One of many closing bowl video games exterior of the Faculty Soccer Playoff will deliver the highlight to probably the most distinctive video games in the complete postseason schedule. The Duke’s Mayo Bowl brings collectively two groups seeking to end the season robust, however most significantly, it additionally includes a mayo bathtub for the sport’s profitable coach.
This yr, the sport options Minnesota from the Massive Ten and Virginia Tech from the ACC, two groups that confirmed competitiveness with one of the best groups of their respective conferences once they had been at their finest but additionally some inconsistencies all through the season. The Golden Gophers gave Penn State one in every of their closest calls of the season in a 26-25 defeat in November and beat an Illinois crew that will go on to complete with 10 wins on the yr. The Hokies had their moments, additionally, like pushing Miami to the brink in a 38-34 thriller again in late September. If each groups deliver their finest, the outcome needs to be one other aggressive exhibiting in a bowl sport that is at all times brings the leisure.
After Friday night time’s Mayo Bowl, all that is left is a Bahamas Bowl on Saturday after which the conclusion of the Faculty Soccer Playoff with the semifinals on Jan. 9-10 and the championship sport on Jan. 20. One of the best time of the yr will probably be coming to an in depth, so let’s check out what it’s essential know to dive in on the conclusion of the bowl season.
Methods to watch Duke’s Mayo Bowl stay
Date: Friday, Jan. 3 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Financial institution of America Stadium — Charlotte, N.C.
TV: ESPN | Dwell stream: Fubo (Attempt at no cost)
Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech: Have to know
Virginia Tech’s depth will probably be examined: Whereas each crew within the bowl season has some roster fluctuation due to NFL Draft opt-outs, accidents and and the switch portal, the Hokies are lacking some key gamers on either side of the ball for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Beginning quarterback Kyron Drones will miss the sport with an harm, a number of All-ACC starters are going to be out on the defensive facet of the ball, together with second crew All-American defensive finish Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and 1,000-yard operating again Bhayshul Tuten is among the many offensive stars who’re opting out of the sport. These absences will take a look at the depth of Brent Pry’s crew, which is searching for to complete the yr with a bowl win for the second straight season.
Minnesota appears to increase its bowl streak: P.J. Fleck stands out amongst his friends when it comes to his potential to get ends in bowl video games, and Minnesota as a program is at present carrying the nation’s longest lively bowl profitable streak with seven bowl wins in a row. Fleck is answerable for 5 of these seven wins, carrying a 5-0 report in bowl video games because the Golden Gophers coach, and he is 6-2 total in bowl video games. The final time Minnesota misplaced a bowl sport was the Citrus Bowl on the finish of the 2014 season.
First-ever assembly between these two packages: Minnesota and Virginia Tech have by no means met on the soccer area, although P.J. Fleck did coach in opposition to the Hokies throughout his time as Western Michigan’s coach (a 35-17 Virginia Tech win in Blacksburg). The Golden Gophers are 20-14-1 all-time in opposition to ACC opponents, most lately taking a loss to North Carolina on this yr’s season opener.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl prediction, picks
Choosing in opposition to Fleck in bowl video games has not been worthwhile, and doing so on this spot could be investing a variety of religion in a Hokies crew that is with out lots of its finest items. Minnesota might need suffered from among the identical head-scratching outcomes all through the season, however its finest was higher and the bowl report is an X-factor to contemplate within the choose. Choose: Minnesota -7.5
SportsLine’s confirmed laptop mannequin is asking for 10 outright upsets throughout faculty soccer’s bowl and playoff season. Go to SportsLine now to see all of them, plus get unfold picks for each sport from the mannequin that simulates each matchup 10,000 instances.