Los Angeles Bowl – Washington State vs. Fresno State
12:30 p.m., PT, ABC, December 17, 2022, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
It’s somewhat unlucky that the winner of the MWC performs in one of many first bowl video games of the season. However that’s the way in which it goes.
The Bulldogs face the Cougars, who completed seventh within the Pac-12 with Jake Dickert in his first full season as head coach. The Cougars completed with a 7-5 document, highlighted by a signature win over Wisconsin early in September earlier than Paul Chryst received fired.
Incarnate Phrase switch QB Cameron Ward was purported to be top-of-the-line signal-callers within the Pac-12, and he didn’t disappoint, ending the yr with 3,094 yards passing and 23 touchdowns whereas including one other 5 scores together with his legs.
The Bulldogs received the MWC by defeating Boise State within the MWC title sport on the Blue Turf, and Jake Haener will get a chance to complete his collegiate profession with a bowl sport victory. Haener was conservative towards the Broncos, going simply 17-27 for 184 yards and a rating whereas Jordan Mims scored twice to get the 28-16 victory.
After a 1-4 begin, Fresno State has received eight in a row and is without doubt one of the hottest groups within the nation. On prime of that, it’s just some hours from Fresno to LA, so the stadium ought to be filled with Purple Wave supporters.
The Bulldogs end the yr with 9 wins and a bowl victory after issues seemed ugly again in October.
Prediction: Fresno State 34, Washington State 20
Frisco Bowl – Boise State vs North Texas
6:15 p.m. PT, ESPN, Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
The MWC runner-up heads to the Frisco Bowl to face the North Texas Imply Inexperienced, which completed the season with a 7-6 overal document and a 6-2 mark in Convention USA.
North Texas lives with its offensive energy, and so they rank within the prime 60 in a couple of classes: Factors scored (33.9 per sport), yards per sport (463), and speeding yards (201.7).
Junior QB Austin Aune put up eye-popping numbers, ending the yr with 3,309 yards and 32 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. His greatest sport of the yr got here towards Florida Worldwide through which he threw for 414 yards and 5 scores.
The Imply Inexperienced have three working backs that completed the yr with 500 or extra yards, and Jyaire Shorter led the workforce with 10 receiving scores regardless of catching simply 22 balls.
Boise State was one sport away from an undefeated MWC season, however the red-hot Bulldogs proved an excessive amount of. Since September 23, Boise State has simply two losses, towards BYU and Fresno State.
The Imply Inexperienced can rating factors, however the Boise State protection is without doubt one of the greatest within the nation, ranked nineteenth in factors towards per sport (18.54). Broncos working again George Holani completed with 1,133 yards and 10 scores and will trigger critical issues for North Texas.
The important thing to this sport will likely be Boise State’s protection and the flexibility of BSU’s offense to decelerate the Imply Inexperienced and preserve Austin Aune on the sidelines so long as doable. Boise State thrives in these conditions, and all the pieces is determined by how effectively the Bronco protection performs.
This ought to be one of many higher video games within the early slate, however the Broncos are one of many hardest groups to play, and so they sneak out a tricky victory. Nevertheless, North Texas is a brief drive away from Frisco, so the Imply Inexperienced devoted ought to be out in full drive on Saturday.
Prediction: Boise State 24, North Texas 21
