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Sports Reporter
HAWAII BOWL
Aloha Stadium – Honolulu, HI
FRESNO STATE over SMU by 17
SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert graces your television on Christmas Eve.
Earlier this season, the guy was the gift that kept on giving, tossing INTs to
defensive backs opposing SMU like an elf tosses toys from the sack. Then,
a Halloween miracle occurred and he hasn’t thrown a pick in SMU’s last five
games. Gilbert becoming pick-less didn’t stop the Ponies from losing to Central
Florida by 25 points and to Rice by 18 points. In those five interceptionfree
outings, Gilbert has only thrown 3 TD passes, topping 60% completions
in only two of the five games. For the season, Gilbert’s TD-INT is 14-13, with a
measly Yards Per Attempt of 5.7. We would not think of putting people in position
to have Christmas ruined by placing it in the hands of Garrett Gilbert, who,
to be fair, has some receivers with hands like feet. On the other side, you have
QB Derek Carr, who has been throwing as many times per game as Gilbert has
(40), completing 68% of his throws with a 36-5 TD-INT ratio and 8.1 yards per
attempt. When he throws, he’ll be doing it against SMU’s #108th-ranked pass
defense. While the 19 interceptions made by SMU’s defense is fourth-most in
the nation, let’s not forget that 7 of them came in one game against Stephen
F. Austin (the team, not the guy), and another 6 in one game vs. Houston.
This seems like the right time to point out that Fresno State’s defense had
20 interceptions, at least 1 in every game except against Oregon, and ranks
#4 in pass defense having allowed an average of only 163 passing yards per
game, 5.6 per attempt. They also have nearly twice as many sacks as SMU’s
defense. Fresno State first-season head coach Tim DeRuyter and defensive
coordinator Nick Toth had the pleasure of being the Texas A&M defensive coordinator
and outside linebackers coaches last season, which enabled them
to watch their unit intercept this SMU offense on its first two possession of the
game, and eventually get 8 sacks. Fresno’s +188 average yardage differential
vs. SMU is worth about 13.5 points in a game with an even Turnover Ratio,
but we’re thinking that Fresno can win that category. FRESNO STATE, 41-24.
HAWAII BOWL
Aloha Stadium – Honolulu, HI
FRESNO STATE over SMU by 17
SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert graces your television on Christmas Eve.
Earlier this season, the guy was the gift that kept on giving, tossing INTs to
defensive backs opposing SMU like an elf tosses toys from the sack. Then,
a Halloween miracle occurred and he hasn’t thrown a pick in SMU’s last five
games. Gilbert becoming pick-less didn’t stop the Ponies from losing to Central
Florida by 25 points and to Rice by 18 points. In those five interceptionfree
outings, Gilbert has only thrown 3 TD passes, topping 60% completions
in only two of the five games. For the season, Gilbert’s TD-INT is 14-13, with a
measly Yards Per Attempt of 5.7. We would not think of putting people in position
to have Christmas ruined by placing it in the hands of Garrett Gilbert, who,
to be fair, has some receivers with hands like feet. On the other side, you have
QB Derek Carr, who has been throwing as many times per game as Gilbert has
(40), completing 68% of his throws with a 36-5 TD-INT ratio and 8.1 yards per
attempt. When he throws, he’ll be doing it against SMU’s #108th-ranked pass
defense. While the 19 interceptions made by SMU’s defense is fourth-most in
the nation, let’s not forget that 7 of them came in one game against Stephen
F. Austin (the team, not the guy), and another 6 in one game vs. Houston.
This seems like the right time to point out that Fresno State’s defense had
20 interceptions, at least 1 in every game except against Oregon, and ranks
#4 in pass defense having allowed an average of only 163 passing yards per
game, 5.6 per attempt. They also have nearly twice as many sacks as SMU’s
defense. Fresno State first-season head coach Tim DeRuyter and defensive
coordinator Nick Toth had the pleasure of being the Texas A&M defensive coordinator
and outside linebackers coaches last season, which enabled them
to watch their unit intercept this SMU offense on its first two possession of the
game, and eventually get 8 sacks. Fresno’s +188 average yardage differential
vs. SMU is worth about 13.5 points in a game with an even Turnover Ratio,
but we’re thinking that Fresno can win that category. FRESNO STATE, 41-24.
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