Not having Gunner Kiel will equal trouble in this game on Christmas Eve. He is their leader and just 6 days ago he took a personal leave so CIncy didn't have much time to prepare with their backup QB.



San Diego State can run the heck out of the ball and they play tremendous defense. It's not an altogether-complicated recipe for success, but a dependable one. And they have a little built-in advantage with being familiar with the stomping grounds they enter in this game, having played Hawaii on the road this season in this very venue, winning 28-14 on October 10.


And it's a lot shorter of a road trip for SDSU than it is for Cincinnati.


San Diego State relies on a robust run-game on offense. They have a fantastic back in Donnel Pumphrey, who has 1554 yards on the ground, while being second on the team in receiving yards. He had 19 touchdowns this season.


The Aztecs' defense is a flourishing unit that is the 5th ranked "D" in the country. They feature excellent balance and playmaking ability, ranked 13th against the pass and 5th against the run, while giving up an average of just over 17 points per game. With time to prepare the better defense usually wins in these Bowl games and I like SD ST with the Bearcats being without their star QB.