December 30th 2009, 4:30 ET ESPN
If Vegetarians eat vegetables, what do Humanitarians eat? Ok, most will think that joke is as bad as the blue turf this game will be played on. This year’s Humanitarian Bowl will feature the Bowling Green Falcons and the Idaho Vandals.
This will be the first appearance of a MAC team in this bowl’s 13 years. The MWC, who took over for the ACC this year, was unable to fulfill their bowl obligations in 2009. Idaho won the second Humanitarian Bowl 42-35 over S. Mississippi in 1998.
Who looks set to start the all time series between these programs on the right foot?
General
| Bowling Green Vandals |
Idaho Vandals |
|
| Current Top 25 Faced |
#6 Boise St. (14-49) | #6 Boise St. (25-63) |
| Ranking | #70 | #75 |
| Record | 7-5 | 7-5 |
Both teams played one ranked opponent, their only common opponent and the team whose field they will be playing on December 30th. Neither were very competitive.
Bowling Green’s Ball
| Bowling Green Offense |
Idaho Defense |
|
| Points | 27.33 | 35.50 |
| Yards | 391.4 | 424.5 |
| Per Play | 5.31 | 6.40 |
| Rushing | 81.3 | 155.6 |
| Per Play | 2.90 | 4.63 |
| Passing | 310.2 | 268.9 |
| Per Play | 6.79 | 8.21 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 19 |
Idaho has seen much better offenses in the WAC than the defenses Bowling Green saw in the MAC. Bowling Green has struggled running the ball and that should continue this week. Some success should be found through the air.
Idaho’s Ball
| Bowling Green Defense |
Idaho Offense |
|
| Points | 26.17 | 31.83 |
| Yards | 353.8 | 451.3 |
| Per Play | 5.95 | 6.92 |
| Rushing | 192.8 | 160.8 |
| Per Play | 5.34 | 4.65 |
| Passing | 201.0 | 290.6 |
| Per Play | 6.68 | 9.48 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 23 |
Idaho has seen far worse defenses than the offenses Bowling Green has seen in the MAC. Again, the ground game is in Idaho’s favor.
Prediction
Idaho is going to control the trenches on both sides, but this game will evolve into a passing shootout.
Idaho 35 Bowling Green 31