2022 [2022] MAC Postseason Preview - Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

[Jieret]

 

Next in the chute is the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. This pits 7-5 Eastern Michigan Eagles against the 6-6 FIU Panthers in a game with perhaps our favorite Gatorade celebration variation.

 

When Eastern Michigan has the ball:

 

EMU:

Sr QB Tyler Clarkson: 311 of 549 (56.65%) for 3903 yards, 21/15 TD/INT, 123.52 QBR

Jr RB Kevin Peterson: 217 carries for 1092 yards, 5.03 YPC, 8 rushing TDs, 3 fumbles. 60 catches for 442 yards, 7.37 YPC, 5 receiving TDs.

Sr WR Keenan Briscoe: 79 catches for 1391 yards, 17.61 YPC, 10 receiving TDs, 2 fumbles.

Sr WR Meibrys Apke: 70 catches for 922 yards, 13.17 YPC, 1 receiving TD, 2 fumbles.

Jr WR Jose Bulaga: 45 catches for 484 yards, 10.76 YPC, 4 receiving TDs.

 

FIU:

Sr DE Blake Woodrum: 43 TKL (22 TFL), 5.0 Sacks, 1 FR.

Jr DE Vidal Tate: 33.5 TKL (8 TFL), 5.0 Sacks.

Sr ILB Isaac Blossomgame: 82.5 TKL (15 TFL).

Sr CB Randal Breslow: 34 TKL, 3 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR.

Sr SS Brandon Evans: 50.5 TKL (1 TFL), 3 INT, 1 FR.

 

Eastern Michigan's offense is a bit of an odd duck. It feels like they settled on Air Raid primarily to feature Briscoe - reasonable since he's far and away their best offensive weapon. Briscoe accounts for more than a third of their touchdowns and is Clarkson's first read on virtually every pass play. Peterson and Apke are good players in their own right, but they don't command the defense's attention the way #19 does. It's easy to imagine EMU change their scheme after Briscoe graduates.

 

Before that though, he and Eastern have one more game against an FIU defense that ranked top-15 nationally in total defense (points and yards against) - despite surprisingly mediocre takeaway and sack numbers. The Panther defense is assignment-sound and doesn't miss many tackles, limiting Yards After Catch opportunities and requiring offenses to play either very sound football or with superior talent to move the ball with high degrees of success.

Middle linebacker Isaac Blossomgame is particularly crucial to this defense. His speed and agility lets him quickly find and fill the gaps, while his technique ensures he breaks down properly and not be out of position when tackling.

 

 

When Florida International has the ball:

 

FIU:

Sr QB Anthony Hassenauer: 225 of 414 (54.35%) for 2216 yards, 12/14 TD/INT, 102.11 QBR.

Sr RB Timon Colvin: 306 carries for 1431 yards, 4.68 YPC, 9 TDs, 67 catches for 441, 6.58 YPC, 3 receiving TDs, 3 fumbles.

Sr WR Shane Armenteros: 49 catches for 763 yards, 15.57 YPC, 5 receiving TDs, 1 fumble.

Sr LT Richard Plutko: A Overall, 4 Pancakes, 2 Sacks Allowed.

Sr LG Royce Iguodala: A Overall, 3 Pancakes, 3 Sacks Allowed.

 

EMU:

Sr DE Malik Giavotella: 55 TKL (9 TFL), 7.5 Sacks, 2 FF.

Sr DT Jimmy Amukamara: 53.5 TKL (12 TFL), 5.5 Sacks.

Sr ILB De'Aaron Gomez: 66.5 TKL (16 TFL), 1.5 Sacks, 1 INT.

Sr FS Mike Christian: 58 TKL, 3 INTs.

Jr SS Ben Lombardozzi: 66 TKL (3 TFL), 1 FF, 3 PD.

 

Long-time readers of the MAC Network previews (AKA since yesterday) surely remember how one-dimensional we said Ball State's offense was. FIU is similar but while they don't quite funnel everything through running back Timon Colvin, their trade-off is that they're... not as good as Ball State. But you probably guessed that from seeing Hassenauer's stats and from the fact that we stuck two offensive linemen in the key players section. (They ARE very good linemen though) We gave BSU QB Scott Romero a pass due to his inexperience, senior Hassenauer doesn't get the same. The Panthers have a pair of excellent of receivers in Armenteros and junior Travis Chirinos yet they rarely get the ball in good positions to make plays - FIU fans often grumble that their team's chunk plays consist of "chuck it deep to Armenteros and hope he wins the 50/50," and considering that he only caught less than 53% of his targets the fans may not be too far off.

 

If there is any consolation for FIU, it's that the Eagles' defensive numbers aren't great either. Eastern gave up the second-most points in the conference and the most amount of yards. They've been equally poor against the pass and the run - the fact that their safeties ranked second and third in tackles should tell you something about their lack of ability to make negative plays. Giavotella's 7.5 sacks leads the Eagles in the one defensive category they're somewhat decent in (20 as a team), but FIU's offensive style is not one that lends itself well to piling up sack opportunities.

 

The Pick:

This is really a tale of two halves. On one side, Keenan Briscoe and Kevin Peterson against a tough, tough FIU defense will be a treat to watch. On the other... you have a stoppable force going against a movable object. For you fans watching on TV, you may want to schedule your snack and bathroom breaks for when the FIU offense and EMU defense are on the field - it's not going to be pretty.

 

No matter how the game goes, we expect it to be ugly and low-scoring. We do believe Briscoe will get loose once or twice against Randal Breslow, and Eastern will get enough support from Apke and Peterson to grind out a result.

 

Eastern Michigan 20

FIU 17

[Vivid]

Only 8 points off… I hope I’m close To this good with my predictions

[Jieret]

Just lucky. I'm sure yours will be great!