Toledo vs. Utah Betting Odds – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Carrie Stroup here with your Toledo vs. Utah betting odds for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Get up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online wagering account at Sportsbook.com here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Utah State -10.5 & 58.5
Opening Line & Total: Aggies -10 & 57.5
Utah State tries to extend its long win streak this season with a rare bowl win, when it faces Toledo on the blue turf in Boise, ID Saturday for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Utah State brings a six-game win streak to Saturday's game to face an injury-riddled Toledo squad. Rockets starting QB Terrance Owens (foot) and RB David Fluellen (ankle) both missed their last games, but are both expected to start here. Toledo dropped two of its past three contests SU and three of four ATS. The Aggies played in this same bowl last year, losing 24-23 to Ohio to extend their bowl drought to 18 years (last win in 1993). But they are 10-1-1 ATS this season with the only non-cover being a 36-point win over 37.5-point underdog Idaho. This spread may seem a bit lofty for two teams separated by just one win, but the USU defense (15.4 PPG, 323 YPG) is far superior to Toledo's D (27.3 PPG, 463 YPG). In non-home games, the Rockets are surrendering 525 total yards per game and 7.0 yards per play.
Owens placed third in the MAC with 278 total YPG, finishing his season with 2,677 passing yards (8.0 YPC), 14 TD and 8 INT. He was outstanding in last year's Eagle Bank Bowl against Air Force, completing 19-of-24 passes for 210 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT in a 42-41 victory. All three of those touchdowns went to WR Bernard Reedy who has had an excellent junior season with 82 catches for 1,051 yards and 6 TD. He is also extremely dangerous in the return game with three touchdowns (2 kick return, 1 punt return) over his past seven games. Fluellen had just five carries (for 28 yards) in last year's bowl win, but he has been a workhorse this season with 20+ rushing attempts in 10 of his 11 games. He ranks eighth in the nation with 133 rushing yards per game, totaling 1,460 yards on 5.8 YPC with 13 TD. This Toledo offense piles up an impressive 456 total YPG, but the defense gives up even more (464 YPG, 109th in FBS). The biggest problem is defending the pass, where the Rockets' 296 passing YPG allowed are the fourth-most among the 123 FBS teams. Turnovers have also been an issue since October, as the Rockets have more giveaways (15) than takeaways (14) over this seven-game stretch.
Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton has produced a solid sophomore campaign, throwing for 3,144 yards (262 YPG), 27 TD and just 9 INT. Since a 6-3 loss at BYU, Keeton has thrown at least two touchdowns in all six of his games, totaling 16 TD in this stretch. He's also run for seven scores in these seven games. The main ball carrier for the Aggies is Kerwynn Williams, who leads the WAC with 106 rushing YPG. Williams has six 100-yard efforts in his past nine games, including three in a row. He rushed for 62 yards on just nine carries (6.9 YPC) in last year's Idaho Potato Bowl loss to Ohio, 24-23. Williams also leads USU in both catches (43) and receiving yards (663) and his five receiving touchdowns are tied for the team lead with three others. WR Matt Austin (652 rec yds, 5 TD), WR Chuck Jacobs (550 rec. yds) and TE Kellen Bartlett (261 rec. yd) are all seniors with five touchdown grabs each. Utah State's defense has been outstanding this season, ranking eighth in scoring (15.4 PPG) and 15th in yardage (323 YPG). The Aggies have held half of their opponents to 13 points or less, thanks in big part to an outstanding pass rush with 3.3 sacks per game (8th in FBS).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
