Fiesta Bowl 2014: Top Stats That Will Decide Boise State vs. Arizona

A top game between two elite teams often comes down to a few small factors.

This will certainly be the case when Boise State and Arizona collide in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET in Glendale, Arizona. Although neither of these teams spent a lot of time in the national spotlight this season, they are clearly among the best in the nation and will prove it on New Year's Eve.

While each team has its own stars and strategies for winning this showdown, the winner will be the one that can get the advantage in a few statistical categories. Here is a look at the most important stats that will help decide the highly anticipated battle.

Jay Ajayi Rushing Yards

Otto Kitsinger/Associated Press

Arguably the most talented offensive player in this game is Boise State running back Jay Ajayi. The junior made a bunch of All-American lists this season after finishing with 1,689 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, both of which ranked in the top five of the nation.

Head coach Bryan Harsin also expects plenty of success for the young player at the next level:

The running back saved some of his biggest games for the most important conference battles. Ajayi totaled 229 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a win over Utah State while contributing 280 total yards from scrimmage and three scores against Colorado State.

On the other hand, the team was only 2-2 on the year when Ajayi failed to reach 100 rushing yards. This compares to a 9-0 mark when he topped the century mark.

Arizona has been inconsistent against the run this season, ranking 71st in the nation with 170.4 yards allowed per game. However, the Wildcats can give themselves a great chance of winning if they can hold Ajayi to double digits on the ground.

Samajie Grant Touches

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Running back Nick Wilson and receiver Cayleb Jones each play big roles within the Arizona offense, but arguably the most dynamic player on the roster is sophomore Samajie Grant.

The receiver was missed in the Pac-12 Championship Game after being punished for an off-field incident, as explained by Richie Melby of KVOA News 4:

Grant finished the game with one catch for four yards as the Wildcats fell 51-13. In the team's three losses, the big-play threat has just four total receptions for 31 yards.

However, Grant has shown the ability to change games when he gets the ball more often. In the final four games of the regular season, he had 347 yards on 18 catches (19.3 average) and four touchdowns.

If the Wildcats can get the ball into his hands at least four or five times, Grant can provide some highlight-reel plays and help the team win.

Team Sacks

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Quarterbacks Anu Solomon and Grant Hedrick have both showcased a lot of ability this season, but each player makes mistakes when under pressure. While one is a freshman and the other is a sophomore, both deal with a lack of experience under center.

Things will be especially tough for Hedrick—who has a total of eight interceptions in Boise State's two losses—when he is forced to stare down Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright. The sophomore not only was one of the best players at his position this season, he put himself in Heisman contention with his play:

He enters the bowl season with 14 sacks while leading the country with 28 tackles for loss. He knows how to get into the backfield and finish a play before it starts.

Of course, the Broncos also have some tricks up their sleeves and can get to the quarterback with Kamalei Correa. The defensive lineman had 4.5 sacks in the final three games and consistently causes problems for opponents.

These players will lead the way for both sides, although plenty of other defenders have the ability to get to the opposing quarterback.

With the way each team is capable of scoring points, creating pressure is the only true way to slow things down. Whichever side can do a better job of bringing down the quarterback will have more success defensively.

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