This bowl game that began in 1997 brought awareness to Boise State because of their blue field turf. Now in its 22nd year, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is the longest-running, cold-weather bowl game in NCAA's Division I (or FBS).
BYU and Western Michigan will square off Friday afternoon in Boise for an Independent vs MAC matchup. Western Michigan lost its only appearance in this bowl, 38-24, to the Air Force Academy in 2014, while BYU is making its first appearance in this bowl.
BYU (6-6) is a heavy favorite, so Vegas isn't fooled by their six losses. The Cougars lost to some good teams this season, including two conference champions (Washington, Northern Illinois), two conference runners-up (Boise St., Utah) and two good teams in Utah State and Cal. BYU had road wins at Arizona and Wisconsin, and they beat UMass and Hawaii to bolster their resume.
Western Michigan (7-5) opened the season with losses to Syracuse and Michigan before winning six straight games. The Broncos then lost three Mid-American Conference games before beating eventual conference champion Northern Illinois in the season finale.
Western Michigan Broncos vs BYU Cougars
Albertsons Stadium • Boise, Idaho
Friday, Dec. 21, 2018
Time: 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
TV Channel: ESPN
Satellite Radio: Sirius 137, XM 207, Internet 963, BYU Feed: BYUradio, Ch.143
Live Streaming: Watch Live with fuboTV – Try Free Trial; or WatchESPN
Odds: BYU -11.5; over/under 52 (Vegas Insider)
KEY MATCHUP:
BYU freshman QB vs Western Michigan freshman QB
Of all the bowl games, this is the only one with two freshman starting quarterbacks.
BYU freshman Zach Wilson has already played one game on the blue turf, losing in the waning moments of the game against Boise State. Now he's back against a Western Michigan defense that gives up 33 points a game, so he might be able to run wild Friday.
WMU's Kaleb Eleby became the starter in Week 10, losing two games before knocking off eventual MAC champ Northern Illinois, who beat BYU, 7-6 earlier in the season on Wilson's second start.
Prediction:
Chadd Cripe (Idaho Statesman): BYU 27, Western Michigan 13
"The Cougars are 4-0 against the spread as double-digit favorites this season. They're also 8-4 ATS overall, with four straight wins. Western Michigan is 3-8 ATS. The line seems crazy high — so I'll side with the Vegas know-it-alls.."
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