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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 2015, Arkon vs Utah State preview, predictions, odds, live stream info

By Cody Williams

Sep 12, 2015; Akron, OH, USA; Akron Zips cornerbacks Jordan George (24) Kyron Brown (20) celebrate a special teams tackle during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field. Pitt won 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Nick Cammett-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Akron, OH, USA; Akron Zips cornerbacks Jordan George (24) Kyron Brown (20) celebrate a special teams tackle during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field. Pitt won 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Nick Cammett-USA TODAY Sports /
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Akron Zips vs. Utah State Aggies

In arguably the best-named bowl game of the college football postseason, the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will get underway on Tuesday afternoon from Albertsons Stadium. The matchup will be between two teams who just barely made the cut to be bowl eligible in the 7-5 Akron Zips and the 6-6 Utah State Aggies.

Utah State has a bit of a dilemma at the quarterback position as senior Chuckie Keeton is back to full health for the Aggies, but sophomore Kent Myers performed so admirably in Keeton’s absence due to injury in the regular season. There’s a chance that they go with both quarterbacks at times in this game and how that works will be interesting to watch. The Zips on the other hand have their quarterback in Thomas Woodson and hope that he and running back Conor Hundley can carry Arkon to their first ever bowl victory.

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Details for Tuesday’s game are below:

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Boise, ID
Stadium: Albertsons Stadium
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Here

Keys to Victory

The Aggies were decidedly average for much of the year on both sides of the ball. Utah State was tied for 64th in college football in terms of points allowed per game in the regular season while their offense was in the same ball-park as they fell in another tie for 63rd in the nation in terms of points per game. The key for this Utah State team in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, though, is to get at least one of their two weapons at quarterback into a rhythm and not try to mess with the system too much. This offense isn’t wild to begin with, but shuffling quarterbacks could only exacerbate that issue in this game.

For the Zips, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is going to be all about their defense in terms of them trying to sniff out their first win in a bowl game. Akron ranked in the top 25 in terms of points allowed this season, though their offense was far more lackluster as they fell outside the top 100 teams in terms of per-game scoring this season. Their defense will have to carry them in this game, though, and make sure they have the right scouting and subsequent schemes to stop whichever quarterback the Aggies trot out on a given possession.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Utah State -7
Moneyline: Utah State -285, Akron +240
O/U: 45.5

Prediction

Utah State clearly has the better and more potent weapons coming into the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl than does Akron. However, the quarterback dilemma for the Aggies is ultimately disconcerting as they could be running a two-quarterback system. Given that and the high that the Zips will be on having made it into a bowl game, I like the Zips to pull off a bit of an upset in this game.

Final Score: Akron Zips: 20, Utah State Aggie: 16

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