When I was a kid and I would come downstairs on the morning of December 21st, my dad would always say it was the shortest day of the year. I still don’t quite understand that. Something to do with the amount of daylight I believe. And that means a lot to the farmers in this country. Especially the potato farmers. So what better a time to put forth a potato bowl prediction. In this year’s version of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, we’ve got Western Michigan playing BYU.
So we’ve got a little bit of history between these two teams. The problem is that it’s completely irrelevant. They’ve played each other five times previously, but the last matchup occurred forty eight years ago in 1970.
What’s the Line at WANNA? BYU -12.5 O/U 51.5 over Western Michigan
It’s not often you see two teams square off in a bowl game with both having a true freshman as their starting QB. But that’s exactly what we have in the Potato Bowl this year. Western Michigan had to turn to Kaleb Eleby after Jon Wassink went down with a foot injury. In four games (three starts), Eleby has posted respectable numbers (917 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 64.5 percent completion rate) but the Broncos are just 1-2 with him as a starter. Unlike Wassink, Eleby is not much of a threat to run, although he does have two touchdowns on the ground.
For BYU, head coach Kalani Sitake decided to make the switch from Tanner Mangum to Zach Wilson halfway through the season. The results are looking pretty good. In six starts, Wilson has accounted for 10 total touchdowns (8 passing, 2 rushing) with just three interceptions while leading the Cougars to a 3-3 record.
Statistically speaking, BYU’s defense has fared better than Western Michigan’s, but both freshman signal-callers will have to find a way to make plays and protect the ball if they want to put their team in the best position to win.
Any NFL Prospects?
For several players, Saturday will be their final game of their college careers for others it’s a chance to impress any NFL scouts that may be in attendance. For BYU, the ones to keep an eye on would be linebacker Sione Takitaki, defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, and offensive lineman Austin Hoyt. Takitaki leads the Cougars with 99 tackles, including eight for a loss while Tonga (6-4, 340) and Hoyt (6-8, 315) both possess impressive size.
On the other side, Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy is the Bronco to watch. The junior was named first-team All-MAC after leading the conference with 1,172 rushing yards. Bellamy has overcome injuries during his time at WMU but has shown what he can do when he stays on the field, averaging a healthy 6.2 yards per carry. We think he’ll have a big game Saturday. A great opportunity for him to showcase his talents, as BYU enters this game ranked 26th in the nation against the run (129.4 ypg).
Prediction
This game feels like it will be a lot closer than Vegas has reflected in the line. BYU has brand equity and may be inflated due to it. This is not the BYU teams of old that run up and down the field every Saturday. They have been a team that is very inconsistent this year, especially on offense. BYU has the stronger defense, but WMU has the better running game. And we think things we’ll be relatively even when it’s all said and done. Feels like a close one and Western Michigan may just pull off the upset. Either way, take the points. Prediction, BYU 30, WMU 24.
Morris Chambers is a senior college football analyst for Wannamakeabet.com Check back daily for more predictions on all the bowl games