Ohio Bobcats Football

Where: Boise, Idaho

When: Dec. 17, 2011 | 5:30 PM ET

Predicted Outcome: Ohio 30, Utah St. 23

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Ohio Breakdown

Ohio (9-4) is coming off of a close loss to Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship. Their best player and quarterback Tyler Tettleton, who has been fantastic all season, had by far his worst performance by throwing three picks and only accounting for one TD (rush). On the season he has thrown for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns while accounting for another 627 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns. He's led the Bobcat's exceptional offense that averages over 450 yards per game. They are no slumps on the defensive side either, they give up only 22 points per game and win by an average of nine.

Utah State Breakdown

Utah State has the nation's sixth ranked rush offense, averaging over 275 yards per game on the ground. Their defense and passing games are both well below average, though. Since quarterback Adam Kennedy has taken over the starting role the Aggies have gone 5-0. In those five wins Kennedy has thrown for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns, and added another 224 yards on the ground. Utah State finished second in the WAC with a 7-5 overall record.

Game Breakdown

If Utah State is going to win this game they need to have an efficient turnover free game from their quarterback. They are also going to need a huge game from running back and star player Robert Turbin. If Ohio wants to win this game they will need to play good defense, as they have most of the season, and keep their offense balanced. Utah State has momentum going for them on this five game win streak, but all of their victories have been within four points or gone into overtime. With Tettleton, Ohio has the upper edge at QB and if it comes down to the final few minutes, he has the tools to lead the Bobcats to victory.

The Ohio Bobcats and the Utah State Aggies meet Saturday December 17 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho of course. 

Both Ohio University and Utah State had strong seasons and even stronger finishes that led them to where they are today.

Ohio won five of its last six, the only loss coming to Northern Illinois in the MAC title game. Utah State won its last five by the slimmest of margins (a total of 19 points).

The Bobcats and Aggies have a lot to play for come Saturday afternoon, and the excitement of the big stage will definitely elevate both programs and give the fans in Bronco Stadium and at home something to cheer for.

Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

When: Saturday, Dec 17 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3

Listen: ESPN Radio

Betting Line: Utah State—1.5

Key Storyline

Both programs are lacking tradition and history when it comes to success in bowl games; the Bobcats and Aggies are a combined 1-11 in bowl matchups.

Ohio coach Frank Solich is hoping to turn the page with his Bobcats program. Solich is 0-3 in bowl games since taking over in 2005.

On the other side of the field, Utah State coach Gary Andersen is not as desperate for a bowl win as Solich, but he happily will take one nonetheless. To help ensure his squad's victory, Andersen will rely heavily on his star running back, Robert Turbin.

Turbin, the WAC offensive player of the year, leads the Aggies sixth-best rushing attack in the nation at 277.5 yards per game.

Turbin himself ran for over 1,400 yards this season, netting 118 per game—the 10th-best per-game mark in the nation. He also found the end zone a total of 23 times. 

Who Might Not Play for Ohio University

Bobcats fans will rejoice at the fact that their entire team is healthy and ready to go come Saturday afternoon. Not missing any key components to their game plan will certainly help their odds in all three facets of the game.

Who Might Not Play for Utah State

Utah State also comes into the game in pretty good shape. Their team is also healthy minus one minor blemish.

Aggies quarterback Chuckie Keeton left the field in a game in early November with what seemed to be a nasty back injury, but Keeton is back and will be on the field fighting alongside his teammates Saturday.

Aggies fans will keep their fingers crossed that the lingering pain from the injury does not hinder his ability to run around in the pocket, something he loves to do. 

What It Means for Ohio University

The Ohio program has a lot riding on the outcome of this game.

The Bobcats are 0-5 all-time in bowl games and current head coach Frank Solich is 0-3 in his tenure. This will be the Bobcats' third consecutive appearance in a bowl game, none of which will matter if the team comes up empty-handed yet again.

Bobcats quarterback Tyler Tettleton would like to finish the season on a high note and erase fans' memory of his performance in the MAC title game, when he threw three interceptions and for the first time all season didn't throw a touchdown. 

A victory Saturday would give Ohio a 10-win season and cement them as serious contenders in the MAC entering the Spring and Summer of 2012.

What It Means for Utah State

The Aggies don't have a much better bowl season resume.

The last time they won a bowl game, Tiger Woods was 21 and the youngest Masters Champion ever. They are 1-5 all-time in bowl games, with their only victory coming over Ball State in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl.

Despite Utah State stepping onto the field Saturday at a mediocre 7-5, they have a lot to be proud of this season and a lot they look forward to displaying on the national stage.

With an explosive offense both running and passing the ball (though mainly running the ball), the Aggies will try their best to showcase their star power for all four quarters—and in doing so make a push for future dominance of the WAC. 

What They're Saying

Bobcat head coach Solich spoke to the media about what this game means for his conference and his team, saying all the right things:

"For the past two years, this has been one of the premier bowl games for the Mid-American Conference. I couldn't be happier for our team and our 17 seniors, who have given so much to this program."

Aggies coach Andersen spoke kindly of his opponent, saying:

"I have tremendous respect for coach Frank Solich as a head coach and his program; they are very well-coached, and we will be facing a big, fast, physical football team."

Ohio University Player to Watch

Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton, as mentioned earlier, had a dismal performance in the MAC title game but had a strong season overall. He threw for over 3,000 yards while completing 63.6 percent of his passes. 

Tettleton is somewhat of a dual-threat quarterback; he ran for over 600 yards this season and found the end zone via the ground nine times. 

His ability both to throw and run the ball for serious damage will present quite a challenge for coach Andersen and the Aggies. 

Utah State Player to Watch

What more needs to be said about Aggies running back Robert Turbin?

He was the anchor for the Aggies offense all season long. His commanding presence in the backfield and ability to make plays on any given snap make him an incredible asset for any team to have.

Turbin was the 10th-leading rusher in the nation, running the ball for 118 yards a game, seven of which were rushing efforts of 100-plus yards.

Turbin and his legs face a bit of a challenge Saturday: The Ohio defense held opponents to 126.4 yards per game and kept two of their last four opponents under 70 rush yards.

Key Matchup: Utah State Rushing Game vs. Ohio University Rushing Defense

The Aggies ran the ball as a team for over 275 yards a game all season long. Led of course by Turbin, the team had six different players rush for a touchdown and as a team they run the ball for an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

Lining up opposite them and the ball stands the Bobcat defense—athletic, physical and thirsty for bowl-season glory.

The game will have plenty of offense that stems from successful passing—but the to the victor go the spoils, and the victor of this game will earn his spoils at the line of scrimmage.

Prediction: 

Utah State 24, Ohio 17

The first weekend of bowl games may not feature marquee matchups or rosters filled with future NFL players, but it is the first time in nearly half a month that fans will get to watch multiple FBS division games on the same day.

That alone makes the first few games worth watching to those other than alumni and fans of the schools playing.

Here is a preview of the first three games of the bowl season, all of which take place on Saturday, December 17th.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2 p.m. EST)

Temple vs. Wyoming

The bowl season opens up with a particularly interesting game featuring two teams that have flown under the radar most of the season.

Both teams have had successful seasons, with Temple’s only losses coming to teams also playing in bowl games. Wyoming has been one of the more surprising teams in the nation, winning eight games just a season after losing nine and losing its former starting quarterback.

This game should feature a healthy dose of running from both squads. Temple leads the MAC in both rush offense and rush defense, and has a back in Bernard Pierce who is one of the best in the nation. Wyoming also relies on the running game quite a bit, but has had issues stopping the run as well.

Stopping Pierce will be key for the Cowboys in this one.

Statistically, this matchup does not stack up well for Wyoming. However, counting the Cowboys out in this one would be a mistake. Last time Wyoming played in a bowl game, the 2009 New Mexico Bowl, it went up against a powerful Fresno State offense featuring future San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Matthews. While Matthews got his yards, Wyoming came away the winner in a thrilling double-overtime victory.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho, 5:30 p.m. EST)

Ohio vs. Utah State

Idaho may be famous for potatoes, but in the football world, Idaho is also famous for the blue turf that is normally home to the Boise State Broncos. While the Broncos won’t be playing in this game, a former conference foe of theirs will, as well as yet another MAC team that is accustomed to playing in cold weather.

Utah State entered the spotlight early this season, almost knocking off the defending national champion Auburn Tigers. Although the Tigers weren’t as good as their ranking suggested at the time, it was clear that the Aggies were going to be a force in the WAC. The Aggies have been solid on both sides of the ball this season, leading the WAC in points scored per game (34.5) as well as yards per game given up (368.0) on defense.

The Bobcats are in good position as long as the defense keeps them in the game thanks to sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton. The son of former Major League Baseball player Mickey Tettleton, Tyler has led the Bobcats to fourth-quarter wins twice this season, and has been instrumental in Ohio’s success on offense.

Tettleton is a dual-threat quarterback who can make linebackers miss with his legs and defensive backs pay with his arm.

This game will not be without NFL talent, either.

For Utah State, running back Robert Turbin will be looking to impress pro scouts one last time before he likely enters the NFL draft. For Ohio, wide receiver LaVon Brazill will try to add a few more highlight-reel plays to an already spectacular college career in which he has broken several Bobcat school records.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana, 9 p.m. EST)

San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

San Diego State gets to travel almost the length of the country to play its bowl game, while Louisiana-Lafayette will essentially be playing in its own backyard.

It has been 41 years since the Cajuns have played in a bowl game, so it would be an understatement to say that the team and its fans are excited to go bowling once again after such an extended dry spell.

The Cajuns are led offensively by junior quarterback Blaine Gautier, who has thrown 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Gautier is a dual-threat quarterback who is also the team’s second-leading rusher, so expect him to have a large impact Louisiana-Lafayette’s offensive success.

San Diego State will rely on a steady ground game on offense thanks to sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman, who is third in the nation in rushing yards this season.

However, the Aztecs also have the ability to air it out if they want to. Senior quarterback Ryan Lindley has not had as successful a season as he would’ve liked, but is still a viable threat and could have a big game in the New Orleans Bowl.

One area where Louisiana-Lafayette has struggled this year is defending the pass, as it ranks near the bottom of the Sun Belt in pass defense.

This game has the potential to be one of those games where the outcome shocks the majority of fans. Louisiana-Lafayette will be extremely excited to play in this game, while the Aztecs may have been expected a little more this bowl season.

However, if Lindley is able to get into a groove, the Cajuns may have a problem collecting the hardware for the de facto home team.

The 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be a high scoring affair between two teams that both average over 400 yards of offense. With three bowl games kicking off on December 17th, if you like offense and seeing lots of points, this is the game to watch. 

Ohio from the MAC comes in at 9-4, with losses against Rutgers, Buffalo, Ball State and Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship game.

The Bobcats average over 450 yards of total offense. Led by quarterback Tyler Tettleton, the Bobcats average 31 points a game.

Ohio has a balanced attack, with 200 yards of their offense from the ground and 250 in the air. Ohio is a very good team with three of their losses by three points or less. The other loss was by 11.

Utah State comes in from the WAC with a 7-5 record. Let me tell you now, don't let that record fool you. The Aggies can play some ball, just ask Auburn.

The Aggies love to run it, they average 277 yards on the ground. That is good enough for sixth best in the country. Just don't fall into their trap, because they can pass the ball too. All five of the Aggies losses are 10 points or below. Utah State comes in on a five game winning streak. 

Both teams should score in the 30's in this game. Ohio scores 31 points a game and Utah State averages 34.5 points a game. Both defenses give up a good amount of points, so don't expect a defensive battle.

I watched Utah State play Auburn and really enjoy their playing style. I see Junior Robert Turbin having a big game as the Aggies pull a semi-upset and beat the Bobcats. It will be a close battle, but Utah State prevails 38-31. 

This is a great game to start your college football bowl schedule. If you don't watch all the games, you need to watch this one.

Ever heard of Beau Blankenship before tonight? Didn’t think so. If you have (diehard fan), would you have ever thought Mr. Blankenship would lead the Bobcats in carries, rushing yards and touchdowns?

The correct answer is no. Why? He’s not great at anything in particular. He’s too small, not strong enough and not fast enough. He’s third on the depth chart behind starter Donte Harden and Ryan Boykin.

With Harden coming off a school-record 322 all-purpose yards last week against Temple, who would have thought that Blankenship would even see the field much, except on third downs.

The 5’9” 184-pound sophomore never carried the ball more than 10 times on the season. That all changed in frigid Mount Pleasant on Thursday night.

Blankenship carried the ball 25 times for 130 yards, salting the game away in the fourth quarter with his hard nosed style, good vision and quick cuts.

Blankenship rewarded Frank Solich for trusting him by scoring the last two touchdowns including a 48-yarder to ice the game for the Bobcats.

Blankenship and the ‘Cats ran for an astounding 309 yards on 62 carries as Ohio rolled to a 43-28 win over last place Central Michigan to maintain their lead in the MAC East division.

Ohio has two games remaining but a loss next week to Bowling Green would not be catastrophic.

The Bobcats could secure a division title with a win over Miami on November 22nd no matter what happens next week. They hold the tie-breaker over Temple after last week’s “blackout” win.

2011 MAC East Standings (from ESPN.com)

EAST	CONF	OVR
Ohio	4-2	7-3
Temple	4-3	6-4
Miami (OH)	3-3	4-6
Kent State	2-3	3-6
Bowling Green	2-4	4-6
Buffalo	1-4	2-7
Akron	0-5	1-8

Do you want to know how to get a bunch of young men riled up?

Well, besides that.

The easiest way is to apparently show them a video of some dude in a awful looking jersey. That will make them go crazy, like a bunch of caged animals that saw something far more interesting. 

The posted video should be seen at the 1:10 mark. At that point, the Ohio Bobcats are shown in footage of their new black uniforms. 

The atmosphere in the room goes from teenage apathy to maniacal loon bin, all because a dude is shown wearing a new uniform. 

If you are looking for a correct response, "Hey coach, those look cool," would have done nicely. 

The maddening part of all this is that younger adults are difficult to amaze. I have been at the X-Games, present for the giant vertical ramp, only to see teenagers yawn at what they were seeing. 

I guess if I floated a new jersey in front of them they would have lost their minds, just like the Bobcats.

This is the scariest part in all this. The Bobcats literally lose their minds. 

You can see this at the 1:40 mark when all one player can do is smile and look around for confirmation. The moment is again illustrated when at 1:57 a player comes and shoves another, nearly pushing him into the screen. 

The players don't know what to do with themselves. They want to holler, to scream, to destroy. The first thing I thought of was this little nugget from yesteryear. 

Yes, the Bobcats were acting like a seven year old that just got the exact present he wanted for Christmas. The last question I have is what are these guys going to do when they actually get their hands on the new jerseys?

I would expect open weeping and group hugs.

Relax gentleman.

They are just some new uniforms, and they aren't even that much to look at. For all you fashion shows out there, do not invite any Bobcats, they tend to lose their minds when it comes to clothing. 

The New Orleans Bowl pits the Ohio Bobcats against the Troy Trojans in the Superdome on Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. EST. Both of these teams struggled through portions of this season, but they were able to keep it together and get back to another bowl game.

This looks like an even matchup, so it should be a good way to kick off the bowl season.

New Orleans Bowl Predictions: The Offenses

The Bobcats haven’t had much of a passing game this year, but they have been solid on the ground. Boo Jackson and Phillip Bates have shared time as the starting quarterback for the Bobcats, but I expect Jackson to see most of the time in what will be the final game of his career.

Jackson is a decent passer, but he throws far too many interceptions (15 touchdown passes to 16 interceptions during the regular season). When Bates is in the game, the team is usually running the football. Vince Davidson is the primary tailback for the Bobcats.

The Trojans are led by quarterback Corey Robinson. Robinson threw for 3,339 yards during the regular season. Troy averages an impressive 289 yards per game through the air and they have plenty of depth at the skill positions.

Shawn Southward is the leading rusher, but DeJuan Harris and Chris Anderson see plenty of carries as well. Wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan is the team’s best play-maker, catching 77 passes this year. The Trojans have eight players that registered at least 14 receptions. Troy’s offense has been able to move the ball well in almost every game this year, but turnovers have held them back in some games.

Ohio vs. Troy: The Defenses

Ohio lost linebacker Noah Keller, their defensive leader, to injury early in the season. They struggled for the first few games without him, but they definitely improved down the stretch.

The Bobcats allowed only 99 yards per game on the ground this year, which was good for sixth best in the nation. The strength of this defense is up front, and this defensive line usually controls the battle in the trenches. Ohio is allowing 21.8 points per game this year.

The Troy defense has struggled mightily this year. The Trojans are allowing a staggering 31 points per game this season. Troy’s defense brings the heat often, and they have racked up 34 sacks so far this year.

Since they send so much pressure, the cornerbacks are often left with little help from the safeties, and this team has been beaten deep quite often. Power rushing teams have been able to run the ball on this unit as well. The defense must step up if Troy is going to win this game.

Ohio vs. Troy New Orleans Bowl Betting Odds and Line Movement

The Ohio Bobcats opened as a one-point favorite, according to college football point spreads, but the line has steadily moved in Troy’s favor. Troy is now a slight 1.5-point favorite in this game. The posted total opened at 58 points and has not budged at all.

Ohio vs. Troy Betting Trends

The Bobcats are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as an underdog. Troy is just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall. The "over" is 7-1 in Ohio’s last eight games as an underdog. The "over" is 4-0 in Troy’s last four bowl games.

New Orleans Bowl Predictions: Ohio vs. Troy Betting Picks

Troy should have a bit of a home field advantage here, but their defense is just plain terrible this year. Ohio’s defense hasn’t faced many good passing games this season, and I expect them to struggle to stop Troy. I think "over" 58 is the best play in this year’s New Orleans Bowl.

The college football bowl season continues with a decent match up in the New Orleans Bowl.

The Troy Trojans take on the Ohio Bobcats in the 10th annual R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, this Saturday night in the Louisiana Superdome. The latest college football odds posted by onlinesportsbook BetMania have the Trojans listed as slight one point favorites.

The Trojans come in with a 7-5 record and a partial Sun Belt title, while the Bobcats finished with a record of 8-4, and that was good for second place behind Miami (OH) in the MAC East.

Ohio had a chance to win the East Division of the MAC along with a trip to the MAC Championship Game but came up short in a loss at Kent State in their season finale. Now the Bobcats will look to finish the season on a positive note and defeat the Trojans.

The Bobcats super season was fueled by the strength of its defense, which allowed 21.8 points per game and just over 300 yards.

The Bobcats were outstanding against the run, allowing only 98.9 rushing yards per game to a mostly run oriented conference. If the Bobcats had a weakness it was in a pass defense that surrendered 7.3 yards per attempt, and will have to find a way to stop the Trojans if they hope to win.

The Trojans offense is statistically sound averaging 32.9 points on 155.3 rushing yards and 289.4 passing yards per game.

Quarterback Corey Robinson is a safe signal caller that can manipulate the defense with his pinpoint control of the offense. This balanced attack allows the Trojans to keep their opponent guessing and control the time of possession.

This is important for the Trojans, because their weakness is on the defensive side of the ball.

The Trojan defense is allowing 31.0 points on 419.2 yards per game and the Bobcats will try and expose their weakness behind a strong running attack.

The Bobcats can pound it on the ground, averaging over 170 yards rushing per game on the season. If the Trojans can’t find a way to stop the ground game they will have no shot of beating Ohio.

The Bobcats are 7-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last nine games overall and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as an underdog. The Trojans are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games and just 2-7 ATS in the last nine as a favorite.

If defense wins ballgames than the edge in this game goes to Ohio.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.

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Sugar Bowl: Five Reason the Hogs can beat the Buckeyes