The college football postseason enters another week as the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Southern Methodist Mustangs travel to play in the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The Bulldogs have won five straight games and were 9-3 on the year in their first season in the Mountain West, winning a share of the conference title with a 7-1 record.
SMU went just 6-6 on the season and enters the game following a 35-27 win over Tulsa. The Mustangs went 5-3 in Conference USA this season. Here are some of the matchups and key players that will help decide the Hawaii Bowl between Fresno State and SMU.
Fresno State QB Derek Carr vs. SMU Secondary
Carr, who is the brother of NFL quarterback David Carr, has been the most valuable and skilled player on offense for the Bulldogs this season passing for 3,742 yards and 36 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He is completing over 68 percent of his passes and is leading an offense that is scoring 40 points per game and ranks 12th in passing offense in the nation.
The Fresno State offense has plenty of weapons for Carr, with senior running back Robbie Rouse and freshman wide receiver Davante Adams both posting 1,000-yard seasons. The Mustangs are giving up 271.2 yards per game and will use junior defensive back Kenneth Acker to try to shut down the Bulldogs' passing game.
Acker is leading the secondary with three interceptions and one touchdown, while linebacker Randall Joyner also has three interceptions. SMU senior defensive lineman Margus Hunt leads the team with 6.0 sacks and will give Carr pressure as he has 8.5 tackles for loss this season and one interception.
In the final game against Air Force, Carr passed for 452 yards and four touchdowns and hasn't thrown and interception in the pas three games. Carr has thrown at least one touchdown in every game this season and had a season-high five against San Diego State in September.
KEY PLAYERS:
-Running back Robbie Rouse
Rouse is leading the Bulldogs in rushing this season and has gained 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He has proven to be a threat out of the backfield in passing game, making 58 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns.
He has been extremely consistent for Fresno State, rushing for at least 100-yards in four straight games while scoring four touchdowns. Rouse had a season-high 261 rushing yards in a 52-36 win against Nevada two weeks ago and also scored two touchdowns.
SMU linebacker Randall Joyner will be all over Rouse and is leading the team with 89 total tackles, including 49 solo. Seniors Taylor Reed and Ja'Gared Davis will also be on the front line trying to keep Rouse contained.
-Wide receiver Davante Adams
The freshman has been stellar working with Carr this season, making 89 receptions for 1,168 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has scored a touchdown in seven straight games and has posted at least 120 receiving yards in two straight games. Adams had nine catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the final win against Air Force and will likely be matched up against SMU defensive back Kenneth Acker, who is leading the team in interceptions.
SMU QB Garrett Gilbert vs. Fresno State Secondary
Gilbert has been the centerpiece of the SMU offense this season, passing for 2,270 yards and 14 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. In the final win against Tulsa, Gilbert had 113 yards and one touchdown. He hasn't thrown an interception in five straight games and had a season-high four touchdown passes in a win over Houston on Oct. 18.
The Bulldogs defense has been solid this season, allowing just 22.3 points per game and 163.4 yards through the air, giving Gilbert a tough matchup. Gilbert will look hard for senior wideout Darius Johnson, who is leading the Mustangs with 61 receptions and 747 yards and four touchdowns.
Gilbert will have a tough time from defensive back Phillip Thomas, who leads the Bulldogs in interceptions with eight. He has also scored three defensive touchdowns and made a season-high 11 tackles two weeks ago against Nevada.
KEY PLAYERS
-Running back Zach Line
The senior will be key for Gilbert and the offense against Fresno State. If Line can get going, Gilbert can use the play-action to take advantage if the Bulldogs use eight-man fronts. Line has rushed for 1,207 yards and 12 touchdowns this season and has also been solid out of the backfield, making 32 receptions for 231 yards.
Line will keep an eye on Bulldogs linebacker Tristan Okpalaugo, who has 10.5 tackles for loss this season and will try to take advantage against a defense that allows 171.50 yards per game.