Even whereas the SWAC has grown and the MEAC dropped in membership, the previous simply can’t appear to win the annual Celebration Bowl between the 2 FCS conferences composed of HBCU applications.
Florida A&M, which departed the MEAC for the SWAC in 2021, hopes to take issues into its personal arms on Saturday. The SWAC champion Rattlers and MEAC champ Howard will sq. off of their first appearances within the eighth renewal of the season-ending bowl.
The MEAC leads 6-1 within the bowl, profitable 5 straight instances since Grambling State posted the SWAC’s solely triumph in 2016. In every of the previous two years, SWAC champ Jackson State was upset as a double-figure favourite.
Following is a preview capsule of the Celebration Bowl. The winner is often acknowledged because the HBCU nationwide champion.
Cricket Celebration Bowl: Howard (6-5) vs. Florida A&M (11-1)
Kickoff – Midday ET Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (ABC)
Collection – Florida A&M leads 27-11 (final assembly: FAMU received 39-7 at house on Nov. 16, 2019)
Coaches – Howard: Larry Scott (14-21, fourth season; 18-23 general); Florida A&M: Willie Simmons (44-13, fifth season; 65-24 general)
3 Gamers to Watch – Howard: QB Quinton Williams (178 of 298, 2,158 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs; 110 rush yards, 5 TDs), LT Anim Dankwah (6-foot-8, 362 kilos; two-time All-MEAC first staff), S Kenny Gallop Jr. (58 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 pressured fumbles, 1 fumble restoration); Florida A&M: QB Jeremy Moussa (195 of 339, 2,604 yards, 19 TDs, 8 INTs), LB Isaiah Main (100 tackles, 11.5 TFL, INT, fumble restoration, 5 QB hurries), DE Anthony Dunn Jr. (43 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 8 QB hurries)
Notable – Ten of FAMU’s 11 wins are by 10-plus factors; Howard is extra accustomed to tight finishes, going 3-3 in video games determined by seven or fewer factors. Every staff boasts a powerful protection, with SWAC champ FAMU ranked second within the FCS in each fewest factors (14.2) and yards (267.3) allowed per recreation, and MEAC champ Howard No. 1 in fewest passing yards per recreation (129.5). Howard, although, is 0-4 when it’s allowed 175+ speeding yards, so the Rattlers will use runs by Terrell Jennings (605 yards, 9 TDs) to attempt to arrange passes by Moussa (SWAC offensive participant of the 12 months) to Marcus Riley (832 receptions, 570 yards, 5 TDs) and Jah’Marae Sheread (46-441-2). Williams has 7,547 profession passing yards, however the Bison wish to attempt to set up the run with Jarrett Hunter (602 yards, eight TDs) and breakaway threats Eden James and Ian Wheeler. Gallop and Main received their respective convention’s defensive participant of the 12 months award. The particular groups could possibly be simply that: Howard’s Aaron Bickerton is 8-for-8 on discipline objectives and has gained honest catches on 16 of his 39 punts (40.9-yard common), whereas FAMU’s Trey Wilhoit (punter) and Sheread (punt returner) are previous All-Individuals. FAMU is +5 in turnover margin (20 gained, 15 misplaced); Howard +1 (eight, 9).
Prediction – Florida A&M 29, Howard 20
