Arizona Wildcats Consider Themselves Underdogs In Fiesta Bowl

The Arizona Wildcats have had a 2014 surprising season.  Head coach Rich Rodriguez led the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, posting a 3-2 record against top 25 teams along the way.  After a couple of eight-win seasons, Rich Rod’s team finally put it all together and has the foundation to become a perennial Pac-12 contender.

The Wildcats were rewarded for their great season with a bid to play in the Fiesta Bowl, part of what is now being called the New Years Six.  The Wildcats opponent is a Boise State Broncos football program who knows a few things about putting together surprising seasons themselves.

The Broncos don’t quite have the resume of the Wildcats having played only one game against the top 25 this season, a loss to #18 Ole Miss on the opening weekend of the season. The Broncos ripped off 8 straight wins though to fight their way back to a #20 ranking and a bid to play on New Year’s Day.

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Playing a team ranked lower than them for the Mountain West conference should fill the Wildcats with some confidence going into the game. However, Rodriguez thinks his team should be the underdog when comparing the recent track record of the two programs.

"“When you win as many games as they do, including some really big games, I don’t know if you can consider them an underdog,” said Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez. “Heck, we’re probably more of an underdog than they are. When was the last time Arizona was in a Big-Six game? We’re probably more of a surprise than they are.”"

The Cats haven’t played in the New Years Day bowl since they beat the Miami Hurricanes 29-0 in the 1993 Fiesta Bowl but to consider themselves underdogs is a bit of a stretch.  Granted the Wildcats struggled on defense this season but they have been able to come up with stops when needed.

Boise State will give the Wildcats all they can handle to start the game but the overall talent of a Pac-12 team should be more than enough for Arizona to win comfortably in the end.

The 2015 Fiesta Bowl – Arizona Wildcats V Boise State Broncos

Where: University Of Phoenix Stadium

When: December 31st  2104

Start Time: 2:00 pm

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch ESPN