Utah State vs. Ohio Line at Aggies -1: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. SDSU Line Aztecs -4.5
The Utah State vs. Ohio line was coming in at Aggies -1 after opening at -3. Gambling911.com also had your Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns vs. San Diego State Aztecs line, which was coming in at -4.5 in favor of SDSU. Bet this one at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Utah St -1 & 60
Opening Line & Total: Aggies -3 & 57.5
Ohio tries to earn its first bowl victory in school history when it matches up with Utah State on Saturday afternoon in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise.
Ohio has never won a bowl game in five tries, but Utah State is just 1-4 in its bowl history. The Aggies are riding a five-game win streak as it prepares for a Bobcats team that blew a 20-0 halftime lead in its MAC title game loss. The Aggies have played nine games decided by a touchdown or less this year, including all five during their win streak. Ohio had won five in a row by an average of 8.8 PPG before losing to Northern Illinois in its conference title game. This contest expects to be tight throughout as well, as both offenses are nearly identical in total yards (Utah State 458.7 YPG, Ohio 457.3 YPG). But the Bobcats have a better defense, which should be able to contain the Aggies potent rushing attack. The pick here is <b>OHIO</b> to finally win a bowl game.
Utah State ranks sixth in the country in rushing, thanks mostly to star RB Robert Turbin (118 rush YPG, 19 TD). Turbin has rushed for at least 110 yards in seven different contests, but has been held to just 159 yards (3.7 YPC) and zero touchdowns in the past two games. Michael Smith led the Aggies with 121 yards on 18 carries (6.7 YPC) in their last game, a 24-21 win at New Mexico State. This was especially key because QB Chuckie Keeton was unable to play because of a back injury. Keeton (11 pass TD, 2 INT) is expected to return to the field on Saturday to throw his first passes since Nov. 5 when he was injured at Hawaii. Although Ohio ranks a respectable 31st in the nation in scoring defense (22.1 PPG) and 30th in rushing defense (126 YPG), the Bobcats have allowed 228 passing YPG (68th in FBS) this year and 304 passing YPG in the past four contests. Keeton will look to take advantage of this weakness, but only two of his receivers have surpassed 250 yards this year (Matt Austin 465 yds and Stanley Morrison 416 yds).
The Bobcats are more balanced on offense (206 rush YPG, 251 pass YPG) with dual-threat QB Tyler Tettleton piling up 286 YPG of total offense and 35 total TD this year. Tettleton is eager to erase his three-interception game against NIU, which marked just the second time in his career that he threw multiple picks in a game. Senior RB Donte Harden (939 rush yds, 5.5YPC) also has to pick up his performance. Since running over a great Temple defense for 184 yards on Nov. 2, he has failed to reach 75 yards in any of his four games since, totaling 241 rushing yards on just 4.0 YPC. The Bobcats best receiver, senior LaVon Brazill, has been slowed by a leg injury, but he is expected to start on Saturday. Brazill (1,042 rec yds, 10 TD) has six 100-yard receiving games, including 124 in the MAC title game. He should be able to get open against a USU pass defense giving up 240 YPG for the year (77th in FBS), and 296 passing YPG in the past four games.
The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns vs. San Diego State Aztecs line was coming in at 4.5 in favor of SDSU.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: SDSU -4.5 & 59
Opening Line & Total: Aztecs -6 & 58.5
A pair of 8-4 teams look to cap off their seasons in style with a win in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday night.
SDSU seeks its fifth win in six games while Louisiana-Lafayette has lost two in a row. The Aztecs, whose four losses have all been to bowl teams, are led by RB Ronnie Hillman (138 rush YPG, 3rd in nation). Hillman rushed for 228 yards in last year’s Poinsettia Bowl win over Navy, and should have little trouble chewing up yards against ULL’s subpar defense (393 YPG, 72nd in nation). The Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-1 ATS in non-home games this year, but have just 66.7 rushing YPG in the past three contests.
Although ULL has been struggling to run the football, the passing game has been clicking behind the arm of junior QB Blaine Gautier. He has thrown 20 TD and just 5 INT this year, and has 876 passing yards (292 YPG) and 7 TD in his past three games. This includes 315 yards and a score at Arizona in his last game. Considering SDSU’s passing defense has allowed 822 yards (274 YPG) in its past three contests, the Cajuns’ game plan will call for an all-out air attack with Gautier.
Hillman has rushed for at least 170 yards six times this year, including both of his past two games. In these two contests, the sophomore has piled up 370 rushing yards (6.1 YPC) and 6 TD. The Aztecs also have a capable quarterback with senior Ryan Lindley, who has thrown for 2,740 yards, 20 TD and 8 INT this year. He was nearly perfect in last year’s bowl win, completing 18-of-23 passes for 276 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT. Lindley could certainly post similar numbers Saturday against ULL’s 92nd-ranked pass defense that is surrendering 249 YPG this year.
The Cajuns are making their first bowl appearance since the 1970 Grantland Rice Bowl, and the Aztecs are looking for just their second bowl win since 1969.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
