Yahoo Sports North Texas vs. Utah State: New Mexico Bowl preview and predictions
North Texas (9-3) vs. Utah State (10-2)
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico | Time: 2 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN | Line: Utah St -8
HOW THESE TEAMS GOT HERE
North Texas: UNT, during its 4-0 start, had one of the highlights of the year with its fake fair catch punt return touchdown against Arkansas. The Mean Green was the favorite to win the C-USA West, but ended up finishing behind UAB with a 5-3 record. With 18 wins in two seasons, Seth Littrell was a candidate at Kansas State, but ended up pulling his name from consideration to stay in Denton for another year.
Utah State: The Aggies nearly upset Michigan State in East Lansing to open the season. From there, USU won 10 games in a row, averaging 51.1 points per game in the process. However, the Aggies lost to Boise State in the season finale with the Mountain West’s Mountain Division on the line. Coach Matt Wells moved on to Texas Tech after the regular season and assistant Frank Maile will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game.
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WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
These are two really fun offenses, so the potential for a shootout is real. Utah State ranks No. 11 nationally with 492.5 yards per game while North Texas isn’t far behind, coming in at No. 15 with 472.8 yards per game. From a scoring perspective, Utah State (47.2 ppg) is behind only Oklahoma and Alabama in points per game. North Texas’ 36.4 ppg is 21st nationally.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mason Fine, QB, North Texas: A three-year starter, Fine has thrown for 3,734 yards, 27 touchdowns and only five INTs this year. There were some rumblings that Fine would test the graduate transfer market, but he reaffirmed his commitment to staying at UNT for his senior season.
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Love, a second-team all-Mountain West selection, is one of the better quarterbacks in the country you may not have heard of. The sophomore threw for 3,208 yards, 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions while completing 65.8 percent of his passes this season.
WHAT’S ON THE LINE
Utah State: USU has the chance to tie a school record with 11 wins, matching a win total reached in 2012 — Gary Andersen’s last season as head coach. Andersen, who left for Wisconsin and later coached at Oregon State, was officially brought back by USU on Monday.
North Texas: With a win, UNT can reach 10 wins in a season for the first time in program history. A victory would also mark just the third bowl win for the Mean Green.
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PREDICTIONS
Nick Bromberg: North Texas 31, Utah State 30
Sam Cooper: Utah State 38, North Texas 34
Pat Forde: North Texas 35, Utah State 34
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