San Jose State faces Eastern Michigan in Idaho Potato Bowl
Idaho Potato Bowl: San José State (7-4, 5-3 Mountain West) vs. Eastern Michigan (8-4, 5-3 MAC), Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)
FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: San José State by 3 1/2
Series record: Eastern Michigan leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
After finishing tied for the MAC West Division title but missing out on a spot in the conference title game, Eastern Michigan is trying to complete the second-best season in school history. Eastern Michigan won 10 games in 1987 but has never won more than eight in any other season. The Eagles capped the 1987 season with a victory over San José State in the California Bowl, the only previous meeting between the two teams. San José State is seeking its eighth bowl victory all-time and first since 2015. The Spartans are in a bowl game for the second time in three seasons after playing in the Arizona Bowl in 2020.
KEY MATCHUP
San José State QB Chevan Corderio vs. Eastern Michigan’s secondary. For most of the season, the Spartans' offense has gone as Corderio has played. He was a second-team All-Mountain West selection after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Corderio struggled against some of the better defenses in the Mountain West in losses to Fresno State and San Diego State. Eastern Michigan’s pass defense was second-best in the MAC, giving up 208.8 yards per game through the air.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San José State: DE Junior Fehoko was the Mountain West defensive player of the year and a menace for opposing offenses. Fehoko had 18 1/2 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 65 total tackles for the Spartans. He was a first-team all-Mountain West selection in 2021 but raised his game to an even higher level this season.
Eastern Michigan: DE Jose Ramirez was the MAC defensive MVP for the season, the first Eastern Michigan player to be named the conference MVP on either the offensive or defensive side. Ramirez had four of his 12 sacks in one game this season against Western Michigan. He finished the year with 19 1/2 tackles for loss and 63 total tackles on the season.
FACTS & FIGURES
San José State making its 12th bowl game appearance in school history. Last win came in 2015 Cure Bowl, beating Georgia State. ... Eastern Michigan making sixth bowl appearance all-time. Eagles' last bowl win was 1987 and have lost three of past four bowl appearances by four points or fewer. ... San José State is 0-7 all-time in games played in Boise. Spartans haven’t visited the blue turf since 2016. ... Eastern Michigan ranked 129th in the country in penalties per game, averaging more than eight flags. ... Eastern Michigan was third in the country in red-zone efficiency scoring on 43 of 45 red-zone trips, but San José State had the sixth-best red-zone defense this season.
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