Bowl season is upon us and out west the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl pits Wyoming (8-5) of the Mountain West Conference versus BYU (8-4). The game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
The Pointsettia Bowl has typically resulted in close games over its modern history (2005-present). Wyoming is making its first appearance in the bowl. BYU beat San Diego State 23-6 in December, 2012.
MORE: Full Bowl Schedule, Game Times, TV and More
The two teams have played 77 times, with BYU winning 44, Wyoming 30. There have been three ties in the series. BYU has won seven straight. The last matchup came in 2010, a 25-20 Cougars victory.
BYU Athletics
This is the 14th bowl game in Wyoming's history (6-7), the school's first bowl game since dropping the New Mexico Bowl to Temple in 2011. BYU is making its 35th appearance in a bowl game (13-20-1) after falling to in-state rival Utah in last December's Las Vegas Bowl.
The Cowboys are led offensively by tailback Brian Hill who posted 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Josh Allen added just under 3,000 yards and 26 scores through the air and chipped in 485 yards and seven TDs on the ground.
Wyoming Athletics
Wyoming averaged 37 points per contest while allowing nearly 35 per game. BYU is more balanced, putting up 30 points and ranking No. 15 in the country in scoring defense at 19.4 per game.
The Cougars are almost perfectly balanced offensively in terms of yards gained — 2,477 passing, 2,399 rushing, but in the red zone it's all about running back Jamaal Williams (1,165 yards, 11 TD) and the mobility of QB Taysom Hill (603 rushing yards, 8 TD).
Notable Poinsettia Bowl Records
Rushing Yards: 228, Ronnie Hillman, SDSU — 2010
Rushing TD: 3, Three Players
Passing Yards: 381, Justin Holland, CSU — 2005
Passing TD: 3, Three Players
Receptions: 10, Cody Hoffman, BYU — 2012
Receiving Yards: 165, Vincent Brown, SDSU — 2010
QB Sacks: 3, Tyler Tidwell, Navy — 2005[divider]
BYU vs. Wyoming
Location: Qualcomm Stadium — San Diego, CA
Time: 9 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN[
