Frisco Bowl Prediction: Utah State vs. Kent State Odds

Andrew Rogers | Updated Dec 17, 2019

Kent State

Of all the teams to qualify for a bowl game appearance, Kent State might have had the hardest row to hoe as they prepare to tangle with Utah State in the Frisco Bowl on Friday.

AT
December 20, 2019, 7:30 PM ET
Toyota Stadium
Pointspread -7.5 -104
Moneyline -264
Over / Under o +71.5

40%

Betting Action

60%

Pointspread +7.5 -116
Moneyline +218
Over / Under u +71.5

40%

Betting Action

60%

The Golden Flashes won their final three games of the season – despite being an underdog in all three – to reach their first bowl game in seven years. And they’re underdogs again as they tangle with a Utah State team that struggled at the defensive end this season.

Frisco Bowl Betting Analysis

As discussed above, Kent State hasn’t had a problem with being the underdog in a big game. In fact, the Golden Flashes have covered each of their last five games when receiving points, with four of those contests producing straight-up victories. But bettors take note: the Aggies finished strong with three covers over their final four games, and they’re an incredible 13-3 ATS in their previous 16 games as a favourite of six or more points.

The total for this game has risen from an opening of 64 up to 66, in a matchup between two teams with impressive offences and suspect defences. Utah State ended its regular-season campaign with a 3-1-1 O/U run in which its lone under came by just four points. Kent State had a similar finish to its season, going 3-1 to the Over in its final four games. Of note: this will be the highest total for a Utah State game since Oct. 5.

Utah State Aggies

If the Aggies hope to prevail for the fifth time in their previous seven bowl appearances, they’ll need to shore up their leaky defence. Utah State finished just inside the top 100 in total defence (431.6 yards allowed per game) and were particularly susceptible when defending on third down, allowing opponents to convert 46.3 percent of their opportunities. Kent State made good on 43.6 percent of third-down chances in 2019, good for 32nd in the nation.

Kent State Golden Flashes

The Golden Flashes finished 2019 with a modest 27.3 points-per-game average that ranks 77th in the country – but that number isn’t indicative of how dominant the Kent State offence fared down the stretch. The Golden Flashes averaged 34.5 points over their final four games, thanks in large part to the efforts of Dustin Crum. The double-threat quarterback completed well over 70 percent of his pass attempts with eight TDs and one INT over that four-game span.

Who Will Win Utah State vs. Kent State?

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