Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: North Carolina A&T Aggies at Grambling State Tigers
Third Celebration Bowl Bring First Two Winners Together
The 2017- 18 college football bowl season kicks off tomorrow at 12 p.m. E.T. with a matchup between the North Carolina A&T Aggies (11-0) and the Grambling State Tigers (11-1). The Aggies took the MEAC title and have not played in four weeks. The Tigers won the SWAC championship, beating Alcorn State on Dec 2. Our NC A&T plays Grambling 2017 Celebration Bowl pick offers NC A&T at -7.0 and the over/under at 51.5 points.
North Carolina A&T Overview
The Aggies feature quarterback Lamar Raynard. He’s a dynamic presence on the field and has passed for 2,875 yards while tossing 29 total touchdowns. With Raynard at the helm, NC A&T is averaging 36.4 points per game. Along with having a highly talented and skilled QB, the Aggies also possess a very tough defense. The D has allowed on average just 12.3 points per game. Plus they are giving up a total of only 251.4 yards per game. This is a club that is plus-16 on turnovers.
Aggies Summary
- Quality QB
- Stingy defense
- Rested or rusty?
Grambling State Overview
The Tigers are averaging 32.7 PPG. Senior quarterback DeVante Kincade is a major force on the field. In playing with Grambling State for two seasons since transferring, he’s tossed 52 touchdown passes and just 17 picks. For two years running he’s been SWAC offensive player of the year. Plus, RB Martez Carter is a resourceful rusher and top receiver. The dual-threat is tough to stop. At the same time, the Tiger D has been effective despite being inexperienced, but it is not nearly as potent as NC A&T.
Tigers Summary
- Top QB
- Aggressive rush attack
- Defense not as strong as last season
Three Celebration Bowl Takeaways
Our NC A&T plays Grambling 2017 Celebration Bowl pick includes these three takeaways:
- Aggie’s D is stingier than Tiger’s
- Tiger offense has an edge
- Aggies may be a tad rusty and slow
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl Picks
Both teams have been to this bowl before and both have won it. In its first year, which was 2015, the Aggies took down the Celebration Bowl 41-34 over Alcorn State, while last year, Grambling State won 10-9 over North Carolina Central. Our NC A&T plays Grambling 2017 Celebration Bowl pick is the Aggies at -7.0. We also like the over at 51.5.
NC A&T at Grambling State Pick Summary- NC A&T at -7.0 and over 51.5
