Wyoming vs Toledo

Saturday, December 30
1:30 pm PT, The CW/Barstool
Tucson, AZ

This is the seventh bowl appearance in Jason Candle’s eight seasons with the Rockets.

The Cowboys have also experienced a run of success over the last eight seasons with this being their sixth to end in a bowl game during that span.

Wyoming is going bowling for the third consecutive season; it’s the first time UW has ever accomplished that.

The Cowboys enter the Arizona Bowl having won their last two games after a rough 1-3 stretch in the middle of the season.

On their way to an 8-4 mark on the season, the Cowboys knocked off a pair of ranked teams and played fourth-ranked Texas toe-to-toe for three quarters.

During their two-game win streak, Wyoming has outscored opponents 84-12 while averaging 440.5 yards of offense per game. The Cowboys collected nine sacks in the final two contests of the regular season.

This one will be the final ride for Craig Bohl as he will retire following the game and a 10-year run in Laramie, the longest tenure ever for a Wyoming head coach.

It is sort of a shame that Bohl’s final game will come with the Barstool Idiots announcing the game, but that is what it is.

Both teams run the ball well and have ball carriers that can get things done.

Peny Boone, the MAC offensive POY, has averaged 107.7 yards per game. Boone entered the transfer portal and it isn’t clear if he will play in the bowl game.

Wyoming’s Harrison Waylee has averaged 95.1 rushing yards per game, good enough for the 25th most in the country.

The players in the middle of the other side of the ball also rank high nationally in tackles. Easton Gibbs is 32nd in the nation with 8.8 tackles per game while Dallas Gant’s 8.5 for UT are the 42nd-most among FBS players.

Toledo is among the nation’s best at moving the ball on offense. The Rockets rank 27th in the nation with 33.6 points per game. 426.2 yards per game for the Rockets is 33rd in the nation.

The first option for the Rockets is to move it on the ground as they rank 12th with 202.8 yards on the ground per game.

The Cowboys only allowed 22.9 points per game this season. The Pokes only allowed 360.2 yards of total offense per game. Opponents were only able to run the ball for 144.6 yards per game against Wyoming.

This one could come down to big plays. Toledo has had 26 plays from scrimmage this season of at least 30 yards. Wyoming has only had 13 such plays, for the Cowboys, which ranks 127th in the nation.

Another key will be the play of the two QBs.

This season, Andrew Peasley has proven that he can win a game for the Cowboys if the run game is taken away from them.

Toledo was pretty good against the run this season allowing 147.5 per game, but they did allow over 170 on the ground four times this season.

Miami (OH) ran for 197 in the MAC title game and they gave up 236 on the ground to Western Michigan.

The strength of the Rockets’ defense was against the pass though. Toledo is 13th in the nation, allowing just 182.9 passing yards per game.

If the Rockets negate the Wyoming run game, Peasley could have his work cut out for him through the air. Peasley’s ability to run the ball will be key to keeping things balanced.

Toledo has a dual threat at QB as well.

Dequan Finn might be more dynamic than the Wyoming signal caller. Finn threw for 204.4 per game and ran for almost 50 per game. Finn is extremely dangerous when he gets out of the pocket.

Toledo has a 12-8 bowl record going back to its very first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969. The Rockets are 4-1 in bowl games vs. current Mountain West Conference teams.

The Cowboys are 9-9 all-time in Bowl games dating back to their first contest in the 1951 Gator Bowl.

Wyoming is playing a MAC opponent in a bowl game for the fourth time in their last five bowls with a 2-1 mark against the conference in the postseason.

I think this one will stay low-scoring and if that is the case it should play into the Cowboys’ hands. Toledo has more firepower on offense, but the Cowboys have the edge on the defensive side of things.

Craig Bohl rides off a winner in his final game.

My Pick: Wyoming 23, Toledo 20

(Toledo +3.5, Under 45)