Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State: Predictions, odds and how to watch Idaho Potato Bowl
College football bowl action continues on Monday with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, featuring the Northern Illinois Huskies facing off against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
The Huskies, showing remarkable resilience, are making their third bowl appearance in four seasons following a 7-5 season that included a stunning upset against Notre Dame early in the year. Despite the departure of starting quarterback Ethan Hampton and several key players to the transfer portal, the Huskies are ready to face the Bulldogs, with freshman Josh Holst stepping up to lead the offense.
The Bulldogs, have their own quarterback situation, with starter Mikey Keene's decision to enter the transfer portal. Their season, though not ideal, saw them finish with a 6-6 record and secure fourth place in the Mountain West Conference.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of today's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, including predictions, odds and how to watch the game:
Idaho Potato Bowl predictions: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Paste BN: Writes are split
- Scooby Axon: Fresno State
- Jordan Mendoza: Northern Illinois
- Paul Myerberg: Fresno State
- Erick Smith: Northern Illinois
- Eddie Timanus: Northern Illinois
- Dan Wolken: Fresno State
ESPN: Northern Illinois 19, Fresno State 14
Adam Rittenberg writes: "Last year, I picked against a Tim Skipper-led Fresno State team in a bowl game and paid the price, as the Bulldogs pounded New Mexico State. Skipper will coach Fresno State for the final time before Matt Entz takes over. Fresno State takes on a Northern Illinois team with a signature win over Notre Dame, as well as three wins in its final four regular-season games. Both teams are dealing with significant portal entries, which include quarterbacks Mikey Keene (Fresno State) and Ethan Hampton (NIU), and several Fresno State wide receivers. Expect a defense-driven game that comes down to the end, but Fresno State's personnel losses are too much to overcome."
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. Fresno State, even with its backups, should be good enough to pull this off with a few breaks, but it just doesn’t run well enough to pull this off. Time of possession here will mean everything. Northern Illinois needs to have the ball for almost 35 minutes, and it will."
Tickets to the Potato Bowl with StubHub
Idaho Potato Bowl odds, lines: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
The Northern Illinois Huskies are the favorites to defeat the Fresno State Bulldogs, according to the BetMGM college football odds.
Odds as Sunday evening.
- Spread: Northern Illinois (-3.5)
- Moneylines: Northern Illinois (-165); Fresno State (+140)
- Over/under: 39.5
How to watch Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State in Idaho Potato Bowl
- Date: Monday, Dec. 23
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Stream: Fubo (free trial)
- Where: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
Catch college football bowl games on Fubo
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