The first matchup involving a MAC team in the bowl season is on Tuesday, when the Akron Zips travel down to Boca Raton to take on the Conference USA champion FAU Owls in their home stadium.
The Owls went 10-3 in 2017, including a torrid 8-0 in-conference on their way to the bowl season, completing a dream season in Lane Kiffin’s first year at the helm. THey get the chance to end things on an exclamnation mark in front of a “de facto” home crowd against Akron.
The Zips had a bit bumpier ride to get to Boca, going 7-6 in 2017, including 6-3 in the MAC to finish as a runner-up to earn their bowl bid.