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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 2012 picks and predictions: Experts divided on game

Everyone's predicting a high-scoring game in Boise that could go either way.

USA TODAY Sports

The prognosticators are sure of one thing for this Saturday's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise: A lot of points are going to be scored between Toledo and No. 22 Utah State.

In a match-up that pits two teams who each score over 30 points a game, experts expect the Dec. 15 bowl game to be a shootout. Oddsmakers have set the over/under at a whopping 59, and are giving Utah State the 9.5-point advantage early on. The Aggies, who fell to Ohio University in this same bowl last season, are averaging 35 points per game this year, haven't lost since a Nov. 5 defeat to BYU. Since then, they've reeled off six straight wins en route to a 10-2 record and 6-0 mark in the WAC.

As for Toledo, the Rockets will likely be getting back quarterback Terrance Owens and running back David Fluellen, both of whom missed Toledo's regular-season finale against Akron on Nov. 20. The Rockets average an impressive 33 points per game, but come into this bowl match-up having lost two of their last three. Toledo was 9-3 and 6-2 in MAC play.

Over at NBC Sports' College Football Talk, Utah State is the choice to win, thanks to the presence of quarterback Chuckie Keeton. The prediction there is 35-24. Sports Direct, meanwhile, goes for Toledo, banking on the return of Owens and Fluellen in a 31-28 prediction.

Kickoff will be 4:30 pm ET on Dec. 15.