Idsho Potato Bowl: Predictions, odds, how to watch Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will bring the Northern Illinois Huskies and Fresno State Bulldogs together in Boise, Idaho as college football bowl season rumbles on.
Northern Illinois (7-5) started off the season with a stunning upset of Notre Dame but suffered from some mid-season doldrums before finishing sixth in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies wrapped the regular season with a 24-16 win over Central Michigan, but since then the focus has been on how the offense will look without quarterback Ethan Hampton, who transferred to Illinois last week.
Fresno State (6-6) is dealing with a wave of transfers on offense and will hoping to end 2024 on a high. That will require reversing a late-season swoon, with the Bulldogs having lost three of their last four games. Matt Entz has been named head coach for 2025, with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl being interim coach Tim Skipper's final game in charge. Most recently, Fresno State let a halftime lead slip away in a 20-13 loss to UCLA.
Here's what you need to know about the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State predictions
Paste BN: Experts evenly split on Potato Bowl
- Scooby Axson: Fresno State
- Jordan Mendoza: Northern Illinois
- Paul Myerberg: Fresno State
- Erick Smith: Northern Illinois
- Eddie Timanus: Northern Illinois
- Dan Wolken: Fresno State
College Football News: Northern Illinois 23, Fresno State 17
Pete Fiutak writes: "If all things were even this would be Fresno State’s game, but its lost parts are bigger than NIU’s. Again, the idea here is for the Huskies to run and keep running... Time of possession here will mean everything. Northern Illinois needs to have the ball for almost 35 minutes, and it will."
Sports Illustrated: Bet the under
Reed Wallach writes: "Even with a low total, I can only look towards the under in this matchup as both defenses do an excellent job of limiting chunk plays and making opponents drive the ball the length of the field to generate points."
ESPN: The data favors Fresno State
ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Bulldogs a 56% chance of knocking off the Huskies.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl odds, spread and lines
Northern Illinois is favored to beat Fresno State according to BetMGM. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 20
- Spread: Northern Illinois (-3)
- Moneyline: Northern Illinois (-150); Fresno State (+125)
- Over/under: 40.5
How to watch Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
- Date: Monday, Dec. 23
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Fubo
- Where: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
Watch the Potato Bowl on Fubo with a free trial
Get tickets for Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State on StubHub
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