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Armed Forces Bowl 2012: Rice vs. Air Force game preview, location, history and more

The ground game is expected to dominate when Rice and Air Force square off in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

The 2012 NCAA bowl season continues Saturday morning with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl as the Rice Owls and Air Force Falcons square off in Fort Worth, TX.

Expect a lot of running in this game. Rice finished the season ranked 29th in the country with an average of over 201 yards per game. As impressive as that is, it pales in comparison to the 328.8 rush yards per game the Falcons averaged on the year, good for second in the country. The Falcons' ground game is led by senior Cody Getz, who rushed for 1213 yards and nine touchdowns this season despite missing two games due to injury. The Owls' running game is anchored by the combo of junior Charles Ross and quarterback Taylor McHargue. Ross led the Owls in rushing with 743 yards on the season, but McHargue wasn't far behind, amassing 628 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

While the two teams both have 6-6 records, their seasons went in opposite directions. As Jeremy Mauss of Mountain West Connection notes, the Owls come in to Saturday's game winners of five or their last six, while Air Force lost three of their last four games.

Despite the Falcons' slide to end the season, they are still favored in this game. Part of that reasoning may have to do with a victory over Nevada earlier this year and the fact that they took Michigan down to the wire in Ann Arbor in the second week.

Game date and time

December 29, 10:45 a.m. CT

Location

Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

Spread

Air Force favored by 2 points.

TV schedule

ESPN

Watch online

WatchESPN.com

Radio schedule

ESPN Radio

Last year’s game

The BYU Cougars defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 24-21.

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