How to watch the Arizona Bowl, live stream: Air Force-South Alabama prediction, pick
TV channel, kickoff time and against the spread picks for the Arizona Bowl
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2 min read
An advanced note on the Arizona Bowl: When you can't find the game on your television menu -- the game will be carried locally by affiliates of the American Sports Network -- don't fret, just turn to the internet. The game will be delivered live on Facebook, Twitter and over-the-top devices by Campus Insiders.
Viewing information
Date: Friday, Dec. 30
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Arizona Stadium -- Tucson, Arizona
TV: American Sports Network [Channel finder | Affiliates]
Live streams: CampusInsiders.com | Twitter | Facebook |
Storylines
Air Force: While we were hung up on Army, Navy and the end of the longest losing streak in series history (congrats, Black Knights), Air Force came out of the 2016 season with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. It's the fourth time since 2010 the Falcons have won the trophy with outright wins against Army and Navy, and win No. 20 overall, the most in the series. Air Force also finished the season with five straight wins, a streak highlighted by a goal-line stand to beat Boise State 27-20 in the regular-season finale.
South Alabama: The season started on a great note with USA beating Mississippi State 21-20 in Starkville. That win, unexpected at the time, ended up being huge for Joey Jones and the Jags. At 6-6 with a 2-6 record in conference play, I'm not sure South Alabama gets invited to the postseason at 5-7. Another one of those wins came against Presbyterian in a game that would have otherwise been against LSU after the Florida-LSU game swap caused by the Hurricane Matthew postponement. This team, started in 2009 and officially in Sun Belt play for the first time in 2012, wants to make this second bowl trip in three years part of the program's routine moving forward. After a loss in the 2014 Camelia Bowl, the Jags are still searching for that program-defining win.
Players to watch
Weston Steelhammer, Air Force LB: His name will draw your attention if this is your first time with Air Force, but his play backs up everything you'd imagine. Air Force has been so lucky to have Steelhammer, recently named a first-team all-conference after pulling down six interceptions (No. 6 in FBS), making him the NCAA active career leader with 17 picks. He's listed as a strong safety but plays all over the field and leads the team in tackles (75), so it shouldn't take long to start paying attention to Steelhammer.
Gerald Everett, South Alabama TE: Everett just became the first individual in program history to be named first-team all-conference in multiple years, collecting first-team All-Sun Belt honors and ranking among the top five tight ends in the country in both catches (49) and receiving yards (717). Running back and return man Xavier Johnson is also worth keeping an eye on for USA.
Prediction
Air Force has a lot of advantages in this matchup, according to my baseline ratings of both teams. A two-score win should be easy and it could turn into a runaway Falcons win if the Jaguars can't stop the run. Troy Calhoun has coached the Falcons in a bowl game at the end of nine of his 10 seasons, trust him to leave no stone unturned in the preparation process. Pick: Falcons -13.5
