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BYU Football: Why the Independence Bowl is fine

By Adam Gibby

Dec 26, 2019; Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; A overall view of the field before the game between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2019; Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; A overall view of the field before the game between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; UAB Blazers cornerback Starling Thomas V (4) breaks up a pass intended for Marshall Thundering Herd wide receiver Willie Johnson (1) during the fourth quarter at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; UAB Blazers cornerback Starling Thomas V (4) breaks up a pass intended for Marshall Thundering Herd wide receiver Willie Johnson (1) during the fourth quarter at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Not the Worst Opponent

If we are being 100% honest with ourselves, an 8-4 UAB is probably better than a 5-7 or 6-6 P5 team who lost most of their conference games. Maybe not all of them, but personally I’d take UAB over a team like Boston College or Louisville. Again, I’m not going to spin this and pretend that we should be hyped up about playing a CUSA team, but if we are looking at the full list of the 85 bowl eligible teams, UAB probably comes in somewhere in the middle of the pack. The perception seems to be that we are playing some 6-6 G5 from a small conference, which isn’t the case.

UAB actually has some decent games on their schedule including three wins over other bowl eligible teams, and only one loss against a team below .500. They also were a field goal away from overtime against UTSA.

Compare that to a team like Boston College who only had one win over a bowl eligible team and lost six of their final eight games, and you can see where I’m going with this.

Now let’s talk about the location and time.

Dec 26, 2019; Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; A overall view of the field before the game between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2019; Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; A overall view of the field before the game between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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