Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs. Idaho Vandals | Preview & Predictions

December 30, 2009 | 4:30 PM EST, Boise, ID, on  ESPN

Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl

Bowling Green Falcons (7-5) vs Idaho Vandals (7-5)

Opening Line: Bowling Green -1

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl

Game Preview: My apologies but this is yet another reminder that there may be too many bowl games out there.  I am sure Vandal and Falcon fans are psyched but if you are not among them there is little to get excited about.  Yes the Falcons have a solid aerial attack featuring playmaking WR Freddie Barnes but I saw them on TV earlier in the year and their brown uniforms are a great metaphor for their play – a little bit ugly.  The Vandals are a better story as they have not had much success on the gridiron.  Going .500 in the WAC shouldn’t get you nationally televised game…should it?

Bowling Green Preview: The Falcons have one of the best pitch and catch combos in the country in Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes.  This is the only aspect of its performance to be lauded in a season that started with promise beating Sun Belt champion Troy only to be followed by 4 straight losses.  They were competitive most of the season with their only double digit losses to MAC champ CMU and Boise State.  Idaho is ranked 114 against the pass so do not expect much of a deviation from the Falcons strategy of passing the majority of the time.  Barnes could have a big game although some balance might be a good idea.  He caught 99 more balls than the second leading receiver

Idaho Preview: How did the Vandals do it?  This year they discovered offensive football and managed to sling it around pretty good, ranking 11th in the nation in passing offense.  They scored more than 20 points in every game this year.  But they also gave up more than 30 points in 7 games, winning only two of them.  They were 112th in points allowed per game and among the worst teams against the pass in the country.  This game should be a shootout and given the way they have performed this year Idaho has a fighting chance.  QB Nathan Enderle is underrated and exciting.  He missed a couple of games which was the only thing keeping him below the 3000 yard mark.

Game Prediction: The Vandals enter the game with an advantage playing so close to home.  They are familiar with the Blue Turf even if they are usually on the losing end.  This game will break the trend.  Look for up and down action with the Vandals having a decided advantage running the football making the difference.  Their balance will lead to some big plays and the victory.

Score Prediction:

Idaho – 40

Bowling Green – 33

Pick: Anyone who thinks they have a real handle on this game is faking it.  How many have even seen the Vandals play this year?  The gut says if you can get two evenly matched teams then the home team (or close to it) has it. Grab Idaho in what is essentially a pickem.
-Vandals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.

Bowling Green Falcons Football Betting Trends:

Idaho Vandals Football Betting Trends:

• Idaho is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
• Idaho is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Idaho’s last 5 games