Boise St, TCU square off in Fiesta Bowl

TCU’s Andy Dalton threw 22 touchdowns on the season with just five picks.

The Fiesta Bowl features a rematch of last year’s Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego that wasn’t decided until the very end.  Texas Christian upended Boise State as a three-point underdog, 17-16, while the combined 33 points never seriously threatened the 46-point closing total.

The Horned Frogs overcame a 13-0 first-half deficit by scoring 17 straight points.  The Broncos made things interesting with a late fourth-quarter field goal, but TCU held on for the victory.

Signal caller Andy Dalton earned MVP honors in that contest by completing 22-of-35 passes for 197 yards with an interception.  Dalton is also the reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year by throwing for 2,484 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

TCU finished the contest with advantages over Boise State in first downs (28-15), rushing yards (275-28) and time of possession (36:07-23:53).  This year’s matchup features the first time in college football history that two undefeated teams will not be playing for the national championship in a bowl game.

Caesars Palace installed TCU as a 7 ½-point ‘chalk’ over Boise State, with the total set at 54 ½.  The total has remained the same, but the Horned Frogs opened as a touchdown favorite.

Boise State (13-0 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) secured its second Fiesta Bowl berth in school history by staying undefeated.  The Broncos concluded their regular season by routing New Mexico State December 5 as a decided 47-point home ‘chalk,’ 42-7. 

That marked the second consecutive contest that Boise State, the Western Athletic Conference champions, failed to cover.  There was no total on that contest, but the Broncos have seen the ‘over’ go 6-1 the last seven games with a total attached.

Boise State’s high-octane offense averaged 41 points per game this season, eclipsing the 50-point barrier four times.

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TCU (12-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) also ran the regular-season table as champions of the Mountain West Conference.  The Horned Frogs throttled New Mexico in their latest effort November 28 as a 44 ½-point home favorite, 51-10.

There was no total on that matchup, but the ‘over’ did cash their last two contests with a total attached.

TCU had covered six games in a row before the outing with the Lobos.  The Horned Frogs averaged 40.6 points per game this season, eclipsing the 50-point barrier three times the past four games.  TCU enters this contest riding a four-game bowl-winning streak, the longest in school history.

Boise State wide receiver Austin Pettis (ankle), wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker (hernia) and linebacker Derrell Acrey (leg) are questionable against the Horned Frogs.

FOX Sports will provide coverage of Monday’s Fiesta Bowl from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona beginning at 5:00 p.m. (PT).