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While by no means a top-tier bowl, the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl features two conference champions and looks to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the entire bowl season. FAU Stadium’s scoreboard operator is going to earn their keep when Marshall and Northern Illinois square off in South Florida, as this one has the potential to be an absolute barn-burner.
Marshall is coming off a win in the C-USA title game and was a stop of an overtime two-point conversion by Western Kentucky away from going undefeated. While a trip to Boca Raton isn’t a bad consolation prize, it certainly isn’t what coach Doc Holliday and quarterback Rakeem Cato were hoping for a few weeks ago.
Still, the Thundering Herd had an impressive season, and Cato & Co. should be proud of what this Marshall team was able to accomplish this year. Marshall’s top flight offense can outscore just about anybody to make up for some of the defensive deficiencies that were exposed by the Hilltoppers and proved to be just big enough to derail the perfect season.
Northern Illinois is the king of “MAC-tion” once again after winning yet another MAC championship and comes into the bowl game riding high after dismantling Bowling Green in Detroit. Like Marshall, the Huskies’ offense can put up points in a hurry, as the team averages over 32 points per game behind an excellent rushing attack. If last week’s game against Bowling Green is any indication of how ready this Northern Illinois team is going into the bowl game, this could turn into a “last team with the ball wins” shootout.
Marshall quarterback Cato, a Miami native, comes home to play his final collegiate game in front of what promises to be a very favorable crowd, and that emotional boost should be enough to power the Herd past the Huskies. Expect a massive amount of points, with Marshall coming out on top.
Prediction: Marshall 54, Northern Illinois 48
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