Some bowl games are going to feature shootouts. Not the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - and it's not just because this is one of the colder, more weather-vulnerable sites being in Boise, Idaho.

Akron ranks No. 3 in the country in rushing defense and 17th in total defense. The Zips were fortunate to get some big-time transfers added to an already promising defense headed by senior linebacker Jatavis Brown. He's the MAC Defensive Player of the Year with 108 tackles, 17 1/2 tackles for losses and 10 1/2 sacks.

Only three opponents scored more than 21 points on the Zips and two of them were Oklahoma and Bowling Green, which feature potent passing attacks something Utah State doesn't possess. The Aggies ranked just 92nd in total offense.

The under has cashed 70 percent of the time during Akron's last 43 games under Terry Bowden. It's clear Akron is a strong under team.

Utah State is strong defensively, too. The Aggies are 22nd in total defense. Kyler Fackrell led the nation in fumble recoveries. He and Nick Vigil are probably the two best linebackers in the Mountain West Conference.

The oddsmaker may have unfairly downgraded the Aggies' defense, though, after BYU beat Utah State, 51-28, in the last game of the regular season. The Cougars scored 51 points, but gained only 358 yards.