Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. San Diego State
By Ty Duffy
Bowl: Poinsettia
Toasting Town: San Diego, CA
Vintage: 2005
Former conference foes (and perhaps future Big East/MWC/Other ones) face off in the Poinsettia Bowl. This game does not have huge national import, though it is a big one for San Diego State. The Aztecs are playing a large (at least in perception) program at home. They have reached their third-straight bowl for the first time in school history and are shooting for their first 10-win season since 1977.
SDSU would enjoy getting one over on BYU, who capitalized on a terrible no fumble call to beat them by a field goal in 2010.
Defense: San Diego State has a good offense. BYU has one of the nation’s premier defenses. The Cougars, led by linebacker Kyle Van Noy, finished sixth nationally in yards allowed per play. They were second to Alabama against the run, conceding just 2.71 yards per carry.
Quarterback: BYU’s quarterback situation remains a question, at least in public. Riley Nelson hurt his ribs against San Jose State and is still recovering. His backup, another senior James Lark, threw for 384 yards and six touchdowns in his stead, though that was against New Mexico State. The assumption is we’ll see both of them.
Grown Men: About 30 players on the BYU team are married.
Recreational Prediction: BYU (-3). We’re not super comfortable with that prediction. This spread is about dead on with SDSU at home, but BYU’s defense is the best unit on the field and their offense, however marginally, has been trending upward. Bowl Season Record: 1-1 (ATS)
This is what happens when you remove alcohol and caffeine from a college campus…
[Photo via Presswire]