Bortlesball... the Beef’ O’ Bortles Bowl... no matter which play on words you prefer, there was really no arguing that Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles was the MVP of the Beef “O” Brady’s Bowl against Ball State.
Bortles collected most of his 350 total yards and four touchdowns against the Cardinals in the first half when the Knights took a 28-7 lead into halftime and UCF was basically able to cruise in the second half to a 38-17 win.
Central Florida played practically a perfect first half. Even a botched extra point was made up with a two-point conversion to give UCF a 21-7 lead in the second quarter. Bortles was almost unstoppable throwing and running the ball. When Ball State was able to get pressure on Bortles on a second down from the Cardinals 7-yard-line, he was able to spin out of a would-be sack and throw a touchdown pass to running back Latavius Murray.
The Knights finish the season 10-4 after missing out on a Conference USA championship and should head into the Big East next season as one of the favorites to compete for a league title right away.
Ball State finishes with nine wins under second-year coach Pete Lembo. The Cardinals have won 15 games in those two seasons, but are still looking for their first bowl win as a program. But as long as Lembo is the coach in Muncie, BSU is going to be just fine.