Huge props to San Jose State and Japanese Michigan for not solely their success this season in making their method from the Group of 5 ranks to a postseason sport, but in addition for the success degree every program has achieved in latest seasons.
Associated: College Football Predictions for Every 2022-23 Bowl Game
San Jose State enters this sport with a 7-4 file and is making its second bowl look within the final three seasons. The Spartans had an unbeaten common season in 2020 earlier than they fell within the Arizona Bowl to Ball State.
The Hurons, nay… the Eagles have now made a bowl sport in 4 of their final 5 seasons. Think about that this program has solely performed in 5 bowl video games in its historical past, and that could be a fairly spectacular latest spike in high quality. They arrive into this sport with an 8-4 mark, having tied Toledo at 5-3 within the West Division of the Mid-American Convention.
However right here is the massive information about this showdown; the Spartans have fireplace taking pictures out of their eyes as a result of they’re in search of some main payback after EMU dropped SJSU 30-27 within the 1987 California Bowl. Man, revenge is a dish finest served chilly.
Well-known Idaho Potato Bowl: Japanese Michigan (8-4) vs. San Jose State (7-4)
Kickoff: Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET
The place: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
TV: ESPN
Stay Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: San Jose State -3.5
Tickets: As low as $5 on SITickets.com*
When Japanese Michigan Has the Ball
Though the Eagles characteristic quarterback Taylor Powell (65 % completion price and 1,813 passing yards), who has began video games for each Missouri and Troy earlier than doing the portal factor to EMU this season, the massive key will probably be how the Eagles set up the run on this one. Samson Evans has racked up 1,084 dashing yards this season and has been a giant indicator of the success of the Eagles. Of their 4 losses, Evans solely ran for a mixed 163 yards. Within the seven wins he took half in (he missed the Ball State sport), he rushed for 921 yards, together with an epic 258-yard day within the upset of Arizona State in Tempe.
The Spartans have a pair of actually proficient defensive linemen in Viliami Fehoko and Cade Corridor, each of whom are future NFL draft picks. The hearth within the cleats of those two warmth seekers will probably be key to how snug Powell is within the pocket. Not like Cordeiro, Powell does not get out and run a lot, so he depends on pocket safety rather more, and Fehoko and Corridor will probably be large keys to the Spartan D and the way this sport finally ends up. The Spartans rank fifth nationally with 36 sacks on the season, and the Eagles ranked eighty fifth in go safety after giving up 30 sacks for 223 yards in losses. So you are able to do the mathematics on this one.
When San Jose State Has the Ball
Hold a eager eye on whether or not Spartan quarterback Chevan Cordeiro retains his uniform clear. Effectively, by no means thoughts as a result of they’re taking part in on the blue turf right here, however you get the thought. Cordeiro is a dynamic hyper-talented dual-threat behind heart, and if he’s given a while, he has an actual knack for performing some harm by the air. The EMU protection options edge rusher Jose Ramirez, the MAC Defensive Participant of the Yr, who can wreak havoc on opposing O-lines main the nation with 1.09 sacks per sport. He earned 4 sacks in Japanese’s 45-23 win at Western Michigan.
In fact, a big a part of Cordeiro’s sport is tucking the ball and working for large yards too (he is gained 508 yards on scrambles). However he has additionally misplaced a ton of yards (293 yards in sacks and tackles for loss), so if his working numbers are within the optimistic, that will probably be a key indicator of how the Spartan offense is doing.
Hand-in-glove with that may even be whether or not or not the Spartan receivers can create some separation between themselves and the Eagles’ defensive backs. EMU had the second-best go protection within the MAC this season, giving up simply 209 yards per sport by the air. Elijah Cooks is the massive goal for the Blue and Gold, hauling in 63 catches for 983 yards. In his final trip, the 6-foot-4 Cooks pulled in 10 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns vs. Hawaii.
Remaining Evaluation
Neither group is something to write down house about on offense as they rank ninety fifth (EMU, 360.2 yards per sport) and 96th (SJSU, 365.5 yards per sport) in complete offense. However the Spartans do have the higher protection (twenty sixth nationally, giving up 333 yards per sport in comparison with EMU’s 54th rating, giving up 367 yards per sport). The Spartans even have the extra dynamic playmaker in Chevan Cordeiro, who has the ball in his arms on each play. And lastly, the Spartans are fourth nationally in turnover margin as Cordeiro and Co. have solely turned the ball over six instances all season. Six. They rank fourth nationally in turnover margin.
That factors to a slight edge on the Spartan aspect of issues.
Prediction: San Jose State 38, Japanese Michigan 31
Podcast: Remembering Mike Leach, Preview of Bowl Video games Dec. 16-21, Recapping the Heisman Race and Purdue’s Rent of Ryan Walters
— Written by Eric Sorenson, who’s a part of the Athlon Contributor Community. He’s a school soccer, school baseball and school hockey addict… and author. Comply with him on Twitter @Stitch_Head.
*Value as of publication.
