The 2011 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season kicks off with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl pitting the Temple Owls, from the Mid American Conference, against the Wyoming Cowboys from the Mountain West Conference. As I did last year, I am going to look at each bowl game this season and write about how the two teams fared from the NCAA FBS production model. Whichever team is ranked higher (overall) will be my "pick" as to who wins the game. So, let's take a look at this first game.
This season the Temple Owls are 8-4 and the NCAA FBS production model's measure of their strength of schedule (SOS) was equal to 73.92. Temple's best win was against currently ranked #61 Kent State, and their worst loss was against currently ranked #88 Bowling Green. To date, the Owls are the #13 ranked team overall, with the #34 ranked offense and the #9 ranked defense.
The Wyoming Cowboys are 8-4 with a strength of schedule equal to 69.08. Wyoming's best win was against currently ranked #23 San Diego State, and their worst loss was against currently ranked #57 Nebraska. To date, the Cowboys are the #52 ranked team overall, with the #18 ranked offense and the #85 ranked defense.
Both teams have the same record, both teams have played an easier than average schedule this regular season. It seems like it should be a competitive game. The NCAA FBS production model ranks Temple better than Wyoming, and hence expect Temple to win this game.