As mentioned by our fellow writer Luke Owens, the bowl season is the best time of the year! Though it’s not the one that kicks off the start if this beautiful time of the year, it sees the first unique name of the season! The Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl has the Utah State Aggies (MWC) against the Kent State Golden Flashes (MAC). The Aggies come in with a slightly better record at 7-5 where the Flashes have a 6-6 record. Kent State comes into only their third bowl game ever where they are 0-2, and their first since 2012. The Aggies, however, come in with a bit more bowl experience. They have been bowling 13 times, where they have gone 8 of the last 9 seasons.

How They Got Here: Utah State

It has been an up and down year for the Aggies. After starting the year off with being the top of the Group of 5 aspirations, they hit a couple of bumps in the road towards the middle of the season. After starting the year at 4-2 with losses being to Wake Forest and LSU, they were sitting pretty high. Then with back to back losses to Air Force and BYU, the Aggies ended the season going 50% in their last 6 games.

How They Got Here: Kent State

It has been all about spurts for the Golden Flashes this season. Having gone .500 in their first six games of the year, they had to win their last 3 games to get to that coveted 6th win. Even though they went .500 on the season, they were only one game away from tying Miami (OH) for the MAC East division lead. This offense knows how to put up points, it’s the defensive side of the ball that they will have to worry about.

Players to Watch: Utah State

It’s pretty simple for the Aggies: they go as their quarterback goes. Jordan Love has had a down year in terms of his stats. After exploding last season for 32 touchdowns and only 6 picks, this season he has just a mere 17 touchdowns and a STAGGERING 16 interceptions this season that is more than his first two seasons COMBINED. I look for him to go out in style for what I would presume to be his final collegiate game.

Players to Watch: Kent State

For the Golden Flashes, it is more of the same. They go as their QB goes. Dustin Crum leads the team in both passing (duh) and rushing. Crum went for 18 touchdowns with only 2 (!!!) interceptions on the season. After only having brief appearances in the last two seasons, the junior really took advantage of his first season at the helm of the Golden Flashes.

Gambling Picks (Utah State -6.5, O/U 67.5)

At this stage, Jordan Love is a bigger household name, and to me, I think I take his experience over the first-year starter in Crum. With that said, I believe both defenses to be pretty suspect and for Kent State to cover the 6.5 point spread. 67.5 points is a LOT of points, however, both schools are averaging just a hair under 30 points a game (USU is averaging 28.3 where Kent State is averaging 29.9.) Both teams defenses are also allowing around 30 points (Utah St is at 29 where Kent St is allowing 31.1.) Although it’s a lot of points, both teams scored more than 30 points a combined 11 times this season. Give me the over and Kent State to cover and let’s start this bowl season off HOT!