Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Bowl History: This Bowl began in 1997, (formally known as the Humanitarian Bowl) Conference tie-ins, WAC (now defunct) Champ vs a team from the MAC. Cincinnati beat Utah State in the Bowl’s inaugural game, 35-19, while last year (2015), Akron beat Utah State, 23-21! Bowl Payout; $325,000.00 to both teamst

Teams: Idaho vs Colorado State

Bowl Location: The game is played annually in Boise, Idaho @ Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University! Stadium capacity is 36,387

Day, Date & Time: Thursday, December 22. 2016, 6:00 p.m. CST

Network: ESPN

Best Win(s): Idaho: beat Louisiana Lafayette, 23-13; Colorado State: Beat San Diego State, 63-31

Worst Losses: Idaho: to the Washington school’s by a total score of 115 to 20!  Colorado State: Air Force, CSU Offense scored 46, the D allowed AFA 49

Common Opponents: Boise State: Idaho lost 45-10; Colorado State: lost 28-23

Vegas Hotsheets Favorite: Colorado State -13.5

Offensive Team Data: Idaho ; Total Yards, 380 YPG; Passing Yards, 238 YPG; Rushing Yards, 142 YPG; Scoring Average, 28 PPG, Turnovers, 1.42 TPG; Percent of 3rd Down Conversions, 39.2%; Percentage of all scores in Red Zone, 95% & Percentage of TD’s in Red Zone, 57%

Offensive Team Data: Colorado State ; Total Yards, 467 YPG; Passing Yards, 249 YPG; Rushing Yards, 219 YPG; Scoring Average 34 PPG, Turnovers, 0.83 TPG; Percent of 3rd Down Conversions, 112.7%; Percentage of all scores in Red Zone, 94% & Percentage of TD’s in Red Zone, 78%

Defensive Team Data: Idaho ; Total Yards, 413 YPG; Passing Yards, 270 YPG; Rushing Yards, 143 YPG; Scoring Average, 30 PPG, Turnovers, 2.08 TPG; Percent of 3rd Down Conversions, 42.4%; Percentage of all scores in Red Zone, 91% & Percentage of TD’s in Red Zone, 59%

Defensive Team Data: Colorado State ; Total Yards, 375 YPG; Passing Yards, 170 YPG; Rushing Yards, 205 YPG; Scoring Average, 28 PPG, Turnovers, 1.33 TPG; Percent of 3rd Down Conversions, 45.7%; Percentage of all scores in Red Zone, 93% & Percentage of TD’s in Red Zone, 73%

Sully’s CFP Game Simulator is a statistical analysis / predictor of how these teams will preform, based solely on their numbers, when they face off on the gridiron! Keep in mind, these stats were established against different teams and conferences and these differences must be taken into account to get a complete picture when attempting to predetermine a winner. If you are interested in how the Simulator works … read this part … if not … skip it! The process used is … we take Idaho’s total yards on offense, add it to what CSU gives up on defense, … get a total and then divide that number by 2 … to get the mean. We then invert the process by taking CSU’s total offense, add it to what Idaho gives up on defense, get a total and divide that number by 2 to get the second mean… the greater number (with the exception of Turnovers) is then determined to have the advantage ( please note …. statistical advantage). We repeat this process in each of the eight statistical categories assessed! That said… here are the results of the Head to Head Analysis:

Total Yards Advantage: Colorado State 440 to 377.5, ….

Passing Yards Advantage: Colorado State 259.5 to 204, ….

Rushing Yards Advantage: Colorado State 181 to 173.5, ….

Scoring Advantage: Colorado State 32 to 28, ….

Turnovers Advantage: Idaho 1.375 to 1.455, …

3rd Down Conversions Advantage: Colorado State 77.55 to 42.45, …

Red Zone All Scores Advantage: Colorado State 93 – 91

Red Zone TD’s Only Advantage: Colorado State 74 to 64.5, …

Game Simulator Says: Colorado State wins 7 to 1 in the 8 the categories assessed! The Rams win but do not cover take Idaho and the 13.5 points!

Individuals to Watch: Idaho, QB Matt Lineham 15 TD,s to 10 INT’s (1.5 to 1 is not a good ratio), Turnovers could be a factor. Colorado State, QB, Nick Stevens is 10th in the country in average yards per attempt (Attempt not Completion) @ 9.04 YPA. Impressive!

Sully Says: 13.5 is a ton of points to give a team that has played its way into the 2nd season. That said, CSU has sdcored 112 points in its last two games, while giving up 62 points in those games (New Mexico & San Diego State). Both of these teams are better than Idaho and the Rams won these games by an average point differencial of 25! Take CSU and give the Vandals the 13.5!