Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Toledo vs. Florida International, Should Be Epic.
By Ty Duffy
Noteworthy: The Detroit Free Press claims this will be a battle between “high-octane offenses.” Florida International ranks 44th in total offense, Toledo is 79th.
The teams played in 2008 and 2009. FIU won the first game 35-16. Toledo won the second 41-31.
Playing on National TV will be kind of a big deal for FIU. The game drew a 2.6 last year, though wasn’t swinging dicks with Sunday Night Football.
This game is normally a Big Ten – MAC showdown. Alas, the Big Ten got two teams into the BCS. The bowl game’s claim over the 8th place Big Ten team fell to the ninth, Purdue. The Boilermakers finished 4-8.
People watching should be epic at this game. Toledo sold an astounding 5,000 of its 10,000 allotment for a game less than an hour from campus. At least 65 percent will be sporting some form of mullet or rat-tail. Dirt-staches, camouflage, it will be a party.
Key Matchup: Both teams have a speedy wide-out, returner all-purpose explosion type player. FIU’s T.Y. Hilton had 1,094 yards on 82 offensive touches with nine total touchdowns. Toledo’s Eric Page had 1,081 yards receiving on 94 catches. He caught eight touchdowns, returned three kicks for touchdowns and threw three touchdowns as a Wildcat quarterback as well. If one player has a better game, that may be the difference.
[Photo via Getty]