WAC Weekend Recap, Week 9

That's right, I went 5-1 this week, only missing narrowly on the pillow fight of the year. That is not a bad way to follow up a 7-0 round last time! Now, some of you may say "But Bronco Chase, you are picking WAC games and those are pretty easy to see who the winner is going to be!" To quote Lee Corso (who I am still not sure is on the Boise State bandwagon or not) "Not so fast my friend!" While it may be true that in the Western Athletic Conference, there is a top and a bottom to the league and not much middle, especially this year. But you still don't know what is going to happen come game time. Also, I am going outside of the WAC and picking plenty of games. For example, this week I also went with the Oregon State/Cal match up, Oregon/USC, and Michigan State/Iowa. So there!

San Jose State Spartans at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was San Jose State wins 24 to 17
Final score: Aggies 29, Spartans 27
As you can see, this game was a close one. However, nobody watched it. This is plainly obvious when you look at what si.com has for the final score and what espn.com is showing. Pretty funny! After searching around I discovered that indeed New Mexico State won the game. The point is nobody watched the game and so there is no need to talk much about it.Congratulations to the Aggies for securing what will turn out to be their only WAC win.

Utah State Aggies at Nevada Wolfpack
My prediction was Nevada wins 51 to 17
Final score: Wolfpack 56, Aggies 42
Nevada completely dominated the first half of this game, taking a 35-0 lead into the locker room. But then something happened. Utah State decided that they were not going to not throw away their season quite yet and at least try and put up a fight. So they proceeded to drop 42 points on the Wolfpack in the second half and began playing defense, limiting the Pack to a mere 21 points. Lucky for Nevada they got those points or the Aggies would have pulled a monumental upset. This shows us two things; Utah State has the potential to be very dangerous, when they show up, and Nevada gets complacent sometimes. "Bird Leg" Kaepernick rebounded well after a poor performance on the islands to get his team the win. It appears that a banged up Vai Taua sat this one out to heal up. Next up for the Aggies is a home date with the other set of Aggies from New Mexico State while Nevada heads up to the Kibbie Dome to destroy the Vandals.

Idaho Vandals at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 45 to 35
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 45, Vandals 10
It would appear that along with their high-flying offense, that Hawai'i has found a little bit of defense as well. That and Idaho sucks anyway. The Vandals scored first with a field goal but did not get back on the board until very late in garbage time. This biggest problem for Idaho was yet again their starting quarterback Nathan Enderle, who can gain pretty decent yardage, but can also throw the ball to the other team. He gained 207 yards through the air, but also threw 2 interceptions and no touchdowns. Back up Brian Reader led the lone touchdown drive and finished it with an 18 yard pass to Taylor Elmo. Bryant Moniz yet again went off going 27 for 38 for 326 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Running back Alex Green had a decent night rushing for 74 yards on 10 carries and scoring 1 touchdown. It appears that Hawai'i has gone away from the running game that they had so much success with against Utah State last week. They use it just enough to keep the opposing defense honest. Next week Idaho hosts the Nevada Wolfpack and the Rainbow Warriors travel to Bronco Stadium for the defacto WAC Championship showdown with Boise State. I am getting tickets for that one tomorrow. Do not miss it!

California Golden Bears at Oregon State Beavers
My prediction was Oregon State wins 35 to 31
Final score: Beavers 35, Golden Bears 7
Oregon State completely dominated this game. Just like Idaho, Cal's only touchdown came in garbage time late in the fourth quarter. The story here was the defense. The Beavers held the Bears to 206 total yards, only 23 or which came on the ground. Oh yeah, that and Cal committed every penalty in the book it seemed like. How does 12 penalties for 103 yards sound. Jacquizz Rodgers had a fantastic game amassing 119 yards on 22 carries. California literally could not get anything going and that is why you see three straight quarters without scoring a point. In other words, the Beavers played much better than they did against Washington last week in an overtime loss. As Bronco fans, let's hope and pray that Oregon State can take their 3-1 Pac-10 record and continue winning (especially against the Ducks on December 4th. They can keep it going next week as they take on UCLA in Los Angeles. Cal goes to Pullman to beat up on lowly Washington State.

Oregon Ducks at USC Trojans
My prediction was Oregon wins 42 to 38
Final score: Ducks 53, Trojans 38
USC gave a valiant effort but fell way short of toppling the Ducks from Eugene, Oregon. Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley finished the game 26 for 49 for 264 yards and a touchdown. His problem was the amount of times he tried to force a ball into tight coverage (or just threw it really poorly) and ended up with 2 interceptions. There should have been at least a couple more. However, him and his fellow men of Troy had plenty of success against a suspect Oregon defense, but it was not enough. You have to outscore the Ducks if you have a defense like USC, and they could not. At one point they had even taken the lead in the third quarter, only to see it disappear moments later. Darron Thomas and LaMichael James lit up USC and the offense totaled 599 yards. The Duck "O" is for real. I looked up the current NCAA defensive ranks and found where Oregon's vanquished opponents are ranked. Out of 120 FBS teams,this is where they are; New Mexico-118th, Tennessee-87th, Portland State-FCS school, Arizona State-38th, Stanford-30th, Washington State-120th, UCLA-94th, and USC-98th. Portland State is a Division-1AA school, and using them as another 120th ranked defense, the Ducks' opponents rank an average of 88th best in the nation. Of the top defenses they have played (Arizona State and Stanford), the Sun Devils held them to 42 points (which is still quite a bit, but below their average) and they scored 52 on Stanford at home. So yes, their offense is amazing, but they have still yet to be challenged by anybody decent on the road, and the one time at home does not go very far to defeating my argument. Oregon should stay atop the polls and hold steady in the BCS Rankings. Next week they are at home against Washington (100th ranked defense) and USC takes on Arizona State, also at home.

Michigan State Spartans at Iowa Hawkeyes
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Iowa wins 34 to 24
Final score: Hawkeyes 37, Spartans 6
I had thought for weeks that Michigan State was not as good as the number 5 ranking that they had received. This game shows how big of a fraud they indeed were. Iowa completely dominated this game. Just like Idaho and Cal, the Spartans did not score until very late in the game when the outcome was already decided. So another one bites the dust. Better luck in 2012 when Boise State comes to East Lansing to take on the Spartans!

Previous record: 33-10
This week's record: 5-1
Total: 38-11

Having looked at Oregon's opponents and their defensive numbers, I decided to do the same for Boise State. I hate when arguments are one sided and as a prospective journalist, I want to make sure that I am being fair. So, for the Broncos: Virginia Tech-33rd, Wyoming-111th, Oregon State-94th, New Mexico State-114th, Toledo-56th, San Jose State-107th, and Louisiana Tech-114th. That averages out to just under 91. So the Ducks have actually faced slightly better defenses than the Broncos. It is really close. But for their own defenses, they rank Boise State-3rd at 13.4 and Oregon-17th at 17.9. So these two teams are quite similar. I can only hope that they run into each other in a bowl game, preferably the National Championship!

Weekend Picks, 6th Edition (9th Week of the Season)

Boise State has started off the WAC slate by demolishing Louisiana Tech on a cold Tuesday night in Western Idaho. That means there are only three games left in conference to pick. That means, as I have been doing, I will choose a few other contests that intrigue me. The match up of the week in the WAC is Idaho at Hawai'i. The match up outside of the WAC is Oregon at USC. Yes, I will try my hand at picking that one. We will see how it goes.

Saturday, October 30 at 2 PM

1-7, (0-3 WAC)
at

1-6, (0-3 WAC)

Yeah, I know. This is a pillow fight. Both teams are really bad and neither deserves to post a second win on their resume. But alas, someone will come out on top and I could really care less who it is. San Jose State showed some improvement when they took on Fresno State last week, only losing by a final score of 33 to 18. They were at least competitive, especially in the first half. New Mexico State also improved a little bit and scored 14 points at Idaho. The Aggies score an average of 12 points a game and give up 38. The Spartans only score an average of 10 a game, but only give up 34. With that said, I have more confidence in San Jose State than I do their competition in the south, I think...
Prediction: Spartans 24, Aggies 17

Saturday, October 30 at 8:30 PM

2-5, (0-3 WAC)
at

6-1, (1-1 WAC)

Utah State laid a complete egg last week at home against Hawai'i. I have completely given up on their season and I would guess that they have as well. If they still have some fight in them, it's not going to matter very much against the Wolfpack. The Aggie offense is turning out to be nothing spectacular and their defense can't stop anybody. In other words, it is the same Utah State team that we have known for years. It's too bad they peaked the first game of the season at Oklahoma. Nevada on the other hand, suffered a stunning loss at Hawai'i a couple of weeks ago. Still, they find themselves back in the top 25. They are still a good team, but "Bird Leg" Kaepernick will need to play much better than he did against the Rainbow Warriors. I would expect him to do just that, with a lot of anger in his eyes. Even if he does not, the Wolfpack should win comfortably.
Prediction: Wolfpack 51, Aggies 17

Saturday, October 30th at 9:30 PM

4-3, (1-1 WAC)
at

6-2 (4-0 WAC)

The Vandals rebounded from a bad loss at Louisiana Tech by beating New Mexico State at home 37 to 14. They got the "W," but lost starting linebacker Jojo Dickson to a season ending leg injury. It was pretty devastating and tough to see. But they are ready for their trip to the islands in what should be a great match up of passing attacks. Hawai'i ranks first nationally in passing yards per game and Idaho ranks fourth. In other words, there will be lots of yardage through the air coming from both sides of the field. The difference is going to be the ground game. Idaho has struggled finding consistency with their running backs. Last week, on the other hand, against Utah State, Hawai'i got a great game from Alex Green, going for 142 yards in the win. I doubt that either defense will be able to stop the opponent's offense very often, but the Rainbow Warriors are better than the Vandals. Enough key stops and a ground game will seal the victory for Hawai'i.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 45, Vandals 35

Saturday, October 30 at 1:30 PM

4-3, (2-2 Pac-10)
at

3-3, (2-1 Pac-10)

Both of these teams are struggling, but for different reasons. Cal is simply not that good of a team, and Oregon State played the schedule of death to kick off the season and is now suffering for it. However, the Golden Bears may be finding themselves as they pasted Arizona State last week 50 to 17. The Beavers lost a heart breaker two weeks ago at Washington in overtime. They extra rest will bode well for them as will the fact that they are playing at home. Ryan Katz is playing well, even with the absence of injured James Rodgers. Oregon State almost always makes a big run later on in the season and wins some games. This year will be no different.
Prediction: Beavers 35, Golden Bears 31

Saturday, October 30 at 6PM

7-0, (4-0 Pac-10)
at

5-2, (2-2 Pac-10)

This will be a very exciting game in so many ways. It will be the first legitimate road test for the Ducks. It is most intriguing because of the offenses that both squads will put on the field. Oregon plays so frenetically fast that it is next to impossible to stop them. Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, and the rest of the Quackers will be going full speed and will score a lot of points. On the other side, Matt Barkley leads the Trojan attack. He has completed 65% of his passes and thrown for 1,869 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. He is playing very well and not many people are noticing. The Ducks have a suspect defense and are yet to even be tested this year. At the same time, USC has not been as dominant defensively as they had been in past years. Still, they are rounding into form and have a lot of talent to make a difference in this game. This contest has plenty of national title implications to make it the game of the week nationally. If Oregon wins, they clear another hurdle in their championship quest. If they lose, it opens the door for Auburn, Boise State, TCU, Utah, Alabama, Nebraska, and Missouri to get into the discussion even more than they are now. For the Trojans, they are banned from post season play because of sanctions stemming from NCAA violations. This is their Super Bowl, their chance to ruin somebody's season, and also to reestablish themselves in the Pac-10 standings. Do not think for a moment that they will mail this one in and let Oregon run all over them. What remains to be seen is whether or not that will be enough to slow down a very good Duck offense and pull off the upset. This will be a lot of fun to watch. Make sure you are doing just that. As much as I think USC can win this game, I don't feel comfortable enough to pick them. But, I would not feel bad if I predict the wrong team to win.
Prediction: Ducks 42, Trojans 38

Saturday, October 30 at 1:30 PM

8-4, (4-0 Big-10)
at

5-2 (2-1 Big-10)

With the exception of the first three quarters of the Arizona game, the Hawkeyes have played very well this season. In fact, they are a couple of seconds and better use of their last time out against Wisconsin away from being 6-1. They have Ricky Stanzi at quarterback and a really good defense. In other words, they are able to compete with anybody in the nation. They just need to be consistent for all four quarters. Michigan State is undefeated and knocking on the door of a Big-10 championship and a BCS Bowl berth. They play well on defense and good enough on offense to win a lot of games. Their trick plays also help them in finishing the games on top (right Notre Dame?). Still, I think they along with Utah are the most unworthy of being in the top 10. This week should be the one where they finally get a loss and they will see their dream season take a setback.
UPSET SPECIAL!
Prediction: Hawkeyes 34, Spartans 24

Record coming into this week (including Boise State's win over Louisiana Tech on Tuesday): 33-10

There we have it! It has been another weird week with no Boise State games on the weekend. Regardless, there will be some good games to watch. I strongly urge you to pay attention to the Oregon at USC game. Enjoy it all!

Broncos Earn Gritty Win Over the LA Tech Bulldogs

Everything about this game felt weird. It was a Tuesday night in Boise, Idaho, freezing cold, and the starters had not played a complete game in a month. Couple that with the fact that Louisiana Tech had finally found itself offensively and you have a recipe for a sloppy, closer than it probably should have been contest. In the end and without playing anything close to their best game, Boise State was able to come out on top and still win by 29 points. It was definitely hard to watch at times, but we will take the "W." Let's look at some numbers and go from there. A few of them are a little surprising, you will see.

Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
Rushing-163..........172
Passing-305..........222
..Total-468..........394

Rushing attempts:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........36............49

First Downs:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........21............25

Yards per pass:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.......10.5..........5.6

Fourth down conversions:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........1-1..........3-7

Penalties-Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.......3-21..........5-45

It's weird to see that Boise State was outgained in rushing yards, as that has been the strong point of the defense this year. Tech running back Lennon Creer is a beast, to say the least, and deserves a lot of credit. He was very physical throughout the night and his high rushing total (149 yards) can be attributed to that (remember, he transferred from Tennessee. He has talent, there is no question). But you also must realize that it took LA Tech 49 attempts to gain those 172 yards on the ground. Also, the Bulldogs played very fast, not wasting any time between snaps, and mixed up their play selections very well. I think that had more to do with the rushing total than anything. They had Boise State guessing for 2 quarters of the game or so. As you would guess, Boise State was able to pass for more yards than Louisiana Tech. That is great to see, especially since they put up 422 yards through the air against Idaho in their last game. It was great to see the Broncos stiffen up and stop the Bulldogs when it mattered, especially in the red zone and in fourth down situations, hence the 3 for 7 4th down conversion stat. Boise State will need to do much of the same against Hawai'i in their next game. My favorite stat is the number of penalties. Boise State finally cut down on those. It has gotten better this season as you can see.

What We Learned:

Louisiana Tech is the best WAC team that Boise State has played. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Even with the sloppiness and mistakes, they still won by 29 points. It was also a good warm up for the teams to come (Hawai'i, Nevada). The Bulldogs will be a very tough team in a few years once Sonny Dykes can get his type of players in. Too bad Boise State won't be in the WAC to see it (who knows if LA Tech will be in this conference either).

Kellen Moore might actually be human, maybe. He did throw an interception for the first time since the Wyoming game (it's still only his second one this year), but he did have a beautiful pooch punt, tackled somebody, and caught a touchdown pass from Austin Pettis. So, I guess he's still not human. He is so freaking good! Give him the Heisman now!

Sonny Dykes needs to chill out. I cannot believe that a large, southern man could get as upset as he did about an offsides call on an onside kick, especially when his player was clearly past the ball before it was kicked. In other words, he was offsides. Dykes (he, he...Dykes) will be eating some crow when he sees the tape on that one. He even got a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for screaming at the referees about it, which I'm sure was laced with every kind of profanity and inappropriate slur known to mankind. Good times...

Doug Martin is amazing, especially when he gets to play a full game. How does 150 yards on 21 carries sound? That is an eye-popping 7.1 yards per carry! It's nice to see him trucking fools as he carries the rock up the middle. He broke out on some huge runs and scored 2 touchdowns along the way. He is great for eating up clock when protecting a lead. Plus he is just fun to watch. By they way, the muscle hamster thing needs to go away. They even mentioned it a few times last night. Time to move on...

Even on an imperfect night, the Broncos still dominate. Titus Young fumbled a kick off, Kellen Moore threw an interception and fell down on a hand off (which was also fumbled), and Jeremy Avery fumbled a wildcat snap. But through all that, Boise State still won by 29 (as I have mentioned). They also converted two of those fumbles into immediate touchdowns. The game was never really in doubt, either. Time to continue the rest of the WAC farewell tour. Bring 'em on!

Areas of Concern:

Injuries; I know there is nothing Boise State can do about it but Brandyn Thompson, Kyle Brotzman, Aaron Tevis, Cedric Febis, Jeron Johnson, Chase Baker, and Joe Kellogg all either did not play due to injuries or left the game because of injuries. The Broncos will need all of them to be healthy in order to compete the best that they can as the schedule gets a bit tougher. Kicking game; Kyle Brotzman being out had a lot to do with it, but a missed field goal and some bad kickoffs is something that needs to be fixed. I would have thought by now the kickoffs would have gotten better, but they really haven't. The secondary; They played well, but a couple of lapses and mistakes led to points for Louisiana Tech. Hawai'i comes in next week for a huge showdown. Other than that, they played well.

Favorite Play:

Is there any doubt what I am going to pick? Kellen Moore takes the snap in the shotgun. He turns to the left and tosses the ball to Jeremy Avery who proceeds to run to the left side of the field. Coming the other way is Austin Pettis who gets the pitch from Avery. As Pettis runs to the right side in what appears to be a straight up reverse run, he holds up and tosses the ball toward the end zone. Standing there to receive the pass is a wide open Kellen Moore. Touchdown Broncos! That's right, Pettis to Moore! It's usually the other way around! I knew it was just a matter of time before Moore caught a pass, and it was beautiful! Let's see some more of that!

Thoughts and Tidbits:

Boise State had scored on every single opening drive of the season until last night. Jimmy Pavel missed a field goal on the Broncos first possession to end the streak. Tyler Shoemaker had a career night catching 6 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Boise State did not sell out the stadium as the student section had a lot of empty seats. A lot of that can be contributed to fact that it was a Tuesday night and it was really cold.

Weekly Player to Watch Recap:

Austin Pettis had a great game. He caught 5 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. It was his first TD since the Oregon State game. He also threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Kellen Moore on what is sure to be a play that goes down as a legendary tale in Boise State history, and will also cause headaches for future opponents' defensive coordinators to try and defend. It was great to see him (as well as the rest of the starters) play a complete game. Pettis is the man. Get used to it.

Perception:

We are at the point now when no matter what Boise State does, it is not going to make a difference as far as perception goes. Whether or not the Broncos end up in the National Championship game will depend on what happens with the other top teams in the nation. Oregon, Auburn, Alabama (still), Oklahoma (still), Missouri, TCU, and Utah will have a lot of say in determining where Boise State ends up. They could get passed in the polls and BCS Rankings by one or all of them, depending on who wins and who loses. The winner of the TCU vs. Utah game has a great chance of leap-frogging them (frog pun intended). Let's just hope Utah loses to Air Force or BYU but also somehow beats TCU. No matter who loses nationally, the BCS and the pollsters will surely be looking for and probably find a reason to not move Boise State up to number 1 or 2. That sucks, but that's how it is. As I have said multiple times and will continue to say, a lot has to happen for the Broncos to be in the NC Game. It has to be a perfect storm of unforeseen chaos. Time will tell. For now, let's enjoy the weekend's action and root for USC, Nebraska, Iowa, Hawai'i, and Nevada!

Photos:

I love idahostatesman.com. Thanks again for the photos. They sure take some good ones!

Check back in tomorrow for something. I haven't decided what it will be yet. Go Broncos!

Rick Reilly is Really Righteous

How's that for some alliteration? My English teachers would be so proud of me! Anyway, I just wanted to share this lovely article with my readers. ESPN's Rick Reilly jumps in to defend Boise State and he does a marvelous job. Take a look at it for yourself here. Mr. Reilly is known for making really funny videos for whatever programs are airing on ESPN. What I personally like about him is the puns and witty comparisons that he makes. Exhibit A: When referring to how the BCS continually screws the Broncos, Reilly says; "It's the biggest rip-off since the Nigerian prince scam. It makes you wonder why you watch college football at all. What Boise State is being asked to do isn't doable. It's like trying to win a Cuban election. Or break into the Genovese family." Hilarious! He then follows it up with this; "People think of Boise State as some kind of Tahitian ice skating team. It's not like the Broncos have to wait for the high school girls' field hockey team to get off the field at 5 p.m. before they can practice." It's true. It's a load of crap that is continually heaped upon the Broncos' football team no matter what they do to win or who loses ahead of them. What can they do? The BCS blows.

The part that I like the best is the way that BCS blowhards and officials patronize Boise State. Rick Reilly exclaims; "...and they'll come home with a win and a hatful of "You kids sure play with a lot of heart up there" put-downs from the BCS blazers." Yeah, they do play hard. They've also beaten everybody they've gone up against in the past 4 years by "playing with a lot of heart." It's a joke and it starts to bug us as fans of the team. At least Coach Chris Petersen and his team tries to ignore all of it. It's probably for the best that they maintain that state of self-innocence.

The other day on Facebook I posted something to the effect that the BCS sucks and somehow the Big East, which has no ranked teams currently, will get a team into one of their bowls automatically and in essence have a better shot at the National Championship than third ranked Boise State. Two of my friends proceeded to have a heated discussion in the comments section about the merits, fairness, and legitimacy of the BCS system. To protect the innocent, the names of said friends will be changed. "Joseph" took the side that the BCS is an anti-trust laden entity set out to screw the little guy and support the big boys. "Alex" took the side that the BCS thrives off of negative commentary. They crave it and need it to promote themselves and grow exponentially. I just sat back and let it fly. It was really funny how upset they got. They ended up making up and being cool with each other when all was said and done.

This is what I ended up deciding afterward; The BCS financial system/sharing still sucks. It indeed was set and is now protected by money-hungry elitists who illegally exclude many smaller non-traditional power schools from the money that is awarded to the big conferences, even if they don't deserve it. In other words, nothing has changed. With that said, I am addicted to it. I love the college football regular season and what each game means for each team. There is so much passion in these kids, especially the ones that got shafted recruiting-wise by the big schools. I also love the postseason. All of the hype, pageantry, and build up of bowl games makes me overly ecstatic and really giddy. Yes, possibly school girl giddy. I will watch Middle Tennessee State vs. Louisiana Monroe in the Papajohns.com Pizza Topping Mug Root Beer Chef Boyardé Memphis Bowl. I'm that into it! Being at the Fiesta Bowl last year was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Every moment was thrilling and exciting. If college football switches to a playoff a la the FCS level, all of that would be gone. No more week long parties in Glendale, Arizona. No more massive month long build up before it all explodes into a no-holds-barred contest between two teams giving everything they have for a one game glory. No more pageantry and excitement for bowl season. There, I said it. That doesn't mean that I agree with how the money gets dispersed. Did you know that if Boise State got to and won the National Championship game, they would only get 5 or 6 million dollars for their conference? BCS schools get 20 to 21 million. Other than that and the fact that it is ridiculously difficult (dare I say impossible?) for a non-AQ school to get into the title game, I love the system. I think a few tweaks here and there would make it better. But please, don't exclude the Broncos just because they are in the WAC. Thank you Rick Reilly for your words. I agree with you, but I just can't let go.

Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech, plus Weekly Player to Watch, 6th edition

That's right, today is a very special edition of my Weekly PTW! Since for some strange ESPN-related reason, Boise State is playing a football game on Tuesday night against the mighty Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech. That means my entire schedule was thrown off dating back to last Thursday when I make my picks and then Friday when I normally give you my player to watch. With that said, all it means is that you folks, as my blog readers, get an extra large heaping of Bronco Chase today! Lucky you! This post will be a mix of game preview and analysis, my Weekly PTW, and of course a prediction of the final score. So let's get started!

After two consecutive games of not getting anybody hurt due to the phantom "Weekly PTW" injury curse, I am ready to pick again. I am going with somebody on the offensive side of the ball, seeing as how LA Tech is not capable of stopping anybody. So after a few minutes of decisive pondering, I am going with a receiver for this week's PTW...Austin Pettis!!!!!


If you look at Louisiana's pass defense, they are really bad. The numbers tell me so. The Bulldogs rank 119th out of 120 teams in that category. In other words, everybody has been successful throwing against them. At the same time, they do pretty well against the run. I would expect the Broncos to force the running game, especially early, before unleashing Kellen Moore and his pack of very talented wide receivers and tight ends. That includes Mr. Pettis. Did you know that he has not scored a touchdown since September? Yep, the Oregon State game was the last time that he found himself celebrating a TD in the end zone. He is ripe for a score or two (or four). Think about it this way; Louisiana Tech brings one of the worst pass defenses in the nation into Bronco Stadium. Boise State has one of the best passing offenses in said nation. Austin Pettis has gone touchdownless for a few games now and is very hungry (and possibly angry) to score. It is perfect situation for some Moore to Pettis for 6 action. It will look a little something like this:


Pettis came to The Blue from Orange Lutheran High School in Anaheim, California. He lettered three times in football, but was also a star in basketball and track. In fact, he was named Velocity/Prep Star All-Region, first-team all-county, first-team all-league, and third-team all-state as a senior after hauling in 72 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns. Pettis' senior year he led his team to a state championship and in the process, garnered All-Southern Section honors (I borrowed this info from obnug.com). In other words, he was really good and has the numbers to prove it. Austin was a big recruit for the Broncos as he came out of high school ranked as a three-star athlete. He fielded offers from the Broncos, Utah State, and Utah. Good thing he came to Boise State or he would have never been able to make posters like this:


It is crazy to think that Austin is a senior. It seems like just yesterday that he showed up on The Blue wearing number 87. He contributed frequently as a freshman, racking up 139 yards and 3 TD's against Idaho back in 2007. Since then, he has done nothing but put up staggering numbers. There is a definite handicap on our offense if he is out. So let's hope the swinging gate two point conversion attempts don't break his foot again, like it did last year against Nevada. It is interesting to think about what would have happened in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU had he been able to play. His presence on the field is huge, but his production is just as important for the offense. Virginia Tech knows what he can do. Can anyone say game winning touchdown?!?!?!


This game against the Bulldogs could be momentous for Pettis as he is closing in on the Boise State record books. His name is already at the top of the list that says "most touchdowns in one season." He notched that one last year with 14. Austin needs 7 catches to break the 37-year old Boise State record for most career receptions held by Don Hutt. I think it could happen, especially if he is to go off like I am expecting him to. So, as long as he doesn't go "Wyoming" this week and get benched by Coach Pete, he might break it!


There we have it! Austin Pettis is the Weekly Player to Watch! Check him out tomorrow against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

On to the game!

Tuesday, October 26 at 6 PM

3-4, (2-1 WAC)
at

6-0, (2-0 WAC)

Is it just me or does the Idaho Statesman newspaper try to build up Boise State's opponents in an effort to make a potentially lopsided game look even? They did the same thing for New Mexico State, Toledo, and San Jose State. However, this time around I think they might have a legitimate case to do it. After all, Louisiana Tech did put up 683 yards of offense against Idaho in their last game, 422 of which came through the air. Boise State's secondary has not been tested since the Virginia Tech game, and they looked bad against the Hokies. At the same time, the reason that they have not been tested is because the Broncos' pass rush is so overwhelming and ferocious that opposing quarterbacks have not had time to throw. This is setting the stage for what I think are the keys to the game. If Boise State can sack the quarterback early and at least apply pressure from then on, they will force Ross Jenkins to throw early, make mistakes, and toss some INT's. On the other hand, if Jenkins is able to get comfortable and has time in the pocket, a lot of pressure will be placed on Brandyn Thompson, George Iloka, Jeron Johnson, Jamar Taylor, and Jerrell Gavins in the secondary. Those guys will need to play well regardless, but a lack of pass rush will put undue stress on them. I think you will see Coach K. (defensive coordinator) mix up the schemes and blitzes, get creative, and force LA Tech into turning the ball over. The Bulldogs will not be able to run the ball, even with Tennessee-transfer Lennon Creer in the backfield. Boise State will not have as big of a game rushing wise, but will end up with decent numbers as they try to force it against a stiff run defense. The passing will open it up for more rushing and eventually the Bulldogs will be guessing wrong, pass or rush. That is when Moore gashes teams deep and Doug Martin breaks off for huge gains. The game may be close early, but Boise State will pull ahead and keep Kellen Moore and the rest of the starters in throughout the third quarter to make sure. Boise State will win fairly easily, wishing another WAC team a brutal farewell.
Prediction: Broncos 55, Bulldogs 17

Record before this game: 32-10
I have a feeling that I will end up with one more "W" tomorrow evening!
Let's go Broncos!

WAC Weekend Recap, Minus Boise State Edition

Gues what followers of Bronco Chase? I went 7 for 7 on my weekend picks! That is amazing! I am doing great on my upset specials. Good thing I didn't follow what Stewart Mandel on si.com said. He picked Utah State to upset Hawai'i. I was not as foolish. There were some decent games this time around, but we all were left with a huge void in hearts because Boise State had the weekend off. But do not fret my friends, they get going on Tuesday against Louisiana Tech in a very intriguing match up. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The weekend in review starts now!

New Mexico State Aggies at Idaho Vandals
My prediction was Idaho wins 41 to 21
Final score: Vandals 37, Aggies 14
You know what? New Mexico State did not play too bad at all up in Moscow. Sure they were out-gained in yardage and first downs, but they held their own against a better team. In fact, the Aggies were able to gain 289 total yards including a stout 155 on the ground. Quarterback Matt Christian only completed 8 of his 29 pass attempts, but 2 of them went for touchdowns. The most impressive stat line from New Mexico State was one from their defense. They held the Vandals to 392 yards. This means one of two things; The Aggies are getting better, or Idaho is not that good. I think both have some truth to them. Idaho still could not get anything going on the ground, gaining a mere 88 yards, most of which came from Princeton McCarty. This was a big win for the guys up north as they had just gotten smoked at Louisiana Tech the weekend before. At 4-3 Idaho is not looking to bad for becoming bowl eligible. I would wager money that they end up in the Humanitarian Bowl again against a MAC team, possible Toledo. Anyway, the Vandals will need to find some sort of running game if they want to beat Nevada, Hawai'i, or Boise State. They can start doing that next week when they travel to the islands. New Mexico State hosts San Jose State in the pillow fight of the century.

Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Hawai'i win 34 to 28
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 45, Aggies 7
Well what can I say. Utah State continues to unimpress me. I at least gave them a chance to win this game. Hawai'i had just come off of an emotional victory over a ranked Nevada team and they were bound for a let down in the cold, unforgiving land of northern Utah. But this was not the case. The Aggies came out flat and got owned! 181 yards of offense is not going to get it done. Hawai'i's defense is not even that good. Utah State's quarterback Diondre Borel went 7 for 23 for 2 interceptions. Granted, the Rainbow Warrior's front man Bryant Moniz also threw two interceptions, but he at least made up for it by tossing for 389 yards and a touchdown. It appears that they may have also found a rushing game. Either that or the weather was so bad that they had to throw it more than they wanted to. Alex Green carried 14 times for 172 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hawai'i is looking more and more dangerous as the weeks go by. They will host Idaho next weekend and Utah State goes on the road to Reno to get beaten badly yet one more time this year.

Fresno State Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans
My Prediction was Fresno State wins 38 to 13
Final score: Bulldogs 33, Spartans 18
Just like fellow bottom-dweller New Mexico State, the San Jose State Spartans showed marked improvement this week. This game was actually pretty close in the first half, as Fresno State was only ahead 10-0 at the break. But then the Bulldogs poured it on in the second half. It wasn't until mid to late fourth quarter that San Jose State started putting up some points. Spartan quarterback Jordan La Secla played pretty well, completing 19 of 31 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw 2 interceptions, however. The problem with San Jose State is still their rushing attack. 12 yards against Fresno State really sucks. The most interesting stat of the night, total yards. Fresno State had 353 and San Jose State had 339. That is really close, especially when you think that the Bulldogs are supposed to be a top-tier WAC team. FSU quarterback Ryan Colburn did not throw a touchdown pass. In fact, he only had 125 yards through the air. Pat Hill is still trying to establish the run game and make it the Bulldog identity like it has been for many years in the past. They did get 185 on the ground, mainly from Robbie Rouse. Here's to thinking that Fresno State will get crushed at Bronco Stadium. Anyway, San Jose State goes to New Mexico State next weekend (again, pillow fight) and Fresno State has the week off before traveling to Louisiana Tech in what is turning out to be an interesting game.

UCLA Bruins at Oregon Ducks
My prediction was Oregon wins 45 to 21
Final score: Ducks 60, Bruins 13
I do not need to go into much detail about this game as I already did last Friday. Thursday games are cool most of the time. So I will spare my fingers the unnecessary typing and you the unnecessary reading. Let's save our bodies for some more rants later on down the road.

Wyoming Cowboys at BYU Cougars
My prediction was BYU wins 35 to 20
Final score: Cougars 25, Cowboys 20
I have mentioned the term "pillow fight" when referring to football games two times already in this post. That blast comment was just the third time, and I will use it again to describe this game. The BYU Cougars won the Mountain West Conference pillow fight against the Wyoming Cowboys. It was a very ugly night all around for both teams and so I will not bore you with recounting numbers, stats, or stories. Just look here if you want to see the box score for yourself and let's move on to something more interesting.

LSU Tigers at Auburn Tigers
My prediction was Auburn wins 28 to 24
Final score: Tigers (of Auburn) 24, Tigers (of LSU) 17
Auburn has yet again brought itself closer to the National Championship game. It is usually hard to say that one person has done more to get a team to where it is now, but Cam Newton has done just that. The Tiger quarterback ran freely through a LSU defense that had only given up an average of 80 yards per game on the ground. Auburn gained 440, 217 of which came from Mr. Newton and his big yet fast legs. That is ridiculous. I am aware of the possibility that by talking about how amazing this play was that I am at risk of sounding as ridiculous as Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson of CBS. That said, I almost crapped my pants when I saw Cam Newton complete this touchdown run! I counted four missed tackles. He is just so big and hard to take down. when Newton accelerated into the end zone, one of the two commentators went into a fit of pleasure hysteria that can only be described by a song from "The Lonely Island." Just watch the video and hear it for yourself. This win should earn him the Heisman single-handedly. He was already at the top of most lists as it is. This game also sends LSU back to where they belong. They were not the 7th best team in the country. Their offense plays too poorly. Anyway, enjoy the video. I think it is just a matter of time before Auburn jumps Boise State. That is, unless they lose at some point. Remember, the Iron Bowl against Alabama is coming up!

Kansas State Wildcats at Baylor Bears
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Baylor wins 35 to 28
Final score: Bears 47, Wildcats 42
This was an upset yes. Kansas State was ranked and Baylor was not. That has changed now ad the Bears were able to hold off the Wildcats and get the "W." I picked this upset because of two words that I saw when poking around on espn.com's page dedicated to Baylor; Robert Griffin. Baylor's quarterback is a beast and he's really freaking good. He ended the game having thrown for 4 touchdowns and 404 yards. That is all I need to say.

Previous week's totals: 25-10
This week: 7-0
Overall: 32-10

Here is the AP Top 25 Poll just released for this week. It looks just about as I expected it to. Auburn is rising fast as is Missouri for their upset of #1 ranked Oklahoma (I cannot tell you how happy I am about that one for many reasons!). As long as number one's keep losing, things will look great for Boise State. Oregon better be careful when they head to Los Angeles next week to take on USC. Let's get ready for the Broncos to take on Louisiana Tech on Tuesday and go from there! Check back in tomorrow for my incredible breakdown of that match up!

Ducks Dive-bomb the Bruins-Where Does That Leave the Broncos?

Autzen Stadium, Eugene Oregon. It went down just as most people expected it would. The final score was Oregon 60, Bruins 13. But that is what happens when one of the elite, top teams in the country playing at home goes up against a crappy PAC 10 bottom dweller. As you may recall, I picked the Ducks to win this one by a score of 45 to 21. However, I did not anticipate Oregon keeping their starters in the game through the entire third quarter and therefore running up the score. I guess Chip Kelly is unaware of the fact that he can exhibit good sportsmanship and win at the same time. Anyway and regardless of how long Darron Thomas and LaMichael James were left in the contest, the Ducks completely dominated a clueless and over matched UCLA team. It did seem that the Bruins were at least able to move the ball fairly well, mainly in the first half. But they could only come up with a couple of field goals to show for it, until garbage time in the fourth. I am still not overly impressed with the Ducks defense, but they made the plays when they had to and limited UCLA to only 13 points. With that said, the same Stanford team that Oregon beat held the Bruins to 0 points scored. Look for yourself here if you don't believe me. My point is Oregon has possibly the best offense in the nation (it is definitely the fastest-paced) and in order to beat them, you will need to outscore them and make a few stops here and there along the way. But their defense is not elite. It is good, that is for sure, but not amongst the best in the country.

So where does this leave the Boise State Broncos. I would think that as of Friday morning, nothing has changed. Oregon is still ranked ahead of them so there is no fear of getting jumped by the yellow and green-clad squad from Eugene. We will need to wait until Saturday when two of the teams within in jumping-threat distance square off in Alabama. LSU at Auburn will be the one to keep your eyes on. I think the winner has a good chance of moving up ahead of the Broncos, as Boise State does not play until next Tuesday. So there is no need to freak out or worry yet. Save that for Sunday when we as fans dissect every little detail about the ridiculous BCS Standings and get worked up over when our team fall in the polls and/or rankings.

The one thing that blows my mind is how quickly people forget. Was it not two years ago that a freshman quarterback led the Broncos into Autzen Stadium and orchestrated Boise State's first ever road win at a BCS-conference school? Was it not just last year in September that the Broncos completely outclassed and dominated an Oregon team that was hell-bent on revenge for alleged "cheap shots" committed in the contest last year? How did that work out for them? In fact, the only cheap shot that occurred during those two meetings came from the right fist of one Legarrette Blount after the second contest was over. The point is Boise State dominated both games and earned their wins when everybody thought they had no chance. Here we are again. Oregon is getting all the hype and everyone says that they would take Boise State to the woodshed. When have I heard that before?! My hope is that Boise State runs into them in either the National Championship game or the Rose Bowl. For some reason, the Broncos have to prove themselves yet again. There is not doubt that this Oregon team is the best one yet, even better than last year. But so is this Boise State team. The number one rushing offense versus the number one run defense. Now that would be something to watch. Let's hope it happens.

Weekend Picks, 5th Edition (8th Week of the Season)

Well we have yet another weekend where there isn’t anything too exciting happening in the Western Athletic Conference. In other words, there are really no marquee match ups or exciting games to feast your eyes on. Not only that, but Boise State doesn’t even play until Tuesday. So I guess I am resigned to picking some from other conferences. I will do a “Pick Special” on Monday for the Boise State versus Louisiana Tech game on the 26th, including extensive (aka probably way too much) analysis of the contest on The Blue. For the time being, let’s get going with the three WAC games that are happening on Saturday, as well as others that I deem necessary to add.

Saturday, October 23 at 3 PM

1-5 (0-2 WAC)
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3-3 (0-1 WAC)
The Kibbie Dome will be rocking Saturday afternoon as the Vandals welcome the Aggies (the bad ones in the conference. No not those Aggies. The worst ones. There you go!). New Mexico State comes off yet another conference loss, this time at the hands of the Bulldogs of Fresno State. How bad is it for the Aggies? Well they average scoring 12 points a game and give up almost 39. That bad. At least they are averaging over 100 yards rushing, right? On the other side of the field, Idaho will still be licking its wounds from the beat down they took from Louisiana Tech. They scored, but were not able to stop the Bulldogs at all. Plus only gaining 20 yards on the ground did not bode well for them. They cannot win on the road to save their lives. Good thing this one is at home. The Vandals must win 3 conference games out of the 7 they have left in order to become bowl eligible. You can say that this season has been a let down compared to the moderate success they had last year. They should beat NMSU and San Jose State, but somehow they must find a way to win one against either at Hawai’i, at Utah State, or at Fresno State, or at home against Nevada or Boise State. It could be tough sledding for the silver and gold up north, but I think they can do it. At Fresno is a great opportunity, as well as at Utah State. However, this weekend they must focus on the hapless Aggies of New Mexico State
Prediction: Vandals, 41, Aggies 21

Saturday, October 23 at 3 PM

5-2 (3-0 WAC)
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2-4 (0-2 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors are riding high after their upset of the then 19th ranked Nevada Wolfpack. They did not have as great of a game offensively, but surprisingly their defense was more than up to the task of stopping “Bird Leg” and co. It helped that the Nevada offense had the absolute worst night in the history of the pistol’s existence. Anyway, this is the Rainbow Warrior team that we had grown to know and love. Quarterback Bryant Moniz has been playing like a man possessed. It helps that he has a receiver like Greg Salas to chuck the ball too. Lots of YAC for Hawai’I and plenty of big gains through the air. Sure-tackling will be the key for the Aggies to win this game. They have to limit the Yards After Contact (like I said, YAC) from Paredes and Salas. They will eat you alive if you try to gator-arm them. Have you seen the way Moniz just stands back there in the pocket and launches the pig skin? He makes it look like he is disinterested and barely moves his arm when throwing. But he gets results, and that’s all that matters. Moving on, I have mentioned before, every time I pick against Utah State they show up and win (see BYU). But when I pick them to win, they drop the ball (pun intended) and get smoked (a la Louisiana Tech). I think that it must be a microcosm of being a team with a young coach and are beginning their climb up. Part of me wants them to join the Mountain West so as to provide a close rival to Boise State and to gage their improvement as the years go by. Utah State plays well at home and I think has a shot to win this one. Hawai’i just came off of an emotional win and there is always a let down the next week (see South Carolina over Alabama and their next game at Kentucky. It did not go well for the Gamecocks). I think emotionally, the biggest difference will be on defense for Hawai’i. They won’t play as solid as they did last week. Still, the Rainbow Warriors are too good to get punked by the Aggies, even on the road and even after a huge win.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 34, Aggies 28

Saturday, October 23 at 6 PM

4-2 (2-1 WAC)
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1-6 (0-2 WAC)
The Bulldogs got back to their winning ways by unceremoniously dispatching of the New Mexico State Aggies at home. They continue the sleep-walking part of their conference schedule as they travel up north a little ways to take on the (not so) mighty Spartans. I guess you could consider this season a little bit of a disappointment for Fresno State. They won a big game at home against Cincinnati, but then lost at Ole’ Miss and at home to Hawai’i. It looks like at best a third place finish in the WAC for the Bulldogs. Coach Pat Hill is trying to establish their identity as a tough, run-first offense. I just don’t know if they have the running back to do that (Ryan Mathews is gone). Plus, unleash Ryan Colburn a little bit more, he can get you points through the air, provided that at some point Winston Venable doesn’t drop out of the sky on top of him. San Jose State just got owned at home by Boise State. How does only 80 yards of offense sound (-12 on the ground)? Plus they lost yet another starter as Muldrow went down and came back on crutches. This will be another loss for the Spartans. Maybe this time they can avoid getting their colorguard trampled by the opposing team as they run onto the field (an investigation by the police, really?) If they can keep that from happening, then they will have at least improved since last week.
Prediction: Bulldogs 38, Spartans 13

Thursday, October 21 at 7 PM

3-3 (1-2 PAC 10)
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6-0 (3-0 PAC 10)
I figured since Oregon is one of the teams that Boise State is chasing in the polls and BCS Rankings, it would only be appropriate to pick the winner and score of one of their games. I think that this is an interesting match up for a couple of reasons. The Bruins are averaging 223 yards per game on the ground (that is 100% the reason they destroyed Texas in Austin earlier this year) and the Ducks give up 127 per game (remember, they have played Washington State (91 rush yards), Portland State (74), and New Mexico (25). None have anything close to decent running backs). Against Stanford they gave up 177, Tennessee 182, and Arizona State 210. So UCLA could have a big game on the ground. I do not see them being able to stop the high-powered Oregon offense at all, so they will need to outscore them. I, however, do not see this happening. The Ducks will be too much at home and will push their record to 7-0.
Prediction: Ducks, 42, Bruins 21

Saturday, October 23 at 12 PM

2-5 (0-3 MWC)
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2-5 (1-2 MWC)
This one will probably be a pillow fight. Both teams come limping into to this contest having lost last weekend. The Cowboys got taken to the woodshed by Utah at home and the Cougars were skunked by TCU on the road. It is obviously more disappointing for BYU as they are used to having success and being in the top 25 or at least right on the threshold. It did seem, however, that they were able to hold their own against the Horned Frogs for the first half and part of the second half. JJ DiLuigi is their only offensive weapon, but he is a good one. Wyoming is having a really bad season. They have never really been all that good, but at least they would put up a fight sometimes. They average scoring 11.6 points a game, which is good for second to last in the nation (San Jose State owns the top spot!). This one should be a fairly easy victory for the Cougars as they are at home.
Prediction: Cougars 35, Cowboys 20

Saturday, October 23 at 1:30 PM

7-0 (4-0 SEC)
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7-0 (4-0 SEC)
Yep, that’s right. I am going to attempt another Auburn game. They burnt me last week much in the same way that they did Arkansas. How’s dropping 65 on a SEC defense for ya’?! However, they did give up 43 at the same time. That will be the best part of the game. LSU’s terrible offensive versus Auburn’s terrible defense. Which one will be less terrible? That is the question. At the same time, the Tigers (from Auburn) bring in one of the best offenses in the nation to take on the Tigers (from LSU) and their extremely stingy defense. It should be exciting all around. Les Miles better not pull anything like he did against Tennessee or his squad from Baton Rouge will be in trouble. Another interesting thing about this game is how it affects Boise State. Both teams are right on the heals of the Broncos and whoever wins might pass them. Also, the loser will drop back in the rankings and probably won’t be much of a factor anymore. This will definitely be one worth watching. At home, I think the Tigers get it done.
Prediction: Tigers (of Auburn) 28, Tigers (of LSU) 24

Saturday, October 32 at 1:30 PM

5-1 (2-1 Big 12)
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5-2 (2-1 Big 12)
I don't want to say very much about this contest. Kansas State isn't as good as they think they are and Baylor is better than they are made out to be.
Upset Special!
Prediction: Bears 35, Wildcats 28

Record coming into this week: 25-10

Alright, there we have it! Make sure you check back in tomorrow for my take on the Oregon versus UCLA game and probably a rant or two! Go Broncos!