The 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl features the 7-5 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers against the 6-6 Old Dominion Monarchs. Here is the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl Preview.
Western Kentucky won seven games to make their fifth-straight bowl game. They defeated one bowl-eligible team this season: USF. The Hilltoppers only lost games to teams who qualified for bowl games.
Their offense scores 29.8 points per game, which ranks them 52nd in the country. They pass for 287.9 yards (ranked 17th) and rush for 108.1 yards per game (ranked 117th).
Austin Reed is in the second season as Western Kentucky’s starting quarterback. He passed for 3,340 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 61.5 percent completion. Five receivers have over 200 yards on the season. The standout is Malachi Corley, who has 75 catches for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Hilltoppers have rotated running backs, as three have over 200 yards. Elijah Young leads the team with 460 yards and three touchdowns. Markese Stepp has chipped in with 310 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hilltoppers allow 28.2 points per game, which ranks 84th in the country. They give up 189.5 rushing yards (ranked 120th) and 238.6 passing yards per game (ranked 87th). Defensive back Talique Allen has led the team with 50 tackles. Kendrick Simpkins has totaled 7.5 sacks this season to lead the team. Anthony Johnson Jr. has impressed with five passes defended and three interceptions.
Old Dominion won six games to go to their first bowl game since 2021. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season: Louisiana, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State. The only loss they suffered to a team that didn’t make a bowl game was to Wake Forest.
The Monarchs score 22.9 points per game, which ranks 100th in the country. They rush for 150 yards (ranked 76th) and pass for 200.8 yards per game (ranked 97th).
Grant Wilson has been the starting quarterback for the Monarchs this season. He has passed for 2,026 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 56.9 percent completion. Five pass-catchers have over 200 yards for Old Dominion. Raymello Murphy and Kelby Williams have led the team in receiving with 495 and 428 yards respectively. Javon Harvey has a team-high four touchdown catches.
Three running backs have over 200 rushing yards this season. Kadarius Calloway leads the team with 594 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Keshawn Wicks has been right behind him with 552 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The Monarchs allow 26.3 points per game, ranking them 63rd in the country. They give up 147.4 rushing yards (ranked 56th) and 238.2 passing yards per game (ranked 85th). Jason Henderson, Wayne Matthews III and Trey Jones each have over 100 tackles this season for Old Dominion. Henderson leads the team in sacks with 4.5. Cornerback Rasheed Reason had seven passes defended and one interception.
Western Kentucky has a great passing offense and that will be able to shine against Old Dominion. Austin Reed and Malachi Corley can have huge games and lead the Hilltoppers to victory.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 32 Old Dominion Monarchs 28
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