Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Nevada (6-2, 6-2 Mountain West) vs. Tulane (6-5, 3-5 American), Dec. 22, 3:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Tulane by 3.
Series record: Tulane leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Tulane goes for a third straight bowl victory for the first time in school history to cap the 2020 season. The Green Wave won four of their final five regular season games to finish with a winning record and now seek another bowl win after victories in the Cure Bowl (2018) over Louisiana and Armed Forces Bowl (2019) over Southern Miss. Nevada lost two of its final three games of the regular season, including a loss to San Jose State that cost the Wolf Pack a shot at the conference championship game. The Wolf Pack are in a bowl game for the third straight season and sixth time since joining the Mountain West in 2012. Nevada is 0-3 in three previous visits to the Potato Bowl.
KEY MATCHUP
Nevada’s offensive line vs. Tulane’s pass run. The Green Wave had an overwhelming pass rush during the regular season. Tulane finished with 36 sacks, which led the American and was tied for third nationally. Patrick Johnson led the Green Wave with 10 sacks. Nevada was good at protecting its quarterback, giving up just 19 sacks in eight games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nevada: QB Carson Strong. Strong was named the Mountain West offensive player of the year after throwing for a league-best 2,587 yards and 22 touchdowns. Strong ranked in the top 20 nationally in six different passing categories. Strong, a sophomore, was the first underclassman to be named the Mountain West’s offensive player of the year.
Tulane: QB Michael Pratt. The true freshman had an outstanding first season, throwing for 1,638 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 18 TD passes are the most by a Tulane QB since 2012 and the most by a freshman in program history.
FACTS & FIGURES
Nevada will play in the Potato Bowl for the second time in the 2020 calendar year. The Wolf Pack lost to Ohio in last season’s Potato Bowl that was played on Jan. 3, 2020. … Tulane was one of 19 schools nationally to play at least 11 regular season games in 2020. … The Wolf Pack have gone 21-13 over the past three seasons under Jay Norvell. … Tulane has scored 30 or more points in eight of its past nine games.
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