Las Vegas Bowl 2016: Houston vs. San Diego State TV Schedule, Time and Odds
The Houston Cougars and San Diego State Aztecs look ready to put on one of bowl season's best games in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl on opening weekend.
Houston (9-3) brings an elite offense to Nevada and bids farewell to elite quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who would likely want to vent some frustration after his team failed to secure a bigger bid.
San Diego State (10-3) has a player who is receiving even more recognition than Ward, as Donnel Pumphrey put on a season worthy of Heisman Trophy contention.
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This game doesn't just feature some of the country's best individual players—it also looks like an evenly matched affair. Here's a look at everything to know about the contest.
Las Vegas Bowl 2016
Date: Saturday
Time (ET): 3:30 p.m.
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Watch: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Over/Under: 60
Spread: Houston (-4)
Team Injury Reports
| D'Eriq King | QB | Out |
| Linell Bonner | WR | Probable |
| Kyle Postma | QB | Out |
| Ra'Shaad Samples | WR | Questionable |
| Kahale Warring | TE | Out for season |
| Na'im McGee | S | Out for season |
| Randy Ricks | DL | Out for season |
| Turner Bernard | LS | Out for season |
| Joe Salcedo | OL | Out for season |
| Marcus Stamps | RB | Out for season |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
Redemption and a Farewell
The Cougars have something to prove to the world.
Houston looked ready for a bowl game in January, shocking the globe at the start of the season with an upset of then-No. 3 Oklahoma. By the end of November, the Cougars had two upsets over Top Five teams after also downing then-No. 5 Louisville in dominant fashion, 36-10.
There was just one problem—the Cougars also dropped games to unranked Navy, SMU and Memphis teams along the way.
Those losses shouldn't dampen Houston's outlook or Ward's impressive play. The senior completed 67.6 percent of his passes this year for 3,328 with 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions. And don't forget the 175 carries for 518 yards and nine touchdowns—all numbers that led the team.
The biggest hurdle for the Cougars Saturday comes from within, as ESPN.com's Jared Shanker pointed out:
"It will be tough for the remaining coaches to get the Cougars excited about a bowl game after Tom Herman bolted for nearby Texas. The team came out flat against Memphis as rumors swirled that Herman was leaving, and now he’s officially out the door. There isn’t a New Year’s Six bowl to spark motivation, either.
"
No doubt Ward and the Cougars have enough talent to win. The difference might be the motivation level of those around Ward.
Riding a History-Making Back
San Diego State is the Pumphrey show, which nobody on the Aztecs' sideline will complain about.
Pumphrey, all 5'9" and 180 pounds of him, put on an absolute show this season—he rushed 330 times for 2,018 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He's second in the nation in rushing yards and all-purpose yards at 2,229.
Did anyone mention Pumphrey hasn't played in the fourth quarter of four of his team's last seven games? Now he's 108 yards off the all-time rushing mark.
“I just want (the record) for my teammates, to be honest,” Pumphrey said, according to USA Today's Matt L. Stephens.
Pumphrey doesn't have to go at it alone, since he's backed by a solid defense. Leading the way is cornerback Damontae Kazee, who has won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the Mountain West twice.
If Kazee can help limit Ward, San Diego State can notch an 11th win against an opponent with quite the resume.
Prediction
The odds seem to think that the Houston that upended a pair of Top Five teams will show up Saturday.
Those who are picking the game have to know better. With former head coach Tom Herman taking the job at Texas, the players have had their leadership cut out from underneath them, and while they'll want to win for Ward, the reality of a neutral-location game at the end of a long season can't go ignored.
Plus, the Cougars have to contend with Pumphrey. After the Aztecs secured revenge on Wyoming in a conference title game, look for Pumphrey to go out on a high note while etching his name in the history books.
If there weren't so many changes plaguing the Houston program, this prediction might go the other way. Regardless, it's going to be an entertaining affair.
Prediction: San Diego State 30, Houston 24
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of OddsShark.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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