Get your chips and french fries ready- it’s time for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl! The Ohio Bobcats and the Nevada Wolfpack will face off January 3 on the blue turf in Boise.
Nevada Wolfpack
Nevada finished 7-5 this season. They upset Purdue in Week One but went on to suffer blowout losses to Oregon (77-6), Hawaii (54-3), and Wyoming (31-3). Their offense, led by quarterback Carson Strong, managed just 29 touchdowns this season and averaged 21.3 points per game. Their defense fared somewhat better, thanks in large part to defensive end Dom Peterson. The 6 foot, 300 lb. sophomore leads the team with eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Overall, Nevada’s defense ranks 42nd against the run and 72nd in total defense.
However, Nevada will be shorthanded on defense in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Three of their players are suspended by the Mountain West Conference due to a brawl in their last regular-season game. Defensive backs Austin Arnold and Daniel Brown and defensive tackle Hausia Sekona will not play. In addition, linebacker Gabriel Sewell is suspended for the first half.
Nevada Team Leaders
Passing
Carson Strong– 206/325; 1,933 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven INTs
Rushing
Toa Taua– 190 carries, 750 yards, six TDs
Receiving
Elijah Cooks– 62 catches, 729 yards, seven TDs
Tackles
Tyson Williams, 77
Ohio Bobcats
The Bobcats finished 6-6, and second in the East division of the MAC. Four of their six losses were by a field goal or less, and another was by ten points. They also won four of their last six games, and are bowl-eligible for the 11th consecutive year.
It’s not often you see a team score 33 rushing touchdowns without a 1,000-yard back, but that’s what Ohio did this year. Dual-threat quarterback Nathan Rourke is second on the team in rushing yards with 780 and leads the team with 12 touchdowns on the ground. He also threw for 2,676 yards and 20 touchdowns, with six interceptions. The other main run threat is O’Shaan Allison. The 5’10”, 200lb. sophomore has 823 yards and six scores and averages 6.4 yards per carry(!) Overall, the Bobcats’ run game ranks 22nd nationally, averaging 216.5 yards per game.
The passing game is definitely the weaker part of Ohio’s offense. The Bobcats average 226.8 yards per game passing, which ranks 70th in FBS. The team lacks a 1,000-yard receiver, although they do have 10 players with at least one touchdown catch.
Defensively, the team is just below middle-of-the-pack status, ranking 81st against the run and 76th overall.
Ohio Team Leaders
Passing
Nathan Rourke– 191/311; 2,676 yards, 20 touchdowns, five INTs
Rushing
O’Shaan Allison– 129 carries, 823 yards, six TDs
Receiving
Isiah Cox– 36 catches, 590 yards, two TDs.
Tackles
Javon Hagan, 99.
Strength versus Strength
Who will win out between Nevada’s run defense (42nd in FBS, allowing 137.9 yards/game) and the Bobcats’ rushing attack (22nd in FBS, 216.5 yards/game)? Can Nevada defensive end Peterson contain Ohio quarterback Rourke?
In Summary
If you haven’t completely overdosed on football by January 3, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl has the potential to be an entertaining game. (Besides, what else is on at 3:30 EST on a Friday?)
This could easily go either way, but I’m going to go with the Bobcats, 31-21 over Nevada. Of course, we’ve got you covered for all your bowl game info at lastwordoncollegefootball.com.
