fact that this ‘D’ did allow just 21.4 points per game this year, but conceding 43 to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and 34 to the San Diego State Aztecs does raise an eyebrow or two. DB Bene Benwikere did pick off seven passes this year, leading a secondary that tied for 23rd in the nation with 15 INTs on the campaign, and the team forced a stunning 31 turnovers in just 12 games. A lot of those turnovers came against some of the miserable teams in the WAC though, and Benwikere and the SJSU defense has to be able to make some of these big plays against an offense that has been known to turn the ball over. QB Matt Schilz alone tossed 12 interceptions in 2012.

Military Bowl Odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook
San Jose State Spartans -7.5
Bowling Green Falcons +7.5
Over/Under 44
Click Here to Bet Your Military Bowl Picks!

Key #2: The Bowling Green defensive backs have to contain the passing attack
The Falcons allowed just 173.0 yards per game this year, so they know what it takes to be able to slow down some solid passing games. None of the quarterbacks that have been seen this year though, have had nearly as good of a year as QB David Fales has had. Not only does Fales have 31 TD passes, and not only does he have 3,797 passing yards already, but he has been incredibly efficient as well. Fales has completed 72.1 percent of his passes, and he has averaged 9.3 yards per pass attempt. More important might be the fact that both WR Noel Grigsby and WR Ryan Otten both averaged at least 16 yards per catch this year. That’s a heck of a lot of big time plays, and it almost seems expected that these two are going to figure out how to get the job done. Still, those big plays have to be limited, or the MAC reps are in some big time trouble.

Key #3: The Falcons can’t get killed in special teams
The third phase game is most certainly advantage to the Spartans. K Austin Lopez knocked in 15-of-16 field goals on the campaign, and he is just four points shy of 100 for the season. P Harrison Waid averaged 42.4 yards per punt, while as a team, San Jose State averaged 26.3 yards per kickoff return. Bowling Green has had kicking problems all year long, knocking down just 7-of-15 field goals along the way. K Stephen Stein is the short range kicker, as he only has kicks made from 26-yards and further in this year, while K Tyler Tate has just five field goals, none of which have been longer than 42 yards. The punting game has averaged a solid 41.8 yards per game, but the kickoff return game has averaged just 18.6 yards per kick return. This really doesn’t bode well for the Falcons, and they have to keep this game remotely close in the special teams battle if they want to cover the Military Bowl odds.

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