Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs Washington State

The nation’s best passing attack will face one of the top ground games in college football when Washington State and Air Force meet in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Cougars threw for nearly 450 yards per game this year, while the Falcons’ triple option led Air Force to one of its best seasons in program history.

Cheez-It Bowl Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Falcons are accustomed to the favorite role, kicking off as chalk in each of their last nine games. The 2.5-point spread at the time of writing was the fewest points that Air Force has been favored by during that stretch, however.

Air Force News & Notes

The Falcons’ triple-option attack ran for the third-most yards in college football this year, averaging nearly 300 yards per game. Quarterback Donald Hammond III ran for 491 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 1,286 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, while running back Kadin Remsberg and fullback Timothy Jackson each gained more than 700 yards on the ground.

Jackson’s status for the Cheez-It Bowl is cloudy, however, as he deals with a lower-body injury. If he can’t go, the Falcons have the depth to get by without him. Earlier this year, senior Taven Birdow ran for 110 yards and a touchdown after Jackson suffered an injury against New Mexico.

In addition to helping them average 34.3 points per game, the Falcons running game also keeps the ball out of the opposition’s hands. Air Force is averaging nearly 34 minutes of possession per outing this year, seventh-highest in the nation. And when the Falcons defense has had to take the field, they’ve allowed an average of just 315.8 yards per game, ranking in the top 40 against both the pass and the run.

Washington State News & Notes

Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense has produced some gaudy passing statistics over the years, but this season’s might be the best aerial attack yet to come out of Washington State.

Wazzou led the NCAA in passing yards per game (444.3) as Anthony Gordon became the first quarterback in Pac-12 history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season. The Cougars have put up 50-plus points on four occasions this season, falling just short of a fifth in a 49-22 win over Stanford in Week 12. They also spread the ball around well (seven different players caught at least 40 passes), which could pay off if leading receiver Brandon Arconado isn’t able to suit up in the Cheez-It Bowl due to a wrist injury.

All that offense hasn’t done the Cougars that much good, however, as Washington State — which was 20th in the AP Top 25 after three weeks — lost six of its last nine games. Washington State’s season turned in Week 4 at home to UCLA, when the Cougs blew a 32-point lead and lost 67-63. They’ve allowed at least 30 points in four of their last five and five of their last seven, going 4-1 to the OVER in their last five outings.

Betting Pick: Falcons -2.5

The Falcons defense gives them an edge in a game they should be able to control on the ground.