The 2022 Quick Lane Bowl features the 6-6 New Mexico State Aggies against the 6-6 Bowling Green Falcons. Here is the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl preview.
New Mexico State Aggies (6-6)
New Mexico State won six games to make their first bowl game since 2017. They won a game over Liberty, which was their only win over a bowl-eligible team. The Aggies lost three games to teams who didn’t qualify for bowl games in Nevada, UTEP and Florida International.
The offense scores 25.6 points per game, which is 82nd in the country. The Aggies pass for 169.3 yards (ranked 120th) and rush for 154.9 yards per game (tied for 65th).
Diego Pavia and Gavin Frakes have both played at quarterback for the Aggies, but neither has been great. They combined for under 2,000 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on close to 50 percent completion. Four receivers have over 200 yards on the season. Justice Powers has been the leader with 19 receptions for 398 yards and one touchdown.
Three players have at least 300 rushing yards on the year. Star Thomas has 477 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Pavia has 443 yards and six touchdowns from the quarterback position. Jamoni Jones has had a decent backup running back with 368 yards and six touchdowns.
They allow 24.3 points per game, tying them for 52nd in the FBS. The defense gives up 155.8 rushing yards (ranked 75th) and 183.7 yards per game (ranked 13th). Linebacker Chris Ojo has led the team with 101 total tackles. Lazarus Williams paces the team with 7.5 sacks. In the secondary, Syrus Dumas has three passes defended and two interceptions.
Bowling Green Falcons (6-6)
Bowling green had six wins, which qualified them for their first bowl game since 2015. The Falcons won three games over bowl-eligible teams: Marshall, Miami (OH) and Toledo. They lost a game to Kent State and FCS-level Eastern Kentucky this season.
Their offense scores 23.8 points per game, ranking them 97th in the FBS. They pass for 236.8 yards (ranked 59th) and rush for 99.6 yards per game (ranked 121st).
Matt McDonald has started plenty of games over his Bowling Green career. He has passed for 2,639 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 61.3 percent completion this season. Six pass-catchers have over 200 receiving yards on the year. The leading receiver has been Odieu Hiliare with 54 catches for 704 yards and six touchdowns.
Two running backs have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. Jaison Patterson has 560 rushing yards and one touchdown. Behind him, Jamal Johnson has totaled 235 rushing yards.
Defensively, the Falcons give up 33.3 points per game, ranking them 116th in the country. They concede 163 rushing yards (ranked 86th) and 257.7 passing yards per game (ranked 103rd). Chris Bacon and DJ Tayler each have over 70 tackles on the year. Karl Brooks has been great rushing the passer with 10 sacks. Defensive Jordan Oladokun has seven passes defended to lead the secondary.
Prediction
Both of these teams have struggled this season, but Bowling Green has the better quarterback play. McDonald will lead the Falcons to victory.
Bowling Green Falcons 28 New Mexico State Aggies 24
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