2011 Idaho Potato Bowl Preview
The notorious blue turf in Boise, Idaho has not only been home to a BCS-busting
Boise State football squad, but it has also been the venue of one of the
furthest north college bowl contests in recent seasons. This year, the second
game in the 35-game postseason schedule will happen on the blue turf December 17
when MAC second place finisher Ohio takes on Western Athletic Conference second
place finisher Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, formerly known as the
Humanitarian Bowl.
This will be the first-ever matchup between these two
teams.
Our latest Potato bowl odds show the Aggies at -2.5, while the
over/under has been set at 57.5 points.
Ohio Bobcats
The Bobcats
won the East Division of the Mid-American Conference, but saw its five-contest
win streak broken with a 23-20 defeat to Northern Illinois in the conference
title game. Ohio was 4-3 as a visitor this season, with three of the losses by a
sum of seven points.
Ohio ranks 31st in the nation in points surrendered
(22 points per contest), surrendering 355 yards per game (229 in the air, 126
via the run) while compiling 21 sacks and generating 26 turnovers.
Noah
Keller paces the team with 105 tackles (28 more than any other player) with
three forced fumbles, two recoveries, a sack and a pick. Tremayne Scott has
gotten to the quarterback 3.5 times, 60 tackles and two forced fumbles, while
Travis Carrie has four picks and 47 stops and Alphonso Lewis has three fumble
recoveries and 31 stops.
Offensively, Ohio lists 38th nationally in
points given up (31 ppg) while recording 454 yards per game (251 via the pass,
203 via the run). Tyler Tettleton is a double-threat for the team, as he
connects on 64 % of his throws for 3,082 yards and 26 scores with 10 picks while
also listing second in the run attack with 627 rushing yards and nine scores on
4.2 yards per carry.
When Tettleton hands off, Donte Harden is his top
rusher with 939 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 5.5 yards per tote. When
Tettleton throws, his top option is LaVon Brazill with 66 receptions for 1,038
yards and 10 scores.
Utah State Aggies
The Aggies made a run at
the end of the season, winning their final five games of the season to earn a
bowl invite. An amazing nine of the team’s 12 games were decided by seven points
or less, including each of the five consecutive wins. USU was beat by four at
Auburn, three at BYU and one in OT to Colorado State. The team is 3-3 away from
home but won its last three.
The Aggies rank 21st nationally in points
(34 ppg) while totaling 459 yards per game (278 rushing, 181 in the air). Robert
Turbin paces the running game with 1,416 yards and 19 scores on 6.2 yards per
tote, while Michael Smith has 713 yards and seven scores on 7.0 yards per
attempt.
Chuckie Keeton has completed 61 % of his passes for 1,200 yards
and 11 scores with two picks. The offensive line has given up 17 sacks. Matt
Austin leads the receiving corps with 34 grabs for 465 yards and six scores,
while Stanley Morrison has 416 yards on 25 grabs with three
touchdowns.
USU ranks just 73rd nationally in points allowed (28 ppg),
surrendering 368 yards per game (240 in the air, 128 rushing) while totaling 23
sacks and forcing 15 turnovers.
Bobby Wagner is the main figure on the
defense with 140 stops nearly 12 per contest, 49 more than any other player on
the team) with four sacks, two picks and a fumble recovery. Levi Koskan has 5.5
sacks, 26 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovery, while Kyle Gallagher brings
91 stops, 1.5 sacks, a pick and a fumble recovery.
Visit our college
bowl predictions page to gather info on all the big matchups this
year, including our detailed article at the Rose Bowl
odds.
