Idaho Vandals at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
My prediction was Vandals win 38 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 48, Vandals 35
Idaho is a complete enigma. Sometimes they play so well but then they go and get completely crushed by a LA Tech team that isn't that good and trying to find itself offensively (news flash; they found it against the Vandals on Saturday!). Then again, there seems to be a lack of defense coming from everyone in the WAC expect Boise State. Idaho put up it's own great numbers. They had 513 yards through the air with a combination of Nathan Enderle and Brian Reader. The problem is the rushing game; 20 yards on 18 attempts. Boy do they miss DeMaundre Woolridge! That will need to be fixed, but 513 yards passing is great. Here is the Vandals' thorn in their side; 422 passing yards, 261 rushing (683 total), and 48 points. That is what the Idaho defense conceded to the Bulldogs. Even with 4 lost fumbles, LA Tech was able to score at will. It seems that Idaho is a bottom-tier to middle-tier team in the WAC and it is due to the complete ineptitude on the defensive side of the ball. If their goal was to indeed make it to a bowl game, they have a lot of work to do at 3-3 and 0-1 in the WAC. Louisiana Tech on the other hand, is on their way up at 3-4. It appears that Ross Jenkins is the man at quarterback for them and as mentioned, Lennon Creer is a beast at running back. They should play fairly well against Boise State on the Blue on Tuesday, October 26. Idaho hosts New Mexico State at the Kibbie Dome on Saturday. They should win that game. But then again I said they same thing when they played Louisiana Tech...
New Mexico State Aggies at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Bulldogs win 42 to 17
Final score: Bulldogs 33, Aggies 10
This game went just about as expected. New Mexico State still cannot win a conference game. Matt Christian in back at quarterback for them and went 11 for 22 for 155 yards. The Aggies also had a decent night with the ground game, rushing for 111 yards, courtesy of Seth Smith. However, scoring was still a problem for them as they could only muster 10 against a decent Bulldog defense. Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn had a pedestrian night. He threw for 132 yards on 12 for 20 and one touchdown. The story was Robbie Rouse on the ground. He had 150 yards on 16 carries. That appears to be the identity that Pat Hill wants his team to have; pound it on the ground with some quick strikes thrown in there to keep the defense guessing. In a disappointing year for Fresno State, this win will help the team morale as they prepare to travel to San Jose State on Saturday.
Nevada Wolfpack at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Wolfpack wins 45 to 35
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 27, Wolfpack 21
When I picked Nevada to head home with another victory I was unaware of a couple of things. I did not know that the Wolfpack had not won at Hawai'i since 1948. Also, I was unaware that they were going to show up and play the worst game of their freaking lives! Did you see Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick out there? He looked lost and disinterested the entire time. Nevada did not score once in the first half, which is absolutely unheard of! Not just that, they could only muster 293 yards total. That is way below their average. It was just ugly to watch for Nevada fans. They play that was a symbol of how they game went was this: Nevada drives 80 yards or so to score a touchdown to bring the game back within 7 points. However, upon reviewing the play, Kaepernick dropped the football 2 feet before he got into the end zone, kicked the ball through the end zone and out of bounds. That went for a touchback and Hawai'i ball. No points and a turnover. Nice work Wolfpack. Hawai'i made some mistakes as well. Bryant Moniz 287 yards through the air, but they did just enough to win. A terrible night by the Wolfpack and an emotional performance from the Rainbow Warriors equals an upset that I should have seen coming. I guess I was hoping Nevada would be undefeated when Boise State goes to Reno. Oh well, we can now look forward to the Hawai'i game at Bronco Stadium on November 6th. Next week, Hawai'i plays at Utah State and Nevada has a week to recover before hosting the same Utah State team.
Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks
My prediction was Wildcats win 28 to 20
Final score: Wildcats 59, Jayhawks 7
As I have mentioned a few times, any game Kansas is in is a tough one to pick. That is because they can play so well sometimes and really bad other times. This happened to be one of their poor performances. The lone touchdown the Jayhawks scored was in garbage time at the very end of the game, so it doesn't really count. Kansas State regrouped after getting rocked at home by Nebraska to throw down a throttling of their own. Carson Coffman played a great game at quarterback for the Wildcats as they improved to 5-1.
Arkansas Razorbacks at Auburn Tigers
My prediction was Razorbacks win 24 to 21
Final score: Tigers 65, Razorbacks 43
I though the SEC was supposed to have the best defenses in the nation. I appears that statement is false. Auburn couldn't even stop a back up freshman quarterback when Razorback QB Ryan Mallett went down and out with a concussion. Both teams were scoring at will. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is amazing and his name will be in the Heisman race all season long. At the same time, the Tigers have established themselves as a national title contender, even with their crappy defense. Anyway...
Previous week's totals: 22-7
This week (including Boise State's win over San Jose State): 3-3
Overall: 25-10
As you all know, Boise State has moved up to number 2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' poll. That is the highest ranking they or any other non-AQ team has ever been ranked. However and most importantly, they are third in the BCS Standings behind Oregon and Oklahoma. My one question is; where in the world did Oklahoma come from? Apparently barely beating Utah State and Air Force at home and Cincinnati on the road is better than Boise State blowing out Wyoming, San Jose State, and New Mexico State on the road and Toledo at home. Granted, the Sooners did destroy a good Florida State team. But the Broncos have beaten Virginia Tech on the road and Oregon State at home. Therein lies the problem. The Beavers' one point overtime loss at Washington is probably what made the difference for Boise State and where they ended up in the rankings.
As I have mentioned multiple times, I have no problem with a team passing or jumping the Broncos in the polls and/or BCS rankings when they have earned it and deserve it. This is not the case with Oregon or Oklahoma yet. I know it would have happened in a couple of weeks anyway, but the fact that it went down now is more proof of the unfairness of a biased system. It was created by people who support and protect the traditional powers of college football and at the same time keep new or smaller schools down and out. Auburn and LSU are right on the heels of Boise State and will probably jump them in a few weeks. Again, if they deserve it then more power to them. I just have a problem with a system that selects its national championship match up by using votes of money hungry, biased, and unfair voters. Even with losses by Ohio State, Alabama, and Nebraska, it appears that Boise State is no closer and possibly even further away from a BCS National Championship berth than they were when the season started. That is a travesty.
Don't even start with the strength of schedule argument. You are no better than ESPN d-bags Craig James and Mark May if you even mention it. "There is no way Boise State would go undefeated if they played in the SEC or the Big 12." Well no one there is going to go undefeated in those conferences either. You can only play who is in your conference and Boise State has done that and beaten all of their non-conference opponents for the past 3 1/2 years. Get over yourself and your biased views of college football. If Boise State gets to the national championship and gets blown out, then you have your justice and your proof. But how can you say that the Broncos do not at least deserve a chance when the system itself is biased, unfair, and awarding teams a spot that may or may not deserve to be there anyway. Have you seen the Broncos play? You cannot tell me that they are not at least as good as any team in the nation. The same San Jose State team lost to Alabama AT #1 Alabama 48-3 at AT Wisconsin 27-14 (yes, the same Wisconsin team that just owned number 1 ranked Ohio State). Boise State beat them AT Spartan Stadium 48-0, and only gave up 80 yards of total offense. Not just that, but the starters only put in two quarters of work for the Broncos. The final score could have been 98-0! Get over yourself and stop being afraid of change. You are as scared of Boise State as are the teams that they play. Anyway, I'll get off my soap box and let you all make your own conclusions. I am heated up right now. Go Broncos!!!!!
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