Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Preview: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is set to kick off on December 23 at 2:30 p.m. EST, featuring a face-off between the Northern Illinois Huskies (7-5) and the Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6). The betting odds provided by BetMGM favor Northern Illinois by 1.5 points.

In terms of key matchups, the offensive stats show a disparity in passing yards. Northern Illinois averages 176.1 yards per game, which places them at 118th in the FBS rankings. Contrarily, Fresno State’s defense isn’t performing as well, ranking 64th by allowing 215.9 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, Fresno’s rushing offense struggles significantly, marked as the No. 123 in the FBS with only 98.6 yards per game. They will have to contend with Northern Illinois’ formidable rushing defense, which ranks 19th overall, allowing just 112.1 yards per game on the ground.

In their most recent outings, Northern Illinois managed a win against Central Michigan, securing a 24-16 victory. Quarterback Ethan Hampton completed 19 of his 29 passes for a total of 169 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also made a contribution on the ground with one rushing touchdown. Running back Telly Johnson Jr. added to the score with a rushing touchdown, while Trayvon Rudolph led the receiving group with nine catches for 97 yards.

Fresno State, on the other hand, faced a challenging game against UCLA, ultimately losing 20-13. Mikey Keene threw for 219 yards on 30 of 43 attempts, connecting for one touchdown, without any interceptions. Rushing contributions came from Bryson Donelson, who had six carries for 41 yards, alongside nine catches for 44 yards. Mac Dalena also had a productive game, catching seven passes for 47 yards.

Players to keep an eye on include Northern Illinois’ Hampton, who has accumulated 1,600 passing yards this season, averaging 145.5 yards per game with 12 touchdowns alongside six interceptions. His rushing stats complement his gameplay, totaling 129 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Gavin Williams has also made an impact with 741 rushing yards and 135 carries, while Rudolph stands out with 392 receiving yards this season.

For Fresno State, Keene is a pivotal player, having thrown for a total of 2,887 yards at an average of 240.6 yards per game while maintaining a completion rate of 70.2%. On the ground, Elijah Gilliam has amassed 466 rushing yards from 121 carries, scoring eight touchdowns. Additionally, Mac Dalena has been a major receiving threat with 941 yards from 58 receptions and eight touchdowns to his credit.

When analyzing the overall game prospects, Northern Illinois has demonstrated a knack for outscoring opponents, boasting an average of 5.9 points per game this season, whereas Fresno State maintains a slightly lower average of 2 points. Northern Illinois showcases a balanced offensive and defensive strategy, ranking in the top-25 for both rushing offense, with 207.3 yards per game, and rushing defense, allowing just 112.1 yards. On the other hand, Fresno State ranks 45th for offensive passing yards, producing 244.7 yards per game, while their defensive unit sits at 64th, allowing 215.9 yards through the air.