Buffalo vs. San Diego State Betting Line: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Carrie Stroup here with your Buffalo vs. San Diego State betting line for Saturday’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 bet here and remember you can bet this game LIVE right up to the final play.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: SDSU -1 & 51.5
Opening Line & Total: Buffalo -3.5 & 53
Buffalo attempts to win its first-ever bowl game when it takes on San Diego State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday.
The Bulls finished second in the Mid-American Conference’s East division behind Bowling Green and were rewarded with their second bowl game in school history. Their first came in the 2008 season when they lost 38-20 to Connecticut in the International Bowl. Buffalo had a chance to be in the MAC championship game, but lost in the last game of the season to the Falcons by a score of 24-7. On the season, the Bulls brought a balanced offensive attack with 230 YPG through the air and 172 YPG on the ground. This will be the Aztecs' 12th bowl appearance and fourth one in as many seasons, but they have just one bowl win since 1970, going 1-5 SU during this span, which includes two straight losses. San Diego State put up a strong showing in the Mountain West Conference, finishing second in the MWC West division with a 6-2 conference record. The Aztecs finished the season strong, winning four of their final five games SU (3-2 ATS) but had a disappointing 45-19 loss at underdog UNLV in their regular season finale. SDSU has given up 32.3 PPG to their opponents this season (97th in nation), and Buffalo has gone 25-12 ATS (68%) against teams who give up 31+ points a game since 1992. However, Jeff Quinn is 1-9 ATS after gaining 100 or fewer rushing yards in the previous game as Buffalo's head coach. Neither team has significant injuries for this game.
Buffalo has put its faith in sophomore QB Joe Licata, and he has in return given them great results with 2,628 passing yards (7.1 YPA) with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has been durable and played every game for the Bulls this season but had a tough performance in a big game against Bowling Green when he went 21-for-45 (46.7%) for 221 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT. His big game this season came in a shootout with Toledo when he threw for 497 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. His team is led in the backfield by senior HB Branden Oliver who ranks 12th in the nation with 1,421 rushing yards (5.0 YPC) and has added 15 touchdowns on the ground. After seven straight 100-yard games where he averaged 169 rushing YPG with 12 TD, Oliver struggled against BGSU with only 46 yards on 18 carries (2.6 YPC), but extended his rushing touchdown streak to six games. Senior WR Alex Neutz has been the go-to receiver for Licata with 947 yards on 58 receptions (16.3 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, while fellow senior WR Fred Lee has also been important to the offense with 644 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The Buffalo defense was solid most of the season, giving up 22.3 PPG to their opponents (27th in nation) with that number being inflated by allowing 110 combined points to two top-25 teams (Ohio State and Baylor) in the first two games of the season. Buffalo has allowed only 160 rushing YPG on 4.1 YPC, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a mere 52.0% completion rate.
The Aztecs have done well through the air all season, averaging 262.3 YPG in that category (35th in nation). Junior QB Quinn Kaehler has put up solid numbers all season with 2,796 passing yards (7.8 YPA), 17 TD and 9 INT, while throwing for 200+ yards in all 11 games he played. San Diego State uses the combo of HBs Adam Muema (1,015 rush yards, 4.5 YPC, 12 TD) and Donnel Pumphrey (750 rush yards, 6.1 YPC, 8 TD) to effectively run the ball. Junior WR Ezell Ruffin has been impressive this season with 1,061 receiving yards on 63 catches (16.8 avg.), but has only three touchdowns and has not had more than four catches or 100 yards since Nov. 2. Senior WR Colin Lockett has 696 yards on 49 receptions (14.2 avg.) and leads the team with five touchdowns, scoring in each of the past four games for San Diego State. The team would have most likely won more games this season if it weren’t for its Swiss cheese defense that has given up 259 passing YPG on a 62% completion rate, and has only 16 takeaways compared to the 28 that their opponents have.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
