Albertsons Stadium – Boise, Idaho
ESPN
Forget the food treat. These coaches have spent the past season feasting on football turnovers – so much so that this bowl game brings together the nation’s top teams in forced turnovers.
Central Michigan’s Chippewas led the . . .
Helping one’s own cause is a typically a great ingredient for success, and Central Michigan certainly capitalized down stretch. The Chips won five straight to finish the regular season and bring an 8-4 mark (6-2 MAC) into Friday’s contest.
Although the Cowboys lost their last two outings (by a combined nine points), they triumphed in five of the previous six on the way to a 7-5 mark (5-3 MWC).
Wyoming and Central Michigan have met twice previously. The Cowboys prevailed 31-10 in Laramie in 2000, while CMU posted a 32-20 victory in the return match at Mount Pleasant.
Here’s more on the two teams:
► The Cowboys are appearing in their second consecutive bowl game. They were defeated by Brigham Young, 24-21, last year in the San Diego County Credit Union. Their last bowl win was a 35-28 double overtime victory over Fresno State in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl. It’s Wyoming’s first appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
► Head coach Craig Bohl is in his 15th season at Wyoming, posting a 21-29 record at the school, which has earned bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season. The last time UW earned bowl eligibility in two consecutive seasons was 1998-99.
► Seven Cowboys earned All-Mountain West honors. Among them wee three first-teamers: junior strong safety Andrew Wingard, junior defensive end Carl Granderson and sophomore defensive tackle Youhana Ghaifan.
► Wyoming’s pass defense ranks first in the Mountain West and is No. 5 nationally. The scoring defense is Ho. 2 MWC and No. 13 among FBS teams.
► UW is 21st nationally in total defense (332.8 ypg) and 36th in tackles for loss (6.8 tfl per game).
Junior safety Andrew Wingard has led the team in tackles in each of the last three seasons. He has started every game since the second game of his freshman season. He is only the third player in Wyoming history with three 100-tackle seasons and has 111 stops to date this season.
► Defensive end Carl Granderson has 8.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss among his 72 stops this year. He has also registered two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one safety.
► The Redzone has been a big plus for Wyoming this season. The Cowboys rank No. 1 among Moutain West teams in red zone offense (No. 3 nationally) and No. 2 in red zone defense (No. 20 nationally).
► UW leads the nation in kickoff returns. Tyler Hall’s kickoff return average of 34.5 ypr would rank No. 3 in the nation, although he is short of the minimum returns to qualify.
► Junior quarterback Josh Allen is considered among the top 2017 top draft prospects if he decides to turn pro. Mel Kiper has him No. 23 among QBs, No. 6 overall. Todd McShay puts Allen at No. 3 among QBs and No. 5 overall.
► Freshman Trey Woods tops running backs with 133 attempts for 474 yards and a pair of scores. Kellen Overstreet owns 396 yards and three scores off 88 carries, while Allen has 84 attempts, netting 207 yards after losses. He leads the team with five rushing TDs.
► Sophomore wideout C.J. Johnson has a team-best six touchdowns. His 27 catches have been good for 468 yards. Sophomore Austin Conway leads the Cowboys in both receptions (58) and receiving yards (520).
► Kicker Cooper Rothe has converted 32 of 33 PATs and 12 of 15 field goals, with a long of 49 yards.
► Seniors Andrew Wingard and Logan Wilson lead Wyoming defenders with 111 tackles apiece. Carl Granderson (15.0) and Youhanna Ghafan (13.0) own double digit tackles for losses.
► The Chips only two conference losses were to Toledo and Miami – both in Mount Pleasant.
► The loss to Miami preceded the return of tight end Tyler Conklin, who finished the season with 28 catches for 406 yards and five scores despite missing CMU’s first five games. He went over 100 yards twice in his seven outings this year.
► Also missing against Miami was Corey Willis. The senior missed three games but finished second among Chippewa receivers with 42 catches for 625 yards and a team-high nine receiving touchdowns. Mark Chapman topped all CMU receivers in receptions (54) and yards (805). He also provided five TDs, with three coming in a 45-27 win over Kansas in Week Two.
► Shane Morris, a strong-armed lefty who previously played for Michigan, was a huge boost for the Chippewas this season. The graduate transfer finished third among MAC QBs in passing average (242.3 ypg) and was third in pass efficiency.
► Central Michigan has managed to balance its passing game with a tround attack. Sophomore Jonathan Ward finished fourth (MAC) with an average of 82.5 ypg and totaled 990 yards on the year. His 6.0 ypc was second only to Ohio QB Nathan Rourke (6.6 ypc)..
► The Chippewas averaged 41.2 ppg and scored 29 TDs in their five game winning streak to close the regular season. That is CMU’s longest win skein since 2009.
► The most recent Central Michigan bowl win was in 2012 when the Chippewas beat Western Kentucky 24-21.
► Junior defensive end Joe Ostman averages 1.2 sacks per game – best in the nation. His 12 sacks are third nationally. An injury kept him out of two contests. As a team, the Chips ranked 24th nationally in sacks.
► Central Michigan has 19 interceptions. The puts CMU in a tie with Akron and Iowa for second in the nation. Only Florida Atlantic (20) had more picks.
► Senior Josh Cox leads the MAC and is tied for fourth nationally with six interceptions. He is first on the team in tackles (82).
► Nine Chippewas earned All-MAC honors.
► Senior PK Michael Armstrong has converted 43 of 44 PATs and 7 of 11 field goals, with a long of 39 yards.