Kent State and Wyoming will square off on Tuesday afternoon in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, in what should be a fun matchup between MAC and Mountain West schools.
The Golden Flashes fell to Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game, just four weeks after it defeated the Huskies at home. The Cowboys stumbled down the stretch, on the other hand, having lost six of their last eight, including a 38-14 home loss to Hawaii to close out the regular season.
What should you expect on the blue turf in Boise? Let's break down the game and make picks straight up and against the spread.
Kent State vs. Wyoming: Need to know
Contrasting styles: The Cowboys want to slow the game down, win the time of possession battle and grind it out. The Golden Flashes are the exact opposite. They averaged 480.9 yards per game on offense and would love nothing more than to force Wyoming out of its comfort zone. If the Cowboys want to win, its best chance is to keep Kent State's offense as far away from the field as possible. It'll be fascinating to watch the tug-of-war between the two as this game progresses.
Multi-dimensional attack: If you haven't watched much of Kent State this year, you are going to be in for a treat. Running back Marquez Cooper rushed for 1,080 yards while quarterback Dustin Crum added 633 of his own. Together, the two have scored 22 of the team's 35 rushing touchdowns. Combine that with Crum's 16 passing touchdowns and 2,922 yards through the air, and you have a must-see offense that is as dangerous as any in the Group of Five. Keep an eye on both of those stars throughout the game.
No trend to speak of: The trend is typically your friend if you're looking to make an investment, but there isn't one to focus on in this one. Kent State is 5-7 against the spread this year and Wyoming is 4-6-1. The over is 6-5 in games involving the Cowboys, but as stated above, that's not the kind of game that the Cowboys want to get into on Tuesday. Maybe a first-half point total is the bet to make here.
How to watch Famous Idaho Potato Bowl live
Game: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 21 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Albertsons Stadium -- Boise, Idaho
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction, picks
I'll take Kent State outright, but grab the points if you want some insurance. Simply put, offense drives the bus in this day and age of college football, and Kent State has what it takes to force Wyoming into a shootout. At that point, it'll be all over for the Cowboys. Take the over, if you want, because Crum and Co. are about to light it up in Boise. Prediction: Kent State (+3)
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