As the college football season wraps up, Illinois is set to face Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM. This matchup presents an opportunity for Illinois to secure its ninth win of the season.
In terms of statistics, Illinois faces challenges on defense, ranking 122nd in third down percentage. The team has allowed opponents to convert 44.7% of the time. On the other hand, Tennessee is performing well offensively, ranking 9th with a 50.3% conversion rate on third downs. Additionally, Tennessee averages 55.6 penalty yards per game, placing them 76th in the FBS, while Illinois ranks 21st with an average of 41.1 yards.
Another notable statistic is time of possession. Tennessee stands at 128th in the FBS with an average of 27:24, while Illinois ranks 50th with 30:30. These figures highlight the contrasting styles of play between the two teams.
Earlier in the day, the Independence Bowl will showcase Coastal Carolina against Louisiana Tech at 1 PM. Coastal Carolina struggles with third down conversions, sitting at 117th with a 34.3% success rate. In contrast, Louisiana Tech boasts a strong turnover margin, ranked 12th with +9, while Coastal Carolina is slightly behind at +1, placing them 68th in the FBS.
When it comes to penalties, Louisiana Tech averages 74.8 yards per game, ranking them 136th, while Coastal Carolina averages 52.4 yards, good for 61st in the FBS. Defensively, Louisiana Tech excels in red zone situations, allowing teams to score on 74.3% of their red zone trips, ranking 14th in the FBS. Coastal Carolina, however, is struggling with time of possession, averaging 27:59, placing them 120th.
Later in the evening, the Alamo Bowl features USC and TCU at 8 PM. Both teams are efficient on third downs, with USC ranking 5th in the FBS, converting 52.1% of their opportunities. TCU follows closely in 22nd place with a 46.8% conversion rate.
However, TCU”s red zone offense is currently underperforming, sitting at 101st with a scoring rate of 79.6%. In contrast, USC”s defense in the red zone is impressive, ranked 8th, allowing only 71.1% of red zone trips to end in scores. This matchup promises to be exciting as both teams aim to end their seasons on a high note.
