Armed Forces Bowl 2015: California vs. Air Force TV Schedule, Time and Odds
The 2015 Armed Forces Bowl Tuesday might just have the answer to what can stop Jared Goff when the California Golden Bears encounter the Air Force Falcons.
Air Force won eight games this year behind a run-heavy approach that has the potential to give Goff fits—by keeping him holding a clipboard on the sideline as an observer.
The Golden Bears got off to a hot start this year behind the record-breaking Goff, but they managed only seven wins after hitting on a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season.
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It's statement time for both programs as one of bowl season's more interesting pairings of contrasting styles unfolds. Here's a look at everything to know about Tuesday's contest.
Game Details
When: Tuesday, December 29, at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Television: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Over/Under: 67.5
Spread: California (-7)
Team Injury Reports
| Jack Austin | WR | Ques Tues |
| Michael Barton | LB | Out Tues |
| Griffin Piatt | S | Ques Tues |
| Damariay Drew | S | Prob Tues |
| Daniel Lasco | RB | Prob Tues |
| Jaylinn Hawkins | CB | Out indefinitely |
| Aisea Tongilava | LB | Out indefinitely |
| D.J. Johnson | RB | Out indefinitely |
| David Harris | DL | Out indefinitely |
| Nate Romine | QB | Out for season |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
Farewell Game?
This might be it for Goff, who slowly but surely continues to become a household name as those in NFL draft circles continue to tout his abilities.
And why not? Goff threw for 4,252 yards and 37 touchdowns this year, breaking his own school records while completing 64.2 percent of his passes with just 13 interceptions.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun spoke on the challenge Goff presents, according to ESPN.com:
"Remarkable player. Tremendous arm. Accurate passer. A guy that gets it down the field. A guy that's got great, great feel in the pocket. He makes in-rhythm throws, yet at the same time it's the things that he does that drives you absolutely nuts that are out of design and create a little more space and bigger plays.
"
While Goff didn't have enough to overcome a defense that managed to cough up 141 points during the aforementioned four-game skid, a pair of losses to Top 11 teams isn't something to complain much about in the grand scheme of things.
The key for California Tuesday is ensuring the streaky defense from the skid doesn't rear its head again and let the Air Force offense stay on the field and dictate how the game unfolds.
It's a task easier said than done, though, so Goff will have to be at his absolute best with the world watching.
Masking the Weaknesses
There isn't much that can compensate for multiple major weaknesses in the sport of football, but Air Force has its ground game.
The Air Force running game can help make up for a struggling defense most of the time. Quarterback Karson Roberts might have just nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions on the season, but his role in the ground game puts him right alongside top back Jacobi Owens on the rushing list.
As expected, the rushing list is rather expansive:
| Jacobi Owens | 186 | 1009 | 5.4 | 65 | 6 |
| Karson Roberts | 152 | 674 | 4.4 | 51 | 9 |
| D.J. Johnson | 82 | 425 | 5.2 | 34 (TD) | 6 |
| Timothy McVey | 45 | 397 | 8.8 | 61 (TD) | 9 |
| Bryan Driskell | 48 | 332 | 6.9 | 54 | 0 |
| Shayne Davern | 46 | 323 | 7.0 | 60 (TD) | 4 |
| Benton Washington | 55 | 321 | 5.8 | 20 | 4 |
There have been exceptions, though. Air Force had to try to slow then-No. 4 Michigan State's Connor Cook earlier this year and came up short in 35-21 fashion while Cook tossed four scores, although the Falcons did manage 279 rushing yards on the strong unit.
A week after, 204 rushing yards and a score didn't stand a chance against Navy's Keenan Reynolds and his 300 total yards in a 33-11 whipping.
Still, Air Force can clearly run on top teams such as Michigan State, which gives it a fighting chance if the time-of-possession battle is up for grabs and the defense can force a few stops.
Prediction
Las Vegas doesn't seem to think this one will be too close.
It's hard to argue with a player like Goff on the field and how Air Force fared against Cook. The Falcons won't have many issues running on the Golden Bears, but Goff's going to make the most of his every minute on the field against a weak defense.
Keep in mind, too, that Air Force is 2-5 on the road this year. It's a discouraging trend for a team with a clear recipe to upend someone such as Goff but without the proven execution.
Goff's going to cruise in this one as he explodes in what might be a final college audition before declaring for the pros.
Prediction: California 38, Air Force 27
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.
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