Idaho Potato Bowl 2014: Western Michigan vs. Air Force TV Info, Spread and Time
Neither the Western Michigan Broncos nor the Air Force Falcons will leave the 2014 Idaho Potato Bowl disappointed.
Call Saturday's spectacle in Boise a turnaround bowl. Western Michigan and Air Force won a combined three games in 2013 before each improved in the win column by a seven-game margin.
These teams didn't rely on padded schedules to become bowl eligible. Notable victories helped them achieve program-best turnarounds. Western Michigan knocked off MAC East champion Bowling Green, while Air Force took down Mountain West contenders Boise State and Colorado State.
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Contrasting styles collide Saturday in what is sure to be a memorable offensive display by both sides. Enthusiasts of the traditional ground game and the Air Raid offense both will want to catch this one.
Air Force's Grounded Ways
Troy Calhoun's team cares little for the pass, which is why senior quarterback Kale Pearson has all of 162 attempts on the season (14 of which went for scores).
Pearson comes in second place on quite a lengthy list of potent rushers Air Force deploys in any number of ways in a given contest:
| Jacobi Owens | 204 | 1054 | 5.2 | 55 | 5 |
| Kale Pearson | 157 | 646 | 4.1 | 42 | 6 |
| Shayne Davern | 99 | 412 | 4.2 | 21 | 6 |
| Devin Rushing | 63 | 329 | 5.2 | 20 | 2 |
| D.J. Johnson | 61 | 247 | 4.0 | 21 | 7 |
| Garrett Brown | 35 | 185 | 5.3 | 42 | 1 |
| Broam Hart | 31 | 117 | 3.8 | 13 | 1 |
| Nate Romine | 35 | 94 | 2.7 | 23 | 1 |
This allows the Falcons to rank eighth in the nation in rushing with an average of 272.2 yards per game on the ground. Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck understands the unique challenge Air Force presents on each down, as captured by Brent Briggeman of The Colorado Springs Gazette:
"If you can stop the run you've got a chance in any game. They've got a heck of a quarterback and their skill players can really run. It's not necessarily like playing Navy where it's 90 percent of their offense, with Air Force it's about 70 percent triple option and they can throw it as well. So we've got our work cut out for us.
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Western Michigan figures to have problems with the approach. The nation's 39th-ranked defense lost notable encounters with potent rushing attacks this season.
Northern Illinois had its way on the ground with the Broncos, running for 196 yards and three scores on a 5.8 per-carry average in a 31-21 win. Toledo upended Western Michigan 20-19 by way of 234 yards and a score on a 6.5 per-carry average.
The key to success for Air Force is obvious, not that the Falcons would change their approach either way.
Quarterback Turnaround
The saving grace for Western Michigan in Saturday's game, other than plenty of time to prepare for the triple-option attack, is the improved play of sophomore quarterback Zach Terrell.
Terrell completed just 53.0 percent of his passes last year with eight touchdowns and interceptions. He personifies the turnaround bowl, as his completion percentage has jumped to 70.0 along with 3,146 yards and 23 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Over the course of this impressive turnaround, Terrell posted seven multi-touchdown games and his completion percentage dipped below 62.5 in just two contests.
Of course, Terrell has help. Freshman tailback Jarvion Franklin rushed for 1,525 yards and 24 touchdowns on the year. Corey Davis caught 70 passes for 1,232 yards and 12 scores, while fellow wideout Daniel Braverman caught 79 for 912 and six.
This sort of air efficiency can do much to counteract Air Force's ball control, although the Falcons have a reputation for their run defense.
To upend the Falcons and cap off an outstanding year, Terrell will need one more electric performance.
When: Saturday, December 20, 5:45p.m. ET
Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Television: ESPN
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 57.5
- Spread: Air Force (-1)
Team Injury Reports
| Devante Lee | DE | 09/04/2014 | is suspended indefinitely | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Austin Lewis | LB | 09/23/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Edward Rolle | LB | 09/04/2014 | is suspended indefinitely | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Garrett Smith | CB | 08/31/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Jason Sylva | LB | 09/23/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | foot |
| Allen Caunitz | T | 10/01/2014 | is expected to miss 6-8 weeks | Out | ankle |
| Garrett Griffin | TE | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Idaho Potato Bowl Saturday against Western Michigan | Questionable | undisclosed |
| Jon Lee | RB | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Idaho Potato Bowl Saturday against Western Michigan | Questionable | eligibility |
| Jacobi Owens | RB | 11/21/2014 | is expected to miss the remainder of the season | Out | foot |
| Kale Pearson | QB | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Idaho Potato Bowl Saturday against Western Michigan | Questionable | undisclosed |
| Sevrin Remmo | T | 09/17/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | foot |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
The Broncos have never won a bowl game, a streak that seems set to continue for at least one more season.
Air Force has won five of its last six and is 9-0 when rushing for at least 198 yards. Thanks to the efforts of Pearson and others, that number seems like an obtainable benchmark based on how the Western Michigan defense has performed against elite rushing attacks this year.
Saturday's showdown will by no means be a blowout, but Terrell cannot seize the first bowl win in program history from the sidelines.
Look for Air Force to grind it out on the ground late.
Prediction: Air Force 24, Western Michigan 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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