MAACO Bowl preview

MAACO BOWL

When: Dec. 22

Where: Las Vegas

Time: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN

About Utah (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West Conference): The Utes got off to an 8-0 start and were among a crowded pack of potential Bowl Championship Series busters, but the Utes stumbled hard with back-to-back losses to Texas Christian and Notre Dame. Utah regrouped to close out the season with wins over two tough defenses — San Diego State and rival Brigham Young. The Utes will be relying on backup quarterback Terrance Cain after starter Jordan Wynn suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Cougars. Utah runs the spread offense effectively, but its biggest strength this season has been its defense, which ranks No. 20 nationally after allowing 319.7 yards of total offense per game.

About Boise State (11-1, 7-1 Western Athletic Conference): The Broncos were one errant field goal away from a flawless season and a BCS bid. Normally steady kicker Kyle Brotzman made national headlines when he missed two close-range field goals against then-No. 19 Nevada, saddling the Broncos with a 34-31 overtime loss that wiped away any chance of being BCS busters. Boise State bounced back with a 50-14 win over Utah State to win a share of the WAC title. The senior-heavy Broncos lineup ranks in the top four nationally in total offense, total defense, scoring offense and scoring defense.

Watchability: four out of five stars

—Orlando Sentinel