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Potato Bowl: San Diego State plays Buffalo in a climate more suited to the Bulls
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Buffalo vs. San Diego State
Boise
Dec. 21, 2013
Can this game serve as a litmus test between the Mountain West and the MAC?
Both Buffalo and San Diego State finished 6-2 in conference play and each were fourth (or tied for third if we want to nitpick San Diego State.) Each conference -- Northern Illinois in the MAC and Fresno State in the MWC -- had a team that was in contention for a BCS berth until a late-season loss. And each conference had three cellar dwellers.
But this is a bowl game. And the conditions in Boise will be in Buffalo's favor. Who knows, maybe some of their blue-and-white clad players will blend into the Boise State blue turf.
Plus, both of these teams are in the same vicinity offensively. San Diego State averages 21 more yards per game and passes for more yards while Buffalo rushes for more yards and scores two more points per game. Which defense is going to get a stop or a turnover? The answer to that question is likely Buffalo, who is +16 in turnover margin.
Mascot Fight
This is a tough one. If you envision this similar to a bull fight, an Aztec -- even armed with an arrow -- may be trouble when he's being rushed by a bull. However, aztecs are no strangers to animal sacrifice and probably sacrificed a bull or three in their existence. Advantage: San Diego State.
Graham: Buffalo 31, San Diego State 21. Buffalo is going to be better in a cold weather game and let's not forget that San Diego State doesn't have a reliable kicker. It's struggled in close games because it's had missed kicks or its had to convert fourth downs instead of kicking field goals. Gonna be tough to play Buffalo's good defense without a kicking game.
Nick: San Diego State 26, Buffalo 20. Steak goes better with potatoes than Aztecs do and the weather in Boise more closely resembles Buffalo than southern California. I'm also going to continue to go all opposite theory and say that the turnover luck flips for Buffalo and San Diego State capitalizes.
Sam: Buffalo 24, San Diego State 21. Playing on a cold Boise afternoon has to give Buffalo some sort of advantage over San Diego State, right? I can get behind that narrative. The Bulls will win a bowl game for the first time in program history.
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is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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