Tulane vs Nevada: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction and game preview.
Tulane vs Nevada: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Broadcast
Date: Tuesday, December 22
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
Venue: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Network: ESPN
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Tulane (6-5) vs Nevada (6-2) Game Preview
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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
– It’s as interesting a fish-out-of-water game as possible for a Tulane team coming up from New Orleans to take what would normally be a MAC spot vs. a Mountain West team. The Green Wave come in after winning four of their last five games with the only loss in the bunch at Tulsa, and they’re looking for their fifth win in six bowl appearances going back to 1987 when some Mack Brown guy couldn’t win the Independence against Washington.
Head coach Willie Fritz has 2-for-2 in bowl games with Tulane, but this is something different. This would be a big game and a big moment for the program considering the location and the uniqueness of the game.
– Nevada was humming. It was looking like the Mountain West’s best team with a 5-0 start, and then came the tough loss at Hawaii, and the after beating Fresno State, a 30-20 loss to eventual conference champ San Jose State. Head coach Jay Norvell is 1-1 in bowl games – losing last year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Ohio.
– These are two fun teams. Nevada can wing the ball all over the place, Tulane has a dangerous ground game, and both teams will get things moving. However, this could get interesting depending on the weather. It’s supposed to be okay by kickoff, but cold. It’s going to snow in the morning, but for a team from New Orleans, 30ish degrees could be an issue.
Why Tulane, Nevada Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History
NEXT: Why Tulane Will Win, Why Nevada Will Win, Tulane vs Nevada Prediction
Why Tulane Will Win
– The Green Wave offense is balanced enough to adapt to the game flow. If things are really humming, the ground game takes over with a whole lot big plays while controlling the clock and the tempo. Running well doesn’t always equal a win – they’ve lost two games when cranking out over 200 yards – but they can throw, too.
– Nevada’s defense is fine. It’s nothing special, and it’ll give up rushing yards to teams that try. The real problem is a pass defense that’s been getting hit hard for too many big plays.
There isn’t a pass rush to worry about, and the group doesn’t take the ball away enough to matter. Tulane QB Michael Pratt has thrown two touchdown passes or more in six straight games. He’s not going to bomb away for 300 yards, but he doesn’t need to.
– Nevada doesn’t run the ball, and here comes the Tulane pass rush. It comes from all sides and from a variety of spots, generating 36 sacks on the season and an AAC-leading 94 tackles for loss. The Nevada pass protection is technically fine because of the style, but the backfield will be under pressure all game long.
Yeah, the Tulane pass rush is great, but …
Why Nevada Will Win
– The Tulane pass defense has issues. It has allowed 250 yards or more in seven of the last nine games and 299 yards or more seven times. The nine picks have come in bunches with two in three games and three spread out the rest of the way – the secondary doesn’t generate enough big plays. having one of the nation’s worst pass defenses is a problem because …
– Nevada QB Carson Strong is among the best bombers in the Mountain West. The sophomore started well with 420 yards in a win over Wyoming, and he kept on rolling from there averaging 7.9 yards per pass with 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions, throwing two against Fresno State. Give him time, and he’s good for 300 yards.
– For all of the good things Tulane does, and with all the strong parts of the offense, it doesn’t move the chains all that well, and Michael Pratt is inconsistent throwing the ball. He’s been on lately, but get pressure on him – and if the conditions go weird – and he has the potential to be in the 40% completion range.
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Tulane vs Nevada Prediction, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl History
What’s Going To Happen
These are two even teams that can each come up with enough offense and enough big things on both sides to make this a fun four-quarter battle.
The difference will be the Tulane defensive line. The secondary might get hit for too many yards, but the D as a whole is better at taking the ball away and the front can get to the quarterback. Nevada doesn’t force enough takeaways and it doesn’t get into the backfield.
Tulane wins this on a late drive and clutch defensive stop – on a sack.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Tulane vs Nevada Prediction, Line
Tulane 30, Nevada 27
Bet on Tulane vs Nevada with BetMGM
Tulane -2.5, o/u: 57
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 3
5: New Year’s Day on the couch
1: New Year’s Eve going out
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl History
Jan. 3, 2020 Ohio 30, Nevada 21
Dec. 21, 2018 BYU 37, Western Michigan 14
Dec. 22, 2017 Wyoming 37, Central Michigan 14
Dec. 22, 2016 Idaho 61, Colorado State 50
Dec. 22, 2015 Akron 23 Utah State 21
Dec. 20, 2014 Air Force 38 Western Michigan 24
Dec. 21, 2013 San Diego State 49 Buffalo 24
Dec. 15, 2012 Utah State 41 Toledo 15
Dec. 17, 2011 Ohio 24 Utah State 23
Dec. 18, 2010 Northern Illinois 40 Fresno State 17
Dec. 30, 2009 Idaho 43 Bowling Green 42
Dec. 30, 2008 Maryland 42 Nevada 35
Dec. 31, 2007 Fresno State 40 Georgia Tech 28
Dec. 31, 2006 Miami 21 Nevada 20
Dec. 28, 2005 Boston College 27 Boise State 21
Dec. 27, 2004 Fresno State 37 Virginia 34 (OT)
Jan. 3, 2004 Georgia Tech 52 Tulsa 10
Dec. 31, 2002 Boise State 34 Iowa State 16
Dec. 31, 2001 Clemson 49 Louisiana Tech 24
Dec. 28, 2000 Boise State 38 UTEP 23
Dec. 30, 1999 Boise State 34 Louisville 31
Dec. 30, 1998 Idaho 42 Southern Miss 35
Dec. 29, 1997 Cincinnati 35 Utah State 19
