2016 Bahamas Bowl, ODU vs. EMU: Date, time, location, and everything to know

The Popeyes Bahama Bowl — among the most bowl game bowl games that has ever existed — will be held this winter for the third time.

The game got started in 2014, with a 49-48 barnburner that Western Kentucky won against Central Michigan. It continued with lots more scoring in 2015, when Western Michigan took a 45-31 decision against Middle Tennessee State.

A bowl game in the Bahamas and sponsored by a fried chicken establishment deserves offense, and this one’s gotten it. In the bowl’s eight quarters all time, offenses have produced 2,309 yards of total offense. One team has had fewer than 600 yards of total offense in a game, and none has gone below 440.

So if you like points, you ought to absolutely love this sort of bowl game. The biggest drawback? It’s December, and it’s probably cold where you are. Looking at guys scoring touchdowns in the Bahamian climate might make you regret being where you are.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl:

Date and time: Dec. 23, 1 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Location: Nassau, Bahamas

Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium

Last year’s score: Western Michigan 45, MTSU 31

Last year’s attendance: 13,123

Teams with the most all-time appearances: Western Michigan, MTSU, Western Kentucky, and Central Michigan have all appeared once.

Old Dominion (8-3, 6-2 in CUSA)

It’s the third year in FBS for the Monarchs, and they’re not just bowl eligible, they almost made a conference championship game. If not for a blowout at the hands of Western Kentucky, ODU would have a chance to win a conference championship two seasons after beginning major college football. But the Monarchs aren’t just newcomers to success.

They went 6-6 in their inaugural FBS season, but due to NCAA bylaws, they missed out on a bowl because it was their first season in the big leagues. In 2015 they went 5-7. After pulling off a late-season win streak, this season they didn’t have anything to worry about as far as the postseason was concerned.

The offensive numbers aren’t going to knock anyone over this year, but they do efficiently get the job done. Old Dominion is top 30 in yards per play, and top 35 in scoring offense. For Old Dominion to wear the crown of this bowl game, they’ll have to continue to be consistent on offense.

Eastern Michigan (7-5, 4-4 in MAC)

For the second time in school history, and the first time since 1987, Eastern Michigan is going to a bowl game. Besides the 2011 campaign, in which the team won six games (but missed out on the postseason because two wins came against FCS opponents), the program has won five or more games nine times in 47 years. They rarely get close to .500.

By the end of September, the Eagles had as many wins (three) as they had had in the last two seasons combined under coach Chris Creighton, who showed that not only had he gotten the program in the right direction, but they were a serious threat to make the postseason after the fast start. As the leaves began to change, the losses started coming. A team that started 4-1 went 2-4 over their next six games. But a win capped by a late touchdown on Nov. 8 against Ball State clinched bowl eligibility and ensured a postseason party in Ypsilanti. After the game, Creighton said, “I don’t know if I have ever been in a better locker room … I am just so proud of our guys.”

As neighbors close by to Michigan and easily lumped in via the directional tag with Western Michigan, EMU is another nice story in the Great Lakes State.

Look out for quarterback Brogan Roback. He’s got a sweet name, and threw the ball 71 times in a game earlier this season.