The Complete EagleBank Bowl Guide: Wake Forest vs. Navy

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Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-5) vs. Navy (8-4)

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 11:00 AM ET

RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Spread: -3

How they got here...

Navy got here; well, because they're the Naval Academy. This is the inaugural EagleBank Bowl and being that the game is held in our nation's capital, the organizers were more than happy to invite the Independent Midshipmen team. 

Wake Forest finished a dismal third (three-way tie) in the ACC Atlantic Division, getting the early bowl bid.

Statistically speaking...

This is a much-anticipated (if you live in Winston-Salem) rematch of a game played in late September in which Navy handed the Deacons their first loss of the season. Wake Forest had high hopes of success in a shallow ACC conference this year, but proved that they can't hold water either. 

Navy has been playing good football against bad teams. Their most impressive win was against this Wake Forest team and they were handed losses at the hands of Notre Dame and Duke. However, they have been playing defense well, having not been scored on since the Notre Dame game on Nov. 15.

Wake Forest wins if...

...quarterback Riley Skinner throws to the right team. In their previous game, Skinner threw four interceptions. Besides that, he was 26/40 for 270 yards and a touchdown. 

The WF defense also needs to contain Navy's wishbone offense, and not give up the yards on the ground that they did back in September.

Navy wins if...

...they run, run, run. The Midshipmen led college football with 298.3 rushing yards per game. Running back Eric Kettani racked up 175 yards against Wake Forest in the first meeting.

B/R Expert Picks...

Trey Bradley: Wake Forest

Lisa Horne: Navy

Mitch: Wake Forest

Brian Scott: Wake Forest

David Wunderlich: Navy

Justin Goar:  Navy

GeorgiaDawg: Wake Forest

Michael Cline: Wake Forest