Team stats Cin Utah St Rush offense: 215.5 168.0 Pass offense: 114.7 280.5 Total offense: 330.3 448.5 Scoring offense: 26.0 33.6 Rush defense: 84.5 115.6 Pass defense: 251.2 251.2 Total defense: 335.7 366.8 Scoring defense: 21.2 33.6 Punt returns: 14.6 15.1 Kickoff returns: 21.4 19.3

When: 3:30 p.m. today.

Where: Bronco Stadium (30,000), Boise, Idaho.

TV: ESPN2.

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

Line: UC by 2.

Series: Teams have never met.

Coaches: UC -- Rick Minter (4th year, 21-22-1); Utah State -- John L. Smith (3rd year, 16-17).

About the Bearcats

GAME PLAN: UC will run the ball as usual, featuring the nation's No. 14 rushing offense. Just who runs will be the question, as coach Rick Minter is mum on whether Daryl Royal, Robert Cooper, or Orlando Smith will start at tailback. Quarterback Chad Plummer will try to make yards off the option, but backup QB Deontey Kenner will spell him at times -- and try to throw.

Either way, UC wants to get more production out of a passing offense that ranked only 106th nationally this year. The Bearcats have used postseason practices to improve their passing game, and could find holes against a Utah State defense that is strong against the run (2.9 per rush) but, like UC, vulunerable to passing (251 yards per game).

TELLING STATS: UC allowed 338 and 337 yards passing, respectively, in its last two games of the regular season vs.
Louisville and East Carolina. Utah State, which throws for 281 yards per game, could well hit 300 too.

KEY PLAYERS: QB Chad Plummer (606 yds rushing, 7 TDs; 1,178 yds passing, 6 TDs and 10 int.); TB Robert Cooper (611 rushing, 4 TDs); LBs Brad Jackson (168 tackles) and Phillip Curry (138 tackles); FS Tinker Keck (4 int., 4 punt returns for TDs).

About the Aggies

GAME PLAN: Utah State will pass to set up the run. The Aggies have gained 62.4 percent of their yards via air, but 62.2 percent of their points came on the ground. Senior QB Matt Sauk (6-1, 223
pounds) throws for nearly 300 yards per game. The running game features Demario Brown and Melvin Blue, who combined for nine 100-yard rushing games this season.

USU can play a little defense too, having led the Big West in rushing, passing, total and scoring defense. Like UC, they will stack eight men on the line with a version of the Arizona ''Desert Swarm,'' a flexing defense where linebackers line up as down linemen and then drop into coverage. USU had 42 sacks this year while allowing only 14; UC had 24 sacks while allowing 19.

TELLING STATS: Utah State averaged 42.2 points in its last five games. USU held opponents to just 2.9 yards per rush and 116 per game, but that was largely against pass-happy Big West teams.

KEY PLAYERS: QB Matt Sauk (2,896 yds passing, 16 TDs, 10 int.); WR Nakia Jenkins (73 rec, 1086 yds, 6 TDs); RB Demario Brown (971 rush, 10 TD); DE Ben Crosland (9.0 sacks); Punt returner Steve Smith (15.6 average, two TDs).

Notebook: Freshman QB could play a half
Bowl reports - Season in stories
Humanitarian Bowl web site
Utah State web site