Utah State
2nd Western Athletic7-5
Ohio
2nd MAC9-4
Utah State @ Ohio preview
Albertsons Stadium
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL STORYLINES
1. Neither Ohio nor Utah State has had much success in bowl games, going a combined 1-11. The Aggies haven’t appeared in a bowl since a 35-19 loss to Cincinnati in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl. The Bobcats haven’t ever won a bowl game (0-5 all-time), but this is their third consecutive bowl appearance and fourth under coach Frank Solich, who took over the program in 2005.
2. These two teams are expected to put up a good amount of points, as both rank in the Top 25 nationally in total offense. Utah State does its damage on the ground, ranking sixth in the country at 277 rushing yards per game, while Ohio utilizes a more balanced attack.
3. Both teams enter this bowl game on relative hot streaks. The Aggies won five in a row to finish in a tie for second in the WAC, while the Bobcats posted five straight victories to win the MAC’s East Division before falling in the conference championship game to Northern Illinois.
4. Utah State running back Robert Turbin was 10th in the country with 118 rushing yards per game and tied for fifth with 23 touchdowns, but he might find things more arduous against Ohio. The Bobcats finished third in the MAC allowing only 126 yards per contest on the ground.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Line: Utah State -1.5
ABOUT OHIO (9-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference): As good as the Bobcats’ 2011 campaign has gone, it could’ve been even better. Ohio was ahead 20-0 at halftime of the MAC Championship Game against Northern Illinois before surrendering 23 unanswered points to lose on a field goal as time expired. In the loss, the Bobcats’ offense was held to less than 400 yards for the first time in eight contests. Before that, the Bobcats had rattled off five straight victories behind strong play from quarterback Tyler Tettleton, who finished the year with 26 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions.
ABOUT UTAH STATE (7-5, 5-2 Western Athletic Conference): Turbin, a junior, was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 1,580 total yards and 23 scores, but he didn’t close the year on a hot streak. He failed to top 100 yards and didn’t find the end zone in narrow victories over Nevada and New Mexico State. The Aggies — picked by coaches to finish fifth in the WAC — lost to only Fresno State and conference champion Louisiana Tech to finish in a tie for second.
PREDICTION: Utah State 34, Ohio 28. Neither offense will find much trouble putting points on the board, and the Aggies will come through with a late score for the victory.
1. Neither Ohio nor Utah State has had much success in bowl games, going a combined 1-11. The Aggies haven’t appeared in a bowl since a 35-19 loss to Cincinnati in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl. The Bobcats haven’t ever won a bowl game (0-5 all-time), but this is their third consecutive bowl appearance and fourth under coach Frank Solich, who took over the program in 2005.
2. These two teams are expected to put up a good amount of points, as both rank in the Top 25 nationally in total offense. Utah State does its damage on the ground, ranking sixth in the country at 277 rushing yards per game, while Ohio utilizes a more balanced attack.
3. Both teams enter this bowl game on relative hot streaks. The Aggies won five in a row to finish in a tie for second in the WAC, while the Bobcats posted five straight victories to win the MAC’s East Division before falling in the conference championship game to Northern Illinois.
4. Utah State running back Robert Turbin was 10th in the country with 118 rushing yards per game and tied for fifth with 23 touchdowns, but he might find things more arduous against Ohio. The Bobcats finished third in the MAC allowing only 126 yards per contest on the ground.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Line: Utah State -1.5
ABOUT OHIO (9-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference): As good as the Bobcats’ 2011 campaign has gone, it could’ve been even better. Ohio was ahead 20-0 at halftime of the MAC Championship Game against Northern Illinois before surrendering 23 unanswered points to lose on a field goal as time expired. In the loss, the Bobcats’ offense was held to less than 400 yards for the first time in eight contests. Before that, the Bobcats had rattled off five straight victories behind strong play from quarterback Tyler Tettleton, who finished the year with 26 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions.
ABOUT UTAH STATE (7-5, 5-2 Western Athletic Conference): Turbin, a junior, was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 1,580 total yards and 23 scores, but he didn’t close the year on a hot streak. He failed to top 100 yards and didn’t find the end zone in narrow victories over Nevada and New Mexico State. The Aggies — picked by coaches to finish fifth in the WAC — lost to only Fresno State and conference champion Louisiana Tech to finish in a tie for second.
PREDICTION: Utah State 34, Ohio 28. Neither offense will find much trouble putting points on the board, and the Aggies will come through with a late score for the victory.