Vegas College Football Bowl Predictions Part I (Pre-Christmas): Utah-Colorado State & More
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Nov 29, 2014; Fresno, CA, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs free safety Derron Smith (13) celebrates with defensive back Curtis Riley (9) after recording an interception against the Hawaii Warriors in the third quarter at Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs defeated the Warriors 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Hawai’i Bowl- Honolulu, Hawaii
Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Rice Owls
Line: Rice by 2.5
Saturday Blitz Vegas Bowl Prediction: Fresno State Wins 34-31
Talk about identical teams. Both of these groups like to run a balanced offense and have terrible defenses. Fresno State has a better offense statistically overall, but they also have a worse defense. However, Rice’s surrendering of 76 points to Louisiana Tech in their last game left a bad taste in our mouth.
And knowing that they played in a weaker conference than Fresno State, the Owls don’t have as much of an excuse for their bad defense outside of having to play Marshall.
This game is going to be a shootout in Hawaii, but Fresno State is so much more tested overall than Rice, despite both teams playing a pretty good out of conference schedule, that they will be able to handle the magnitude of this game a lot better. When it’s all said and done, with fans in Fresno having much easier access to Hawaii than Rice fans in Houston anyway, the Bulldogs will pull out the win.
And Fresno State will be able to at least finish the season at .500 with a 7-7 record.
Next: College Football Bowl Predictions from Christmas to New Year's
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