There isn’t much criteria for picking who gets the nod here other than performing really well in a bowl game. I didn’t take whether or not their team won or lost into consideration unless it was really close between two players. The winner always trumps the loser. Let me know if there is anybody that you feel I have left off the list or how you feel about those that are on it.
Offense:
*QB* - Landry Jones, Oklahoma Sooners: 34-49, 429 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT in win over UConn in the Fiesta Bowl
*RB* - Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State Aztecs: 28 carries, 228 yards, 3 TD in win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl
*RB* - Mikel Leshoure, Illinois Fighting Illini: 29 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD in win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl
*WR* - Marcus Sales, Syracuse Orange: 5 catches, 172 yards, 3 TD in win over Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl
*WR* - Austin Pettis, Boise State Broncos: 12 catches, 147 yards, 1 TD in win over Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
*TE* - Coby Fleener, Stanford Cardinal: 6 catches, 173 yards, 3 TD in win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl
*OL* - Mike Pouncey, Florida Gators: Win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl
*OL* - Marcus Cannon, TCU Horned Frogs: Win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl
*OL* - Nate Potter, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
*OL* - Michael Brewster, Ohio State Buckeyes: Win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl
*OL* - Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin Badgers: Loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl
Defense:
*DL* - Nick Fairley, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*DL* - Billy Winn, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
*DL* – Antoine Carter, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*DL* - Brandon Jenkins, Florida State Seminoles: Win over South Carolina in the Chik-fil-A Bowl
*LB* - Casey Matthews, Oregon Ducks: Loss to Auburn in the National Championship Game
*LB* - Tank Carder, TCU Horned Frogs: Win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl
*LB* - Owen Marecic, Stanford Cardinal: Win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl
*DB* - Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech Hokies: Loss to Stanford in the Orange Bowl
*DB* - Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma Sooners: Win over UConn in the Fiesta Bowl
*DB* - Winston Venable, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
*DB* - Greg Reid, Florida State Seminoles: Win over South Carolina in the Chik-fil-A Bowl
Special Teams:
*PK* - Wes Byrum, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*P* – Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State Cowboys: Win over Arizona in the Alamo Bowl
*KR* - Rishard Matthews, Nevada Wolfpack: Win over Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
There you are. It gets pretty difficult to pick offensive lineman because they don't produce stats. I just had to think about the elite defensive players that they went up against and whether or not they shut them down. Again, let me know if there was anybody I missed or if you think someone does not deserve to be on the list.
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech Hokies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech Hokies. Show all posts
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Season End Awards
It's over. Boise State football has moved from the dawn of a new season to the dusk of imminent darkness that now surrounds us and signifies the end of the 2010-2011 Broncos. That means no more games on The Blue, Kellen to Pettis or Kellen to Young, and Muscle Hamsters trucking Vandals on their way into the end zone. The good part is that we can bid farewell to images of "missed" field goals sailing at or near the shorter-than-standard Reno goal posts. All in all, Bronco football has upped the ante and, naturally, the expectations for future athletes that will play for one of the best, most exciting teams in the nation.
A 12-1 season is something that teams all around the country would kill to have. Bronco Nation has become accustomed to undefeated teams, but expecting that yearly is unwise and as was seen in some fans after the loss to Nevada, unhealthy. With that said, there is plenty to be excited about in Bronco Nation with new players getting ready to make a name for themselves, the move to a new conference, and of course, the all-important annual quest for a BCS bid.
The proper thing to do is give out (fake) awards to Boise State players who exemplified out-of-this-world heart, drive, competitiveness, will, strength, intensity, and excitement all in the face of sheer adversity and conflict. It is important to recognize these athletes, the outstanding plays they made, and the excitement and joy that they provided for their fans. It's Bronco Chase's way of saying "thank you," even if they have no idea who Bronco Chase is... Without further delay:
Biggest Story
Boise State in the National Championship Game.
This was all the rage and debate for the entire season. It even found it's way to the front page of Sports Illustrated.
Best Coaching Job
Pete Kwiatkowski.
He went from a question mark (after Justin Wilcox left for Tennessee) to one of the most important cogs in the Boise State clock. The defense was ferocious and improved from last year, which is really saying something.
Best Freshman
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.
Hailing from the Netherlands by way of Boise High School, not only does he have the best name on the team, but he contributed a lot as part of the Bronco defensive line that shut down opponents. He was a key back-up and enjoyed sacking quarterbacks.
Best Catch of the Year
Tommy Gallarda vs. Virginia Tech.
The catch in itself was sweet, but that wouldn't have been enough to push it to the top of a list that includes some amazing grabs by Austin "Sticky-Hands" Pettis and Titus Young. The stage on which it was made and what was at stake make it the best catch of the year. Check it out for yourself on YouTube right here.
Break out Star of the Year
Shea McClellin.
He went from a solid contributor on the D-line to a candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Whether he was sacking the quarterback, running a beautiful interception in for a touchdown, or stealing Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery in the end zone, he was amazing this year. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. McClellin's athleticism, heart, and intelligence make him this season's break out star.
Best Play of the Year
Moore to Pettis for the win.
Again, could it have been anything else? The big stage came for Kellen again and he was more than ready. The catch set up the win and set the table for the rest of a dominating year for the Broncos. Tears of joy are still shed when this play is shown on ESPN.
Biggest Hit of the Year
Jamar Taylor sack vs. Oregon State.
A lot of fans do not remember this one, but it was gorgeous. Taylor came in from the blind side and rocked Ryan Katz' world! The fool didn't know what hit him. It was comparable to the Kyle Wilson sack on Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.
Game of the Year
Labor Day vs. Virginia Tech
For so many reasons this was the game of the year. The stage, the stakes, the atmosphere, and what transpired on the field were a perfect storm of awesomeness. Bronco Chase still likes to watch replays of the masterful 2-minute drill by Kellen Moore.
Special Teams MVP
Cedric Febis
Febis is another import from the Netherlands. A cornerback by trade, he was out there for every special teams snap, knocking people out and making plays. Bronco fans hope to see him doing much of the same next year.
Defensive MVP
Byron Hout
This was a hard one to pick as there were many qualified candidates. The reason why beautiful neck-roll wearing Hout gets the nod is because of what was missed when he went down with a foot fracture. The defense really needed him and his ferocious, man-devouring self for the Nevada game. He will be back, ready to clean house and light up some more chumps.
Offensive MVP
Kellen Moore
This was easier than hardcore fans would have thought. As the orchestrator of a fluid, seamless, high scoring offense, you get a lot of credit. Kellen continued to improve after a stellar sophomore season and found himself sitting in the front row for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. While he did not win and finished 4th, the fact that he was there was a milestone for the Boise State program and the culmination of an outstanding 3 years at the helm for Kellen. The only thing that didn't go well for Moore this year was having to share the WAC Player of the Year award with Colin Kaepernick, of which the league copped out. How could a Heisman Trophy finalist not win the conference award outright? Anyway, Kellen will be back next year. Opposing defenses, watch out!
That's it! Bronco Chase has handed out imaginary trophies and trinkets to those deserving of much more credit than he can give them. The seniors on this list will be missed. But Boise State fans everywhere are ecstatic for the years of football that will follow. Go Broncos!
A 12-1 season is something that teams all around the country would kill to have. Bronco Nation has become accustomed to undefeated teams, but expecting that yearly is unwise and as was seen in some fans after the loss to Nevada, unhealthy. With that said, there is plenty to be excited about in Bronco Nation with new players getting ready to make a name for themselves, the move to a new conference, and of course, the all-important annual quest for a BCS bid.
The proper thing to do is give out (fake) awards to Boise State players who exemplified out-of-this-world heart, drive, competitiveness, will, strength, intensity, and excitement all in the face of sheer adversity and conflict. It is important to recognize these athletes, the outstanding plays they made, and the excitement and joy that they provided for their fans. It's Bronco Chase's way of saying "thank you," even if they have no idea who Bronco Chase is... Without further delay:
Biggest Story
Boise State in the National Championship Game.
This was all the rage and debate for the entire season. It even found it's way to the front page of Sports Illustrated.
Best Coaching Job
Pete Kwiatkowski.
He went from a question mark (after Justin Wilcox left for Tennessee) to one of the most important cogs in the Boise State clock. The defense was ferocious and improved from last year, which is really saying something.
Best Freshman
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.
Hailing from the Netherlands by way of Boise High School, not only does he have the best name on the team, but he contributed a lot as part of the Bronco defensive line that shut down opponents. He was a key back-up and enjoyed sacking quarterbacks.
Best Catch of the Year
Tommy Gallarda vs. Virginia Tech.
The catch in itself was sweet, but that wouldn't have been enough to push it to the top of a list that includes some amazing grabs by Austin "Sticky-Hands" Pettis and Titus Young. The stage on which it was made and what was at stake make it the best catch of the year. Check it out for yourself on YouTube right here.
Break out Star of the Year
Shea McClellin.
He went from a solid contributor on the D-line to a candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Whether he was sacking the quarterback, running a beautiful interception in for a touchdown, or stealing Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery in the end zone, he was amazing this year. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. McClellin's athleticism, heart, and intelligence make him this season's break out star.
Best Play of the Year
Moore to Pettis for the win.
Again, could it have been anything else? The big stage came for Kellen again and he was more than ready. The catch set up the win and set the table for the rest of a dominating year for the Broncos. Tears of joy are still shed when this play is shown on ESPN.
Biggest Hit of the Year
Jamar Taylor sack vs. Oregon State.
A lot of fans do not remember this one, but it was gorgeous. Taylor came in from the blind side and rocked Ryan Katz' world! The fool didn't know what hit him. It was comparable to the Kyle Wilson sack on Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.
Game of the Year
Labor Day vs. Virginia Tech
For so many reasons this was the game of the year. The stage, the stakes, the atmosphere, and what transpired on the field were a perfect storm of awesomeness. Bronco Chase still likes to watch replays of the masterful 2-minute drill by Kellen Moore.
Special Teams MVP
Cedric Febis
Febis is another import from the Netherlands. A cornerback by trade, he was out there for every special teams snap, knocking people out and making plays. Bronco fans hope to see him doing much of the same next year.
Defensive MVP
Byron Hout
This was a hard one to pick as there were many qualified candidates. The reason why beautiful neck-roll wearing Hout gets the nod is because of what was missed when he went down with a foot fracture. The defense really needed him and his ferocious, man-devouring self for the Nevada game. He will be back, ready to clean house and light up some more chumps.
Offensive MVP
Kellen Moore
This was easier than hardcore fans would have thought. As the orchestrator of a fluid, seamless, high scoring offense, you get a lot of credit. Kellen continued to improve after a stellar sophomore season and found himself sitting in the front row for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. While he did not win and finished 4th, the fact that he was there was a milestone for the Boise State program and the culmination of an outstanding 3 years at the helm for Kellen. The only thing that didn't go well for Moore this year was having to share the WAC Player of the Year award with Colin Kaepernick, of which the league copped out. How could a Heisman Trophy finalist not win the conference award outright? Anyway, Kellen will be back next year. Opposing defenses, watch out!
That's it! Bronco Chase has handed out imaginary trophies and trinkets to those deserving of much more credit than he can give them. The seniors on this list will be missed. But Boise State fans everywhere are ecstatic for the years of football that will follow. Go Broncos!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Broncos Dismantle Utes, Finish Amazing Season at 12-1
I honestly cannot believe that it is over. One of the best Boise State teams in school history put a cap on the season last night with a 26-3 complete domination of the University of Utah. The score wasn't even that close either. While it is sad to see the season end and to say good bye to a group of outstanding seniors, it is exciting to speculate and talk about what is to come. There will be many more amazing years of Bronco football to come. But let's not get the cart in front of the horse. Here are some stats and numbers to mull over.
Yardage:
......Broncos......Utes
Rushing-202........107
Passing-341.........93
..Total-543........200
First Downs:
......Broncos......Utes
........23..........8
Average Yards Gained Per Play:
......Broncos......Utes
........7.1........3.8
Passing Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Utes
.......29-40......10-24
Net Yards Per Pass Play:
......Broncos......Utes
.......8.5.........3.9
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback-Yards:
......Broncos......Utes
.......4-21........1-7
Turnovers:
......Broncos......Utes
.........4..........3
Penalties-Yards:
......Broncos......Utes
.......3-29.......10-83
As you can clearly see, the Broncos were more than dominant in this match up. The Utes were only able to gain 107 yards on the ground because all they were doing was rushing the ball. Terrence Cain is not that much of a passing threat, and it showed. Even when they were able to make a big play in the running or passing game, it was either called back because of penalty (hence the massive penalty amount and yardage for Utah) or a receiver dropped the pass. Kellen Moore had another very efficient night and torched the Ute secondary over and over again. The turnovers killed Boise State. They could have had quite a few more points had it not been for a couple of costly fumbles and an interception. Regardless, the Broncos completely owned Utah and ended the Utes' 9 game bowl winning streak. I am happy with the win and the team.
What We Learned:
DeVonte' Christopher is a tool. What do you do when you talk some mean trash on Twitter, demeaning your opponent in the most cocky, stuck up way? Well, if your Devonte' Christopher, you catch 0 passes for 0 yards and drop the one ball that was thrown to you. Nice work. Just a suggestion Devonte', try and use something a little bit closer to legitimate English next time. I still am not sure what the freak he was trying to say. What a tool...
The Broncos D-line showed up again. It was good to see them back. They swallowed up Utah's big, physical running backs and ate Terrence Cain's lunch, limiting the Utes to a measly 107 yards on the ground. I was a big fan of that.
Pac 10 officials are really bad, in case you didn't already know that. In general, the game was very poorly officiated. They missed a lot of calls. I have no idea what in the world their replay officials were looking at on the fumble recovery in the end zone by Geraldo Hiwat. Here is a picture. If that's not a touchdown, I don't know what is.
Doug Martin is a complete beast. There's a reason why we call him the Muscle Hamster. His 84 yard touchdown run in the second quarter was a thing of beauty. It also got the Bronco offense rolling and kick started was to be a dominant rest of the game.
It was sloppy, but you can't ignore how good Boise State is. The first quarter was ugly, yes, but it got much better as time went by. If it wasn't for dropped passes, penalties, and bad decisions and calls by the referees, the final score could have ended up about 45-17. If only...
Areas of Concern:
It seems kind of pointless to even be doing this because the season is over, but let's do it anyway. Turnovers. We'll chalk it up to jitters, being rusty, and the fact that Kellen Moore was gone for a week of would-have-been practice time doing the awards circuit thing. That's it.
Favorite Play:
I don't even really need to say anything. Just watch:
Thoughts and Tidbits:
It was rainy and cold in Las Vegas. It's alright because it gave Coach Pete another chance to break out his awesome jacket! I really want one of those...I was informed from legitimate sources that the Keith Stein Boise State Blue Thunder Marching Band owned Utah's band during the pep rally. That's what I'm talking about! This batch of Nike Pro Combat uniforms were sick! I really liked them! The helmet has to stay! Utah has a tendency to make excuses when they lose. Head on over to blocku.com and see for yourself. Kellen Moore was named player of the game. I can't complain. Doug Martin would have been a fine choice as well.
Perception:
There has been a lot of talk about what could have been for this Boise State team, and legitimately so. If it wasn't for a missed field goal and a complete defensive lapse for two quarters, the Broncos would be preparing for a New Year's Bowl Game date with the Wisconsin Badgers. You're welcome Horned Frogs. But regardless, this has been one of the best seasons in Boise State history. Not only that, but it shows true determination, will, focus, great coaching, leadership, and resiliency to bounce back after a tough loss and be as dominant as the Broncos were against the Aggies and the Utes. I have never been more proud of a team and more excited to be a Bronco fan and Boise State graduate. As far as how the nation will see the team, I think it is still mixed. The Broncos have been polarizing all year. You either love them or you hate them. There has not been much middle ground. Still, this was a complete demolition of a ranked team on a big stage in a bowl game in Las Vegas. What else do people want? I know what we will hear; "But Utah had it's back up quarterback in." Or "The Utes weren't that good anyway." Well, the back up quarterback doesn't make his receivers drop every pass that comes to them, get a holding penalty every play as the Bronco D-line found its way into the backfield, or not cover any of Boise State's receivers in the secondary. Also, not being able to tackle Doug Martin wasn't Terrence Cain's fault either. If Utah wasn't that good anyway, why weren't people saying that when TCU came into Salt Lake City when the Utes were ranked 5th in the nation? Double standards shouldn't work in college football. Even if it wasn't a BCS Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year's Day, a bowl win is HUGE for a college football program, especially when it comes against a ranked team. I am happy and so is the team. The point is, this was a huge win in so many ways. It will put Boise State in the top 10 or at least the top 15 in the nation pre-season next year and make their opening day match up with Georgia even that much more exciting. Expect a lot of hype for that one, much like Virginia Tech this year.
Photos:
For the last time this season, let's all thank the Idaho Statesman for their great photos. Enjoy them while you reminisce a great bowl win for the Broncos!
Yardage:
......Broncos......Utes
Rushing-202........107
Passing-341.........93
..Total-543........200
First Downs:
......Broncos......Utes
........23..........8
Average Yards Gained Per Play:
......Broncos......Utes
........7.1........3.8
Passing Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Utes
.......29-40......10-24
Net Yards Per Pass Play:
......Broncos......Utes
.......8.5.........3.9
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback-Yards:
......Broncos......Utes
.......4-21........1-7
Turnovers:
......Broncos......Utes
.........4..........3
Penalties-Yards:
......Broncos......Utes
.......3-29.......10-83
As you can clearly see, the Broncos were more than dominant in this match up. The Utes were only able to gain 107 yards on the ground because all they were doing was rushing the ball. Terrence Cain is not that much of a passing threat, and it showed. Even when they were able to make a big play in the running or passing game, it was either called back because of penalty (hence the massive penalty amount and yardage for Utah) or a receiver dropped the pass. Kellen Moore had another very efficient night and torched the Ute secondary over and over again. The turnovers killed Boise State. They could have had quite a few more points had it not been for a couple of costly fumbles and an interception. Regardless, the Broncos completely owned Utah and ended the Utes' 9 game bowl winning streak. I am happy with the win and the team.
What We Learned:
DeVonte' Christopher is a tool. What do you do when you talk some mean trash on Twitter, demeaning your opponent in the most cocky, stuck up way? Well, if your Devonte' Christopher, you catch 0 passes for 0 yards and drop the one ball that was thrown to you. Nice work. Just a suggestion Devonte', try and use something a little bit closer to legitimate English next time. I still am not sure what the freak he was trying to say. What a tool...
The Broncos D-line showed up again. It was good to see them back. They swallowed up Utah's big, physical running backs and ate Terrence Cain's lunch, limiting the Utes to a measly 107 yards on the ground. I was a big fan of that.
Pac 10 officials are really bad, in case you didn't already know that. In general, the game was very poorly officiated. They missed a lot of calls. I have no idea what in the world their replay officials were looking at on the fumble recovery in the end zone by Geraldo Hiwat. Here is a picture. If that's not a touchdown, I don't know what is.
Doug Martin is a complete beast. There's a reason why we call him the Muscle Hamster. His 84 yard touchdown run in the second quarter was a thing of beauty. It also got the Bronco offense rolling and kick started was to be a dominant rest of the game.
It was sloppy, but you can't ignore how good Boise State is. The first quarter was ugly, yes, but it got much better as time went by. If it wasn't for dropped passes, penalties, and bad decisions and calls by the referees, the final score could have ended up about 45-17. If only...
Areas of Concern:
It seems kind of pointless to even be doing this because the season is over, but let's do it anyway. Turnovers. We'll chalk it up to jitters, being rusty, and the fact that Kellen Moore was gone for a week of would-have-been practice time doing the awards circuit thing. That's it.
Favorite Play:
I don't even really need to say anything. Just watch:
Thoughts and Tidbits:
It was rainy and cold in Las Vegas. It's alright because it gave Coach Pete another chance to break out his awesome jacket! I really want one of those...I was informed from legitimate sources that the Keith Stein Boise State Blue Thunder Marching Band owned Utah's band during the pep rally. That's what I'm talking about! This batch of Nike Pro Combat uniforms were sick! I really liked them! The helmet has to stay! Utah has a tendency to make excuses when they lose. Head on over to blocku.com and see for yourself. Kellen Moore was named player of the game. I can't complain. Doug Martin would have been a fine choice as well.
Perception:
There has been a lot of talk about what could have been for this Boise State team, and legitimately so. If it wasn't for a missed field goal and a complete defensive lapse for two quarters, the Broncos would be preparing for a New Year's Bowl Game date with the Wisconsin Badgers. You're welcome Horned Frogs. But regardless, this has been one of the best seasons in Boise State history. Not only that, but it shows true determination, will, focus, great coaching, leadership, and resiliency to bounce back after a tough loss and be as dominant as the Broncos were against the Aggies and the Utes. I have never been more proud of a team and more excited to be a Bronco fan and Boise State graduate. As far as how the nation will see the team, I think it is still mixed. The Broncos have been polarizing all year. You either love them or you hate them. There has not been much middle ground. Still, this was a complete demolition of a ranked team on a big stage in a bowl game in Las Vegas. What else do people want? I know what we will hear; "But Utah had it's back up quarterback in." Or "The Utes weren't that good anyway." Well, the back up quarterback doesn't make his receivers drop every pass that comes to them, get a holding penalty every play as the Bronco D-line found its way into the backfield, or not cover any of Boise State's receivers in the secondary. Also, not being able to tackle Doug Martin wasn't Terrence Cain's fault either. If Utah wasn't that good anyway, why weren't people saying that when TCU came into Salt Lake City when the Utes were ranked 5th in the nation? Double standards shouldn't work in college football. Even if it wasn't a BCS Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year's Day, a bowl win is HUGE for a college football program, especially when it comes against a ranked team. I am happy and so is the team. The point is, this was a huge win in so many ways. It will put Boise State in the top 10 or at least the top 15 in the nation pre-season next year and make their opening day match up with Georgia even that much more exciting. Expect a lot of hype for that one, much like Virginia Tech this year.
Photos:
For the last time this season, let's all thank the Idaho Statesman for their great photos. Enjoy them while you reminisce a great bowl win for the Broncos!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Secret of Boise State's Offensive Success and Prowess?
I may have found it! Actually, it is just a breakdown of what the Broncos do on offense that makes them so potent and basically unstoppable. This article is from a website called "Smart Football." It was written by Mike Kuchar on behalf of one of the site's writers named Mike Brown. Go ahead and read it. It's quite long, but goes into great detail on the ins and outs, nuances, and actions of the Boise State offense led by Kellen Moore.
Kuchar wrote "Breaking down Boise: How the Broncos use leverage, numbers and grass to gash the opposition" from the viewpoint, vision, and mind frame of a defensive coordinator, as he is one for a high school in New Jersey. It was part of Virginia Tech's effort to break down game tape and find a way to slow down the Broncos. Obviously, this all happened during the summer before the two teams faced off on Labor Day in Washington, D.C. The article has diagrams, analysis, intense explanations on what the Hokies need to do to win the game, as well as a sweet picture of the mastermind of it all, Coach Chris Petersen. My favorite is the last part of the piece where Kuchar labels "Die Slowly" as a key to the game. Good times...
Basically what it says is that the Broncos use a lot of motion, leverage, and options to gain advantages on the opposing defense. Whatever the other team shows, Boise State has an option or a play to counteract it. The key, says Kuchar, is a smart quarterback that makes good decisions. Well that I Kellen Moore in a nutshell. He has been the key factor for the Broncos since he took his first snap as a freshman. He has set a precedent for a potent offense that Southwick, Hedrick, and whoever else starts as quarterback for Boise State will have to follow. The best part is that even though Kellen has set the bar so high, he has done it in a way that will help make his heir successful. You can never go wrong by winning.
Kuchar wrote "Breaking down Boise: How the Broncos use leverage, numbers and grass to gash the opposition" from the viewpoint, vision, and mind frame of a defensive coordinator, as he is one for a high school in New Jersey. It was part of Virginia Tech's effort to break down game tape and find a way to slow down the Broncos. Obviously, this all happened during the summer before the two teams faced off on Labor Day in Washington, D.C. The article has diagrams, analysis, intense explanations on what the Hokies need to do to win the game, as well as a sweet picture of the mastermind of it all, Coach Chris Petersen. My favorite is the last part of the piece where Kuchar labels "Die Slowly" as a key to the game. Good times...
Basically what it says is that the Broncos use a lot of motion, leverage, and options to gain advantages on the opposing defense. Whatever the other team shows, Boise State has an option or a play to counteract it. The key, says Kuchar, is a smart quarterback that makes good decisions. Well that I Kellen Moore in a nutshell. He has been the key factor for the Broncos since he took his first snap as a freshman. He has set a precedent for a potent offense that Southwick, Hedrick, and whoever else starts as quarterback for Boise State will have to follow. The best part is that even though Kellen has set the bar so high, he has done it in a way that will help make his heir successful. You can never go wrong by winning.
Monday, December 6, 2010
WAC Weekend Recap, Week 14
I cannot believe that the season is over. It has gone by way too fast, as it always does. But we still have bowl season to look forward to! The WAC got four teams bowl eligible and all of them have accepted invites to play. As you all know, the WAC Champion is actually a three way tie this year: Boise State, Hawai'i, and Nevada. That means that the Broncos have won the title 8 out of the past 9 years. That is just ridiculous. Congrats to them and good luck in their upcoming move to the Mountain West. Anyway, let's get going recapping the weekend.
Illinois Fighting Illini at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Fresno State wins 35 to 31
Final score: Bulldogs 25, Fighting Illini 23
Fresno State got off to a quick start in this game and then did just enough to hold off Illinois at the end to take the "W." It was 16-0 by the time the first quarter ticked away its last second. This was a big win for Pat Hill and the Bulldogs because it got them to 8 wins for the year and silenced some of their critics, at least for the moment. Illinois is a very young team and will have plenty of success here in the next few years. Both teams are going to bowl games. Illinois takes on Baylor of the Big 12 in the Texas Bowl, which takes place on December 29th. Fresno State takes on Northern Illinois of the MAC in the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl on December 18th. Let's hope Fresno actually shows up this year for their bowl game...
Nevada Wolfpack at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 38 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 17
The Wolfpack was destined for a letdown after the emotions of beating Boise State the week before, and it happened. Well, it lasted for approximately the duration of the first half before pulling away and winning. Kaepernick and Taua both had huge games on the ground and were just too much for the Bulldogs. It has been an up and down season for Louisiana Tech and they will be watching bowl season from their own couches yet again. I think Sonny Dykes has something brewing down in Ruston. We will see in the next couple of years. Nevada earned themselves a date with the Boston College Eagles in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on January 9th. That should be an interesting match up.
San Jose State Spartans at Idaho Vandals
My prediction was Idaho wins 42 to 28
Final score: Vandals 26, Spartans 23 (OT)
Idaho probably didn't deserve to win this game. Remember the weekend before when they were the more motivated team against Fresno State and narrowly came away with the upset? They were on the other side of things this time. San Jose State played better and actually had the lead at halftime. In overtime, San Jose State got a field goal and Idaho ended it with a touchdown. Too bad neither of these teams is going to a bowl game this year. The Vandals have 6 wins, but one came against an FCS opponent in North Dakota. Better luck next year.
UNLV Runnin' Rebels at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 45 to 21
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 59, Runnin' Rebels 21
This game went exactly as I expected it to go. Hawai'i was obviously the better team and took it to UNLV from the start. The Runnin' Rebels, however, did put a couple of touchdowns up on the board late, most likely against the Rainbow Warriors' second and third stringers. Quarterback Bryant Moniz had a modest 380 yards passing. The heavy lifting was done by running back Alex Green, who had 136 yards on 15 carries. UNLV will not be going to a bowl this year as they have only two wins to their name. Too bad. Hawai'i, however, accepted their bid to the Hawai'i Bowl about a month ago. They will take on Tulse of Conference USA and it all goes down on Christmas Eve. It should be a good one because both teams are among the highest scoring in the nation.
Oregon Ducks at Oregon State Beavers
My prediction was Oregon wins 52 to 24
Final score: Ducks 37, Beavers 20
Oregon State hung around a lot more than I thought they were going to. Of course, Oregon still came out on top, but it wasn't as pretty as some of their other wins have been. What did the Beavers in was quarterback Ryan Katz's 3 interceptions. That and the fact that they couldn't stop LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner, who rushed for 134 and 133 yards respectively. Unfortunately for the Beavers, they will not be playing in a bowl game this year. That's too bad because they are actually a good team. They just ran into some tough competition early and lost a huge part of their offense when James Rodgers went down against Arizona. The Ducks have earned their spot in the National Championship Game and will face Auburn in Glendale, AZ on January 10th. I hope no one likes defense because there won't be much of it in this game!
Auburn Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
My prediction was Auburn wins 42 to 38
Final score: Tigers 56, Gamecocks 17
Auburn absolutely pasted South Carolina to win the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, Georgia. It wasn't even a game, although it was disguised and promoted as one. Scam Newton played incredibly well, throwing for 335 yards and rushing 73 more. He is the team. Their defense can afford to gamble and basically suck because they know that Newton will just score and bail them out. The Gamecocks just had a really bad game, especially quarterback Stephen Garcia, he threw 2 interceptions. They will take on Florida State (another vanquished conference champion game opponent, this one from the ACC) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31st. Maybe the Gamecocks can win in Atlanta this time around!
Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 38 to 31
Final score: Hokies 44, Seminoles 33
Virginia Tech is really good. Imagine if they would not have lost to James Madison in their second game of the season...They probably would have ended up in the Orange Bowl anyway as the ACC Champion. The Hokies became the first team in FBS history to win 11 straight games after starting the season 0-2. I hope people are noticing this. Boise State beat Virginia Tech...Tyrod Taylor is amazing. I don't understand why he isn't getting more Heisman love for all that he has done this year and what he means to his team. Unfortunately for Florida State, their regular starting quarterback Christian Ponder wasn't able to play with an elbow injury. Back up EJ Manuel threw 2 interceptions. They can avenge themselves against South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31st. As I mentioned, Virginia Tech will play in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida on January 3rd against the Stanford Cardinal.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
My prediction was Nebraska wins 35 to 34 in an upset special
Final score: Sooners 23, Cornhuskers 20
I really don't like Oklahoma, mainly because their coach Bob Stoops is a giant d-bag. Anyway, they managed to hold of Nebraska and score enough points to earn the win. I will give them credit for that. For the second year in a row, the 'Huskers fall short of the Big 12 title and are on their way to the Holiday Bowl. It's hard to pick an upset special when all the favored teams win. Oh well. Nebraska will face the Washington Huskies, whom they slaughtered earlier in the season in Seattle 56-21. The Holiday Bowl takes place in San Diego on 30th. Oklahoma will play Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona on January 1st. Let's see if Stoops can finally win a BCS Bowl Game. Here's to hoping he doesn't.
Record coming in: 57-16
This week (including Boise State's win over Utah State): 8-1
Total: 65-17
The regular season has ended, as you may have heard. I will be picking winners for all 35 bowl games. The first one takes place on December 18th, which is a Saturday. Look for the picks on either the 16th or the 17th. Make sure you check back in tomorrow and the rest of this week for more Boise State information. Let's go Broncos!
Illinois Fighting Illini at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Fresno State wins 35 to 31
Final score: Bulldogs 25, Fighting Illini 23
Fresno State got off to a quick start in this game and then did just enough to hold off Illinois at the end to take the "W." It was 16-0 by the time the first quarter ticked away its last second. This was a big win for Pat Hill and the Bulldogs because it got them to 8 wins for the year and silenced some of their critics, at least for the moment. Illinois is a very young team and will have plenty of success here in the next few years. Both teams are going to bowl games. Illinois takes on Baylor of the Big 12 in the Texas Bowl, which takes place on December 29th. Fresno State takes on Northern Illinois of the MAC in the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl on December 18th. Let's hope Fresno actually shows up this year for their bowl game...
Nevada Wolfpack at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 38 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 17
The Wolfpack was destined for a letdown after the emotions of beating Boise State the week before, and it happened. Well, it lasted for approximately the duration of the first half before pulling away and winning. Kaepernick and Taua both had huge games on the ground and were just too much for the Bulldogs. It has been an up and down season for Louisiana Tech and they will be watching bowl season from their own couches yet again. I think Sonny Dykes has something brewing down in Ruston. We will see in the next couple of years. Nevada earned themselves a date with the Boston College Eagles in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on January 9th. That should be an interesting match up.
San Jose State Spartans at Idaho Vandals
My prediction was Idaho wins 42 to 28
Final score: Vandals 26, Spartans 23 (OT)
Idaho probably didn't deserve to win this game. Remember the weekend before when they were the more motivated team against Fresno State and narrowly came away with the upset? They were on the other side of things this time. San Jose State played better and actually had the lead at halftime. In overtime, San Jose State got a field goal and Idaho ended it with a touchdown. Too bad neither of these teams is going to a bowl game this year. The Vandals have 6 wins, but one came against an FCS opponent in North Dakota. Better luck next year.
UNLV Runnin' Rebels at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 45 to 21
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 59, Runnin' Rebels 21
This game went exactly as I expected it to go. Hawai'i was obviously the better team and took it to UNLV from the start. The Runnin' Rebels, however, did put a couple of touchdowns up on the board late, most likely against the Rainbow Warriors' second and third stringers. Quarterback Bryant Moniz had a modest 380 yards passing. The heavy lifting was done by running back Alex Green, who had 136 yards on 15 carries. UNLV will not be going to a bowl this year as they have only two wins to their name. Too bad. Hawai'i, however, accepted their bid to the Hawai'i Bowl about a month ago. They will take on Tulse of Conference USA and it all goes down on Christmas Eve. It should be a good one because both teams are among the highest scoring in the nation.
Oregon Ducks at Oregon State Beavers
My prediction was Oregon wins 52 to 24
Final score: Ducks 37, Beavers 20
Oregon State hung around a lot more than I thought they were going to. Of course, Oregon still came out on top, but it wasn't as pretty as some of their other wins have been. What did the Beavers in was quarterback Ryan Katz's 3 interceptions. That and the fact that they couldn't stop LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner, who rushed for 134 and 133 yards respectively. Unfortunately for the Beavers, they will not be playing in a bowl game this year. That's too bad because they are actually a good team. They just ran into some tough competition early and lost a huge part of their offense when James Rodgers went down against Arizona. The Ducks have earned their spot in the National Championship Game and will face Auburn in Glendale, AZ on January 10th. I hope no one likes defense because there won't be much of it in this game!
Auburn Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
My prediction was Auburn wins 42 to 38
Final score: Tigers 56, Gamecocks 17
Auburn absolutely pasted South Carolina to win the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, Georgia. It wasn't even a game, although it was disguised and promoted as one. Scam Newton played incredibly well, throwing for 335 yards and rushing 73 more. He is the team. Their defense can afford to gamble and basically suck because they know that Newton will just score and bail them out. The Gamecocks just had a really bad game, especially quarterback Stephen Garcia, he threw 2 interceptions. They will take on Florida State (another vanquished conference champion game opponent, this one from the ACC) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31st. Maybe the Gamecocks can win in Atlanta this time around!
Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 38 to 31
Final score: Hokies 44, Seminoles 33
Virginia Tech is really good. Imagine if they would not have lost to James Madison in their second game of the season...They probably would have ended up in the Orange Bowl anyway as the ACC Champion. The Hokies became the first team in FBS history to win 11 straight games after starting the season 0-2. I hope people are noticing this. Boise State beat Virginia Tech...Tyrod Taylor is amazing. I don't understand why he isn't getting more Heisman love for all that he has done this year and what he means to his team. Unfortunately for Florida State, their regular starting quarterback Christian Ponder wasn't able to play with an elbow injury. Back up EJ Manuel threw 2 interceptions. They can avenge themselves against South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31st. As I mentioned, Virginia Tech will play in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida on January 3rd against the Stanford Cardinal.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
My prediction was Nebraska wins 35 to 34 in an upset special
Final score: Sooners 23, Cornhuskers 20
I really don't like Oklahoma, mainly because their coach Bob Stoops is a giant d-bag. Anyway, they managed to hold of Nebraska and score enough points to earn the win. I will give them credit for that. For the second year in a row, the 'Huskers fall short of the Big 12 title and are on their way to the Holiday Bowl. It's hard to pick an upset special when all the favored teams win. Oh well. Nebraska will face the Washington Huskies, whom they slaughtered earlier in the season in Seattle 56-21. The Holiday Bowl takes place in San Diego on 30th. Oklahoma will play Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona on January 1st. Let's see if Stoops can finally win a BCS Bowl Game. Here's to hoping he doesn't.
Record coming in: 57-16
This week (including Boise State's win over Utah State): 8-1
Total: 65-17
The regular season has ended, as you may have heard. I will be picking winners for all 35 bowl games. The first one takes place on December 18th, which is a Saturday. Look for the picks on either the 16th or the 17th. Make sure you check back in tomorrow and the rest of this week for more Boise State information. Let's go Broncos!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Weekend Picks, 11th Edition (14th Week of the Season)
As some lesser version of normalcy returns to the Treasure Valley and to Bronco fans world wide, we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of another week that ends with a Boise State football game. The worst part for us is that we are down to only two more contests this season. The best part is that there are some really good games on this weekend, many of which I will feature here in an attempt to pick winners and losers. Let's just call it "Championship Saturday" and get on with it!
Friday, December 3rd at 8:15 PM
(6-5, 4-4 Big 10)
at
(7-4, 5-3 WAC)
The Bulldogs have had a pretty disappointing season. They have lost three games in conference (to Boise State, Hawai'i, and Nevada) and narrowly scraped by bottom-feeding Idaho last weekend at home. Have they mailed it in yet? It is sure looking like it. That's too bad because they have a feisty Fighting Illini team coming into Bulldog Stadium and then a bowl game to look forward to. It's sad that it took Fresno State almost 8 full quarters of football before they finally got an offensive touchdown in the books. Running back Robbie Rouse has tapered off and quarterback Ryan Colburn is still an average player. Illinois on the other hand, has played spoiler a couple of times in the Big 19 and are doing pretty well considering their preseason (complete lack of) hype. Fresno should win this game as long as they show up and play up to the level that they are capable of. They are at home after all. This pick is based entirely on me banking that they will decide to play.
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Fighting Illini 31
Saturday, November 4th at 1 PM
(11-1, 6-1 WAC)
at
(5-6, 4-3 WAC)
Can anyone say "trap game?" After pulling off the biggest win in school history last week over Boise State, the Wolfpack must travel to Ruston, Louisiana to take on a decent Bulldog team. How sad would it be (for them) if they lost? This has all the makings of a let down game. Nevada still has their heads back in last Friday, celebrating and reminiscing on the elation of the overtime victory. Yet somehow they have to focus on the now and prepare for a scrappy Louisiana Tech squad that almost always plays tough at home. Combine that with the fact that they need this last victory to become bowl eligible and you have a very determined Bulldog team on you hands. The Wolfpack is ripe for a loss. But will it happen? I am not ready to pick that upset. I think that Nevada is talented enough that they could afford to sleepwalk through part or all of this game and still win. It will be closer on the scoreboard than it should be for that reason.
Prediction: Wolfpack 38, Bulldogs 35
Saturday, November 4th at 3 PM
(1-11, 0-7 WAC)
at
(5-7, 2-5 WAC)
The Vandals were so close to upsetting Fresno State last weekend. Had they done that, all that would have remained between them and the Humanitarian Bowl would be the lowly Spartans. Unfortunately the Bulldogs came alive in the last minute to seal the win for themselves. Now all Idaho is left with is pride. Do they have any? Do they have what it takes to save some face against San Jose State? I would think yes. Although, Spartan quarterback Jordan La Secla had a career game last week against Louisiana Tech, throwing for 496 yards. This match up has the potential to be close and San Jose State could even pull off the upset, depending on the state of mind of each team involved. Just like Fresno State, I am depending on the Vandals to be ready and prepared mentally for this one. That and the Spartans really suck.
Prediction: Vandals 42, Spartans 28
Saturday, November 4th at 8:30 PM
(2-10, 2-6 MWC)
at
(9-3, 7-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors have clinched at least a share of the WAC title as they finish up the season out of conference. It has been a great season for Hawai'i as they have reverted back to the Timmy Chang/Colt Brennan days of passing the ball all over the yard. Uncharacteristically, they have also found a running back using Alex Green. He is a big kid and gains yardage in decent-sized chunks. It will be a tough task for the Runnin' Rebels to try and stop Green, quarterback Bryant Moniz and his two great receivers. This is the same UNLV team that got smoked at Idaho earlier in the season. In other words, this game isn't going to be close.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 45, Runnin' Rebels 21
Saturday, November 4th at 1 PM
(4-7, 2-5 WAC)
at
(10-1, 6-1 WAC)
We will be able to tell just how amazing of a coach Chris Petersen is after this game is over. The Broncos are coming off on a devastating loss on the road at Nevada and are still trying to recover emotionally. How they come out and perform on Saturday will be a sign of how well Coach Pete has prepared and taught them during practice this last week. I think you will see a more humble, more focused Boise State squad that picked up a valuable lesson in Reno. The defense will have to stop the Aggies' dual threat quarterback Diondre Borel as well as that beast of a running back known as Derrvin Speight. I would like to see the defense shore up a lot as well as see the offense possess the ball a lot longer than they did in the second half last Friday. This should be a great senior day game and the Broncos should win fairly easily. I want to see all the seniors that don't get to play very much out there to start the game. That would be cool. Kyle Brotzman better get the biggest standing ovation in the history of Bronco Stadium for all that he has done in his 4 years at Boise State. Anything less than that would be a travesty.
Prediction: Broncos 52, Aggies 13
Saturday, November 4th at 1:30 PM
(11-0, 8-0 Pac-10)
at
(5-6, 4-4 Pac-10)
The Civil War is upon us yet again as College GameDay rolls into town. Too bad this year's game features on team that is having a hard time winning consistently. That would be the Beavers. They started off the year playing two very tough road games against TCU and Boise State, both of which they lost. In fact, with the exception of at Arizona, they play very poorly on the road. It doesn't help that they lost a huge part of their offense when James Rodgers went down earlier in the season. On the other hand, Oregon is living large and has dominated most of their opponents, especially in the second half. D-bag Coach Chip Kelley has his Ducks playing very well and are one win away from their first ever bid to play for a National Championship. All that stands in their way is in-state rival Oregon State. This game is in Corvallis, which is a huge advantage for the Beavers. Too bad that won't be enough. I see it being close in the beginning before the Ducks pull away, just as they have most games this season.
Prediction: Ducks 52, Beavers 24
Saturday, November 4th at 2 PM
SEC Chamionship Game
(12-0, 8-0 SEC)
vs.
(9-3, 5-3 SEC)
As you all know, Cam Newton has been ruled eligible to play by the NCAA for ludicrous reasons that are not known to normal man (I won't go into it here, just click this sentence and read my previous post about it). What that means is that Auburn has the best play maker in the country at their disposal. Look for him to make lost of amazing runs and throws on Saturday. The first time the Tigers played the Gamecocks this season was in week 4 at home and Auburn overcame a deficit (what's new) to pull out the win 35 to 27. South Carolina has been playing over their heads basically all season and there is no reason to think that they will stop now. Quarterback Stephen Garcia has played pretty good for most of the season and has found his play-maker Alshon Jeffrey often. Expect that to be the bread and butter for the Gamecocks on Saturday. With Newton at the helm, I just don't see him letting the Tigers lose, especially with the National Championship game waiting for them.
Prediction: Tigers 42, Gamecocks 38
Saturday, November 4th at 5:45 PM
ACC Championship Game
(9-3, 6-2 ACC)
vs.
(10-2, 8-0 ACC)
The Hokies have been on a tear in the ACC after opening up 0-2 for the season. They have gotten progressively better as each game has gone by. The Seminoles lost at Oklahoma early in the season and had a hiccup against the two teams from North Carolina, but have played very well and consistently all year long. This should be a great match up as Florida State tries to contain Tyrod Taylor and the stable of running backs that Virginia Tech send out. The Hokies have to contend with Christian Ponder and his great receivers. An Orange Bowl berth is at stake for both teams. Whoever loses will be stuck elsewhere.
Prediction: Hokies 38, Seminoles 31
Saturday, November 4th at 6 PM
Big 12 Championship Game
(10-2, 6-2 Big 12)
vs.
(10-2, 6-2 Big 12)
The Sooners knocked off in-state rival Oklahoma State on the road last Saturday to earn their spot in this game. Quarterback Landry Jones is playing very well and has a great group of receivers and running backs around him, namely Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray. The Huskers hope to have quarterback Taylor Martinez back and ready to play so as to have all of their weapons on the field. A berth in the Fiesta Bowl is on the line and I would expect nothing short of an amazing game from both teams. Nebraska's defense was given their black shirts back this year from rageaholic head coach Bo Pelini and are ranked 8th nationally in total defense. That will bode well for them. I think it happens for the Huskers, unlike last year.
Upset Special!!!!
Prediction: Corn Huskers 35, Sooners 34
Record coming into this week: 57-16
So there we have it. I picked all of the WAC games as well as all of the BCS conference title games. It should be a great weekend for college football fans. Make sure you check back in tomorrow and take a gander at my Weekly PTW! Let's go Broncos!
Friday, December 3rd at 8:15 PM
(6-5, 4-4 Big 10)
at
(7-4, 5-3 WAC)
The Bulldogs have had a pretty disappointing season. They have lost three games in conference (to Boise State, Hawai'i, and Nevada) and narrowly scraped by bottom-feeding Idaho last weekend at home. Have they mailed it in yet? It is sure looking like it. That's too bad because they have a feisty Fighting Illini team coming into Bulldog Stadium and then a bowl game to look forward to. It's sad that it took Fresno State almost 8 full quarters of football before they finally got an offensive touchdown in the books. Running back Robbie Rouse has tapered off and quarterback Ryan Colburn is still an average player. Illinois on the other hand, has played spoiler a couple of times in the Big 19 and are doing pretty well considering their preseason (complete lack of) hype. Fresno should win this game as long as they show up and play up to the level that they are capable of. They are at home after all. This pick is based entirely on me banking that they will decide to play.
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Fighting Illini 31
Saturday, November 4th at 1 PM
(11-1, 6-1 WAC)
at
(5-6, 4-3 WAC)
Can anyone say "trap game?" After pulling off the biggest win in school history last week over Boise State, the Wolfpack must travel to Ruston, Louisiana to take on a decent Bulldog team. How sad would it be (for them) if they lost? This has all the makings of a let down game. Nevada still has their heads back in last Friday, celebrating and reminiscing on the elation of the overtime victory. Yet somehow they have to focus on the now and prepare for a scrappy Louisiana Tech squad that almost always plays tough at home. Combine that with the fact that they need this last victory to become bowl eligible and you have a very determined Bulldog team on you hands. The Wolfpack is ripe for a loss. But will it happen? I am not ready to pick that upset. I think that Nevada is talented enough that they could afford to sleepwalk through part or all of this game and still win. It will be closer on the scoreboard than it should be for that reason.
Prediction: Wolfpack 38, Bulldogs 35
Saturday, November 4th at 3 PM
(1-11, 0-7 WAC)
at
(5-7, 2-5 WAC)
The Vandals were so close to upsetting Fresno State last weekend. Had they done that, all that would have remained between them and the Humanitarian Bowl would be the lowly Spartans. Unfortunately the Bulldogs came alive in the last minute to seal the win for themselves. Now all Idaho is left with is pride. Do they have any? Do they have what it takes to save some face against San Jose State? I would think yes. Although, Spartan quarterback Jordan La Secla had a career game last week against Louisiana Tech, throwing for 496 yards. This match up has the potential to be close and San Jose State could even pull off the upset, depending on the state of mind of each team involved. Just like Fresno State, I am depending on the Vandals to be ready and prepared mentally for this one. That and the Spartans really suck.
Prediction: Vandals 42, Spartans 28
Saturday, November 4th at 8:30 PM
(2-10, 2-6 MWC)
at
(9-3, 7-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors have clinched at least a share of the WAC title as they finish up the season out of conference. It has been a great season for Hawai'i as they have reverted back to the Timmy Chang/Colt Brennan days of passing the ball all over the yard. Uncharacteristically, they have also found a running back using Alex Green. He is a big kid and gains yardage in decent-sized chunks. It will be a tough task for the Runnin' Rebels to try and stop Green, quarterback Bryant Moniz and his two great receivers. This is the same UNLV team that got smoked at Idaho earlier in the season. In other words, this game isn't going to be close.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 45, Runnin' Rebels 21
Saturday, November 4th at 1 PM
(4-7, 2-5 WAC)
at
(10-1, 6-1 WAC)
We will be able to tell just how amazing of a coach Chris Petersen is after this game is over. The Broncos are coming off on a devastating loss on the road at Nevada and are still trying to recover emotionally. How they come out and perform on Saturday will be a sign of how well Coach Pete has prepared and taught them during practice this last week. I think you will see a more humble, more focused Boise State squad that picked up a valuable lesson in Reno. The defense will have to stop the Aggies' dual threat quarterback Diondre Borel as well as that beast of a running back known as Derrvin Speight. I would like to see the defense shore up a lot as well as see the offense possess the ball a lot longer than they did in the second half last Friday. This should be a great senior day game and the Broncos should win fairly easily. I want to see all the seniors that don't get to play very much out there to start the game. That would be cool. Kyle Brotzman better get the biggest standing ovation in the history of Bronco Stadium for all that he has done in his 4 years at Boise State. Anything less than that would be a travesty.
Prediction: Broncos 52, Aggies 13
Saturday, November 4th at 1:30 PM
(11-0, 8-0 Pac-10)
at
(5-6, 4-4 Pac-10)
The Civil War is upon us yet again as College GameDay rolls into town. Too bad this year's game features on team that is having a hard time winning consistently. That would be the Beavers. They started off the year playing two very tough road games against TCU and Boise State, both of which they lost. In fact, with the exception of at Arizona, they play very poorly on the road. It doesn't help that they lost a huge part of their offense when James Rodgers went down earlier in the season. On the other hand, Oregon is living large and has dominated most of their opponents, especially in the second half. D-bag Coach Chip Kelley has his Ducks playing very well and are one win away from their first ever bid to play for a National Championship. All that stands in their way is in-state rival Oregon State. This game is in Corvallis, which is a huge advantage for the Beavers. Too bad that won't be enough. I see it being close in the beginning before the Ducks pull away, just as they have most games this season.
Prediction: Ducks 52, Beavers 24
Saturday, November 4th at 2 PM
SEC Chamionship Game
(12-0, 8-0 SEC)
vs.
(9-3, 5-3 SEC)
As you all know, Cam Newton has been ruled eligible to play by the NCAA for ludicrous reasons that are not known to normal man (I won't go into it here, just click this sentence and read my previous post about it). What that means is that Auburn has the best play maker in the country at their disposal. Look for him to make lost of amazing runs and throws on Saturday. The first time the Tigers played the Gamecocks this season was in week 4 at home and Auburn overcame a deficit (what's new) to pull out the win 35 to 27. South Carolina has been playing over their heads basically all season and there is no reason to think that they will stop now. Quarterback Stephen Garcia has played pretty good for most of the season and has found his play-maker Alshon Jeffrey often. Expect that to be the bread and butter for the Gamecocks on Saturday. With Newton at the helm, I just don't see him letting the Tigers lose, especially with the National Championship game waiting for them.
Prediction: Tigers 42, Gamecocks 38
Saturday, November 4th at 5:45 PM
ACC Championship Game
(9-3, 6-2 ACC)
vs.
(10-2, 8-0 ACC)
The Hokies have been on a tear in the ACC after opening up 0-2 for the season. They have gotten progressively better as each game has gone by. The Seminoles lost at Oklahoma early in the season and had a hiccup against the two teams from North Carolina, but have played very well and consistently all year long. This should be a great match up as Florida State tries to contain Tyrod Taylor and the stable of running backs that Virginia Tech send out. The Hokies have to contend with Christian Ponder and his great receivers. An Orange Bowl berth is at stake for both teams. Whoever loses will be stuck elsewhere.
Prediction: Hokies 38, Seminoles 31
Saturday, November 4th at 6 PM
Big 12 Championship Game
(10-2, 6-2 Big 12)
vs.
(10-2, 6-2 Big 12)
The Sooners knocked off in-state rival Oklahoma State on the road last Saturday to earn their spot in this game. Quarterback Landry Jones is playing very well and has a great group of receivers and running backs around him, namely Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray. The Huskers hope to have quarterback Taylor Martinez back and ready to play so as to have all of their weapons on the field. A berth in the Fiesta Bowl is on the line and I would expect nothing short of an amazing game from both teams. Nebraska's defense was given their black shirts back this year from rageaholic head coach Bo Pelini and are ranked 8th nationally in total defense. That will bode well for them. I think it happens for the Huskers, unlike last year.
Upset Special!!!!
Prediction: Corn Huskers 35, Sooners 34
Record coming into this week: 57-16
So there we have it. I picked all of the WAC games as well as all of the BCS conference title games. It should be a great weekend for college football fans. Make sure you check back in tomorrow and take a gander at my Weekly PTW! Let's go Broncos!
Monday, November 22, 2010
WAC Weekend Recap, Week 12
Remember how on Wednesday I said quote "I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see." Well, my exact fear came to life and both Idaho and Utah won. Suck. Oh well, there is always this week. I did manage to maintain a winning record for the 11th week in a row and boost my stats. Let's go over the games that I picked and get a nice little preview of the showdown in the Biggest Little City in the World (that's right, Reno). I still can't get over how amazing Boise State was on Friday...Anyway...
New Mexico State Aggies at Nevada Wolfpack
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 21
Final score: Wolfpack 52, Aggies 6
This was expected. New Mexico State is absolutely terrible and they could not get anything going at all, especially offensively. It seems that the Wolfpack took it a little bit easy on them, maybe saving something for the game with Boise State on Friday. The Aggies were still able to muster 309 total yards, 220 of which came through the air. They just couldn't get anything in the end zone. That pass defense might need to shore up some with Kellen Moore and his group of outstanding receivers coming in. That's right, Nevada hosts Boise State on Friday in what will decide the WAC Championship. Either the Broncos take it all or Nevada earns a share. Excitement abounds! New Mexico State hosts the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in what will be their 10th loss of the season.
San Jose State Spartans at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 48 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 41, Spartans 7
Just like the Nevada/New Mexico State game, this particular match up yielded the expected results. San Jose State is absolutely terrible and it clearly shows. Hawai'i quarterback Bryant Moniz threw the ball all over the yard to the tune of 593 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Spartans scored their lone touchdown in the second quarter and didn't do anything beyond that offensively or defensively. Next week the Rainbow Warriors travel to New Mexico State to take on another terrible WAC team. San Jose State will host Louisiana Tech.
Idaho Vandals at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Utah State wins in an upset special 31 to 28
Final score: Vandals 28, Aggies 6
I had this one as my upset special based on a couple of things that I noticed. The Aggies can play well at times and I figured that at home they would be able to at least show up. But they did not. Also, Idaho's players, specifically Shiloh Keo, were calling each other out about being lazy. There was a lot of turmoil in the locker room and I figured that they would not play as a team. That may have been the case as they only put up 28 points and gaining 355 total yards, but it didn't matter because Utah State played like crap. Coming up for the hapless Aggies is a bye week followed by a trip to Boise. Idaho travels to Fresno State next week and will get destroyed by a pissed off Bulldog team.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Miami Hurricanes
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 35 to 28
Final score: Hokies 31, Hurricanes 17
Miami was playing out of their minds in the first half of this game, starting freshman quarterback Stephen Morris with normal starter Jacory Harris out with concussion symptoms. He did his best but in the end Virginia Tech proved to be too much for him as well as the Hurricane defense. Tyrod Taylor was a beast yet again and running back Ryan Williams showed up with an 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. It also helped that the 'Canes turned the ball over 6 times. The Hokies have won the ACC Coastal Division and will play either Florida State or North Carolina State in the ACC Championship game. They still have one last regular season game at home against lowly Virginia next Saturday. They should take care of business there. Miami tries to regroup and hopefully get Harris back at home against the South Florida Bulls.
Utah Utes at San Diego State Aztecs
My prediction was San Diego State wins 35 to 21
Final score: Utes 38, Aztecs 34
This is another one that I expected to go differently than it actually did. Utah had looked terrible the last two weeks and appeared to be heading south. San Diego State had almost upset TCU on the road and was on the way up. The circumstances were perfect for an Aztec win, but it was not to be. After sucking big time in the first quarter offensively, the Utes found themselves and came back from 17 down to stun the home team and squeeze out a close victory. They still couldn't stop San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley, who threw for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns. Utah was lucky that they won and now look ahead to the Holy War against BYU at home. The Aztecs play at home against the UNLV Rebels. They should win that one.
Record coming in: 49-12
This week (including Boise States win over Fresno State): 4-2
Total: 53-14
Overall, my picking hasn't been to bad, as the overall record tells you. After all the fun that we've had, Boise State heads to Reno, Nevada to take on the Wolfpack in a huge game. I feel very confident about the Broncos right now after the beat down that they administered to Fresno State. Nevada is confident as well, but they always are when they play the Broncos. It will be a great game, but I see the BSU defense making plenty of stops and scoring plenty of points offensively to win the game. We will see how I feel when I make my picks on Thursday (Turkey Day!). As for now, Boise State has closed the gap with TCU in the BCS rankings and are behind by a measly .135 in the computers. With a win over Nevada (it probably needs to be at least fairly convincing), they should pass the Horned Frogs and will be sitting pretty should Oregon or Auburn fall in the next couple of weeks. I will be getting more and more excited as this week moves along, as well as more and more nervous. The angry ostrich Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick is always tough to stop. You know he does not want to go 0-4 against Boise State in his career. With that said, he has a tall task in front of him against a tough Bronco defense. It all goes down Friday night on ESPN. Let's get it on!
Keep coming back to see what Bronco Chase has planned for this holiday week. Go Broncos!
New Mexico State Aggies at Nevada Wolfpack
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 21
Final score: Wolfpack 52, Aggies 6
This was expected. New Mexico State is absolutely terrible and they could not get anything going at all, especially offensively. It seems that the Wolfpack took it a little bit easy on them, maybe saving something for the game with Boise State on Friday. The Aggies were still able to muster 309 total yards, 220 of which came through the air. They just couldn't get anything in the end zone. That pass defense might need to shore up some with Kellen Moore and his group of outstanding receivers coming in. That's right, Nevada hosts Boise State on Friday in what will decide the WAC Championship. Either the Broncos take it all or Nevada earns a share. Excitement abounds! New Mexico State hosts the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in what will be their 10th loss of the season.
San Jose State Spartans at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 48 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 41, Spartans 7
Just like the Nevada/New Mexico State game, this particular match up yielded the expected results. San Jose State is absolutely terrible and it clearly shows. Hawai'i quarterback Bryant Moniz threw the ball all over the yard to the tune of 593 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Spartans scored their lone touchdown in the second quarter and didn't do anything beyond that offensively or defensively. Next week the Rainbow Warriors travel to New Mexico State to take on another terrible WAC team. San Jose State will host Louisiana Tech.
Idaho Vandals at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Utah State wins in an upset special 31 to 28
Final score: Vandals 28, Aggies 6
I had this one as my upset special based on a couple of things that I noticed. The Aggies can play well at times and I figured that at home they would be able to at least show up. But they did not. Also, Idaho's players, specifically Shiloh Keo, were calling each other out about being lazy. There was a lot of turmoil in the locker room and I figured that they would not play as a team. That may have been the case as they only put up 28 points and gaining 355 total yards, but it didn't matter because Utah State played like crap. Coming up for the hapless Aggies is a bye week followed by a trip to Boise. Idaho travels to Fresno State next week and will get destroyed by a pissed off Bulldog team.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Miami Hurricanes
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 35 to 28
Final score: Hokies 31, Hurricanes 17
Miami was playing out of their minds in the first half of this game, starting freshman quarterback Stephen Morris with normal starter Jacory Harris out with concussion symptoms. He did his best but in the end Virginia Tech proved to be too much for him as well as the Hurricane defense. Tyrod Taylor was a beast yet again and running back Ryan Williams showed up with an 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. It also helped that the 'Canes turned the ball over 6 times. The Hokies have won the ACC Coastal Division and will play either Florida State or North Carolina State in the ACC Championship game. They still have one last regular season game at home against lowly Virginia next Saturday. They should take care of business there. Miami tries to regroup and hopefully get Harris back at home against the South Florida Bulls.
Utah Utes at San Diego State Aztecs
My prediction was San Diego State wins 35 to 21
Final score: Utes 38, Aztecs 34
This is another one that I expected to go differently than it actually did. Utah had looked terrible the last two weeks and appeared to be heading south. San Diego State had almost upset TCU on the road and was on the way up. The circumstances were perfect for an Aztec win, but it was not to be. After sucking big time in the first quarter offensively, the Utes found themselves and came back from 17 down to stun the home team and squeeze out a close victory. They still couldn't stop San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley, who threw for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns. Utah was lucky that they won and now look ahead to the Holy War against BYU at home. The Aztecs play at home against the UNLV Rebels. They should win that one.
Record coming in: 49-12
This week (including Boise States win over Fresno State): 4-2
Total: 53-14
Overall, my picking hasn't been to bad, as the overall record tells you. After all the fun that we've had, Boise State heads to Reno, Nevada to take on the Wolfpack in a huge game. I feel very confident about the Broncos right now after the beat down that they administered to Fresno State. Nevada is confident as well, but they always are when they play the Broncos. It will be a great game, but I see the BSU defense making plenty of stops and scoring plenty of points offensively to win the game. We will see how I feel when I make my picks on Thursday (Turkey Day!). As for now, Boise State has closed the gap with TCU in the BCS rankings and are behind by a measly .135 in the computers. With a win over Nevada (it probably needs to be at least fairly convincing), they should pass the Horned Frogs and will be sitting pretty should Oregon or Auburn fall in the next couple of weeks. I will be getting more and more excited as this week moves along, as well as more and more nervous. The angry ostrich Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick is always tough to stop. You know he does not want to go 0-4 against Boise State in his career. With that said, he has a tall task in front of him against a tough Bronco defense. It all goes down Friday night on ESPN. Let's get it on!
Keep coming back to see what Bronco Chase has planned for this holiday week. Go Broncos!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Weekend Picks, 9th Edition (12th Week of the Season)
First things first:
"Shiloh Keo just got a mouthful of Doug Martin!"
-Joe Tessitore
Enjoy!
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a weird blogger-week for me. I will be leaving early Friday morning so as to have a grand ol' time in Boise in preparation for the game against Fresno. My wife has some family coming into town who we are graciously treating to an evening at Bronco Stadium. How hospitable are we?! So today will be the Weekend Picks and tomorrow will be the Weekly PTW. Let's get it on!
Saturday, November 20th at 2:05 PM
(2-8, 1-5 WAC)
at
(9-1, 4-1 WAC)
This game is going to get really ugly about as fast as it can. Think Boise State at Idaho last week. The Wolfpack may just put up 28 points in the first quarter as well. “Bird Leg” Kaepernick has found his mojo again and will be running all over the lowly Aggies at home. Don’t forget Vai Taua and the rest of the running backs that Nevada throws onto the field. New Mexico State has absolutely no chance of winning this game. They have no offensive weapons and can’t play defense. That means it will be a long afternoon for the Aggies. Good thing this season is almost over for them. I would think that Nevada will play pretty conservative so as to not show too much of what they will try and do against Boise State. Still, a high school team could beat the Aggies right now.
Prediction: Wolfpack 45, Aggies 21
Saturday, November 20th at 8:30 PM
(1-9, 0-5 WAC)
at
(7-3, 5-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors play very well at home, having beaten ranked Nevada earlier in the season. The Spartans are even worse than the New Mexico State Aggies, having lost to them a few weeks ago. What this means is that Hawai’i will crush San Jose State with their passing attack. You could say that the Spartans are playing better, but they still only have one win to show for it (which was against a 1-AA by the way). All I’m saying is that San Jose State will be dropping to 1-10 probably by the end of the first quarter.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 48, Spartans 14
Saturday, November 20th at 1 PM
(4-6, 1-4 WAC)
at
(4-6, 2-4 WAC)
Idaho got curb stomped last week at home by Boise State. The game wasn’t as close as the 52-14 final may have led you to believe, especially since the Bronco starters sat out a bulk of the second half. Now you have cheap-shotting d-bag Shiloh Keo calling out his “selfish, egotistical” teammates (pot, meet kettle). In other words, things are not looking good for the Vandals coming down the home stretch, and bickering or accusing your teammates is not going to help. They have to win two of the next three games to be bowl eligible. They should handle San Jose State, Fresno will beat them, and that means that the Aggies are their last chance for bowl game redemption. Nathan Enderle will have to play better and stop throwing the ball to the other team if they want to leave Logan with the "W." Luckily for Idaho, Brandyn Thompson doesn’t play for Utah State. On the other hand, the Aggies aren’t anything close to a powerhouse either. Their inconsistency is baffling considering the considerable hype that came their way during the preseason. Derrvin Speight has been a beast at running back the last couple of games and they will rely on him heavily against the Vandals on Saturday. This game will be a lot closer than many people think. Remember, Utah State beat Idaho last year in Moscow. While making this pick, I am counting on the good Utah State team to show up, not the crappy one that has popped up from time to time. At the same time, with mutiny amongst the ranks and after a demoralizing loss to their rivals at home, I see the same result as last year.
Upset Special!
Prediction: Aggies 31, Vandals 28
Saturday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
6-3, 4-2 WAC)
at
(9-0, 5-0 WAC)
The Bulldogs come into this game playing very well, having rediscovered the power running game that they have used so well in seasons past. The crazy part is the main feature in said power run game is running back Robbie Rouse, who stands proudly at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, is the heart and soul behind the rejuvenated rushing attack. He has racked up 769 yards and 7 touchdowns in the past four games, including a near upset of the Nevada Wolfpack. He will be what the Broncos key on defensively, especially since Ryan Colburn is an average quarterback who is terrified of Winston Venable. A lot of young players have stepped up for Fresno State and are now playing very well. Even with the loss of Byron Hout at middle linebacker for the Broncos, they have a very disciplined and sturdy rushing defense. Still, Darrell Acrey is going to have to play out of his freaking mind. I am no longer worried about the pass defense as Brandyn Thompson and Jamar Taylor have proved in the past two games that they can lock down any receiver that comes their way. Boise State will have their hands full keeping Chris Carter and Logan Harrell out of the backfield and away from Moore. While they may get a few good plays in every now and then, there is no team in the country that can stop Boise State’s offense. The Bulldogs will have to outscore the Broncos, and with the nation’s second best defense statistically, that will not happen.
Prediction: Broncos 48, Bulldogs 17
Saturday, November 20th at 1:30 PM
(8-2, 6-0 ACC)
at
(7-3, 5-2 ACC)
I have been doing a lot of Hokie games lately. That’s because their success on the field affects Boise State more than any other team that they have played this year. This particular match up boasts two ranked teams. Virginia Tech has won 8 straight games and is in control of their own destiny. It is looking more and more like they will be in the ACC Championship game and will earn the ACC’s automatic BCS Bowl bid. This is their last test of the season, as they will host crappy Virginia on the final day. Tyrod Taylor is impossible to stop and the Hokies’ running backs are playing very well. The Hurricanes have benched long-time starter Jacory Harris and have gone with Stephen Morris. He has been playing well but has yet to see a defense like the Hokies. As a Bronco fan,I may be hoping big time here that Virginia Tech can keeps winning because I keep picking them.
Prediction: Hokies 35, Hurricanes 28
Saturday, November 20th at 8 PM
(8-2, 5-1 MWC)
at
(7-3, 4-2 MWC)
The fact that the Utes are still ranked is a complete joke. You don’t get blown out at home and tank on the road to a sub .500 team if you are worthy of a top 25 place. The Aztecs almost upset the Horned Frogs last week on the road, scoring 35 points, by far the most that TCU has given up all season. With that said, this match up has all the makings of a great watch, especially if you are a TCU or Boise State fan. If Utah wins, they salvage their season, save some face, and help out the Frogs in the polls and BCS computers. If San Diego State wins, they knock the Utes completely off the grid, screw up TCU even more than they are now, and help out Boise State. It’s amazing what Brady Hoke has done with this team. They were one of the worst in the nation when he got there 2 years ago and have turned them into a feared, respectable opponent. He is working his magic much like he did at Ball State. Except here he is in the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. This will be a great contest. A lot is on the line in terms of what will happen nationally depending on who wins. Utah is favored by 5 points as of today, but my guess is that changes by kick off on Saturday. The Aztecs might be getting the nod at that point.
Prediction: Aztecs 35, Utes 21
Total coming into this week: 49-12
There we have it. Let's see if I can do a repeat of last week and go 6-0. I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game. There is a rumor that the Broncos will be wearing all orange pants and jerseys for the game, as the stadium is doing an orange out. I hope it's true! It will be a cold, rainy/snowy night. Let's go Broncos!
"Shiloh Keo just got a mouthful of Doug Martin!"
-Joe Tessitore
Enjoy!
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a weird blogger-week for me. I will be leaving early Friday morning so as to have a grand ol' time in Boise in preparation for the game against Fresno. My wife has some family coming into town who we are graciously treating to an evening at Bronco Stadium. How hospitable are we?! So today will be the Weekend Picks and tomorrow will be the Weekly PTW. Let's get it on!
Saturday, November 20th at 2:05 PM
(2-8, 1-5 WAC)
at
(9-1, 4-1 WAC)
This game is going to get really ugly about as fast as it can. Think Boise State at Idaho last week. The Wolfpack may just put up 28 points in the first quarter as well. “Bird Leg” Kaepernick has found his mojo again and will be running all over the lowly Aggies at home. Don’t forget Vai Taua and the rest of the running backs that Nevada throws onto the field. New Mexico State has absolutely no chance of winning this game. They have no offensive weapons and can’t play defense. That means it will be a long afternoon for the Aggies. Good thing this season is almost over for them. I would think that Nevada will play pretty conservative so as to not show too much of what they will try and do against Boise State. Still, a high school team could beat the Aggies right now.
Prediction: Wolfpack 45, Aggies 21
Saturday, November 20th at 8:30 PM
(1-9, 0-5 WAC)
at
(7-3, 5-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors play very well at home, having beaten ranked Nevada earlier in the season. The Spartans are even worse than the New Mexico State Aggies, having lost to them a few weeks ago. What this means is that Hawai’i will crush San Jose State with their passing attack. You could say that the Spartans are playing better, but they still only have one win to show for it (which was against a 1-AA by the way). All I’m saying is that San Jose State will be dropping to 1-10 probably by the end of the first quarter.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 48, Spartans 14
Saturday, November 20th at 1 PM
(4-6, 1-4 WAC)
at
(4-6, 2-4 WAC)
Idaho got curb stomped last week at home by Boise State. The game wasn’t as close as the 52-14 final may have led you to believe, especially since the Bronco starters sat out a bulk of the second half. Now you have cheap-shotting d-bag Shiloh Keo calling out his “selfish, egotistical” teammates (pot, meet kettle). In other words, things are not looking good for the Vandals coming down the home stretch, and bickering or accusing your teammates is not going to help. They have to win two of the next three games to be bowl eligible. They should handle San Jose State, Fresno will beat them, and that means that the Aggies are their last chance for bowl game redemption. Nathan Enderle will have to play better and stop throwing the ball to the other team if they want to leave Logan with the "W." Luckily for Idaho, Brandyn Thompson doesn’t play for Utah State. On the other hand, the Aggies aren’t anything close to a powerhouse either. Their inconsistency is baffling considering the considerable hype that came their way during the preseason. Derrvin Speight has been a beast at running back the last couple of games and they will rely on him heavily against the Vandals on Saturday. This game will be a lot closer than many people think. Remember, Utah State beat Idaho last year in Moscow. While making this pick, I am counting on the good Utah State team to show up, not the crappy one that has popped up from time to time. At the same time, with mutiny amongst the ranks and after a demoralizing loss to their rivals at home, I see the same result as last year.
Upset Special!
Prediction: Aggies 31, Vandals 28
Saturday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
6-3, 4-2 WAC)
at
(9-0, 5-0 WAC)
The Bulldogs come into this game playing very well, having rediscovered the power running game that they have used so well in seasons past. The crazy part is the main feature in said power run game is running back Robbie Rouse, who stands proudly at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, is the heart and soul behind the rejuvenated rushing attack. He has racked up 769 yards and 7 touchdowns in the past four games, including a near upset of the Nevada Wolfpack. He will be what the Broncos key on defensively, especially since Ryan Colburn is an average quarterback who is terrified of Winston Venable. A lot of young players have stepped up for Fresno State and are now playing very well. Even with the loss of Byron Hout at middle linebacker for the Broncos, they have a very disciplined and sturdy rushing defense. Still, Darrell Acrey is going to have to play out of his freaking mind. I am no longer worried about the pass defense as Brandyn Thompson and Jamar Taylor have proved in the past two games that they can lock down any receiver that comes their way. Boise State will have their hands full keeping Chris Carter and Logan Harrell out of the backfield and away from Moore. While they may get a few good plays in every now and then, there is no team in the country that can stop Boise State’s offense. The Bulldogs will have to outscore the Broncos, and with the nation’s second best defense statistically, that will not happen.
Prediction: Broncos 48, Bulldogs 17
Saturday, November 20th at 1:30 PM
(8-2, 6-0 ACC)
at
(7-3, 5-2 ACC)
I have been doing a lot of Hokie games lately. That’s because their success on the field affects Boise State more than any other team that they have played this year. This particular match up boasts two ranked teams. Virginia Tech has won 8 straight games and is in control of their own destiny. It is looking more and more like they will be in the ACC Championship game and will earn the ACC’s automatic BCS Bowl bid. This is their last test of the season, as they will host crappy Virginia on the final day. Tyrod Taylor is impossible to stop and the Hokies’ running backs are playing very well. The Hurricanes have benched long-time starter Jacory Harris and have gone with Stephen Morris. He has been playing well but has yet to see a defense like the Hokies. As a Bronco fan,I may be hoping big time here that Virginia Tech can keeps winning because I keep picking them.
Prediction: Hokies 35, Hurricanes 28
Saturday, November 20th at 8 PM
(8-2, 5-1 MWC)
at
(7-3, 4-2 MWC)
The fact that the Utes are still ranked is a complete joke. You don’t get blown out at home and tank on the road to a sub .500 team if you are worthy of a top 25 place. The Aztecs almost upset the Horned Frogs last week on the road, scoring 35 points, by far the most that TCU has given up all season. With that said, this match up has all the makings of a great watch, especially if you are a TCU or Boise State fan. If Utah wins, they salvage their season, save some face, and help out the Frogs in the polls and BCS computers. If San Diego State wins, they knock the Utes completely off the grid, screw up TCU even more than they are now, and help out Boise State. It’s amazing what Brady Hoke has done with this team. They were one of the worst in the nation when he got there 2 years ago and have turned them into a feared, respectable opponent. He is working his magic much like he did at Ball State. Except here he is in the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. This will be a great contest. A lot is on the line in terms of what will happen nationally depending on who wins. Utah is favored by 5 points as of today, but my guess is that changes by kick off on Saturday. The Aztecs might be getting the nod at that point.
Prediction: Aztecs 35, Utes 21
Total coming into this week: 49-12
There we have it. Let's see if I can do a repeat of last week and go 6-0. I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game. There is a rumor that the Broncos will be wearing all orange pants and jerseys for the game, as the stadium is doing an orange out. I hope it's true! It will be a cold, rainy/snowy night. Let's go Broncos!
Monday, November 15, 2010
WAC Weekend Recap, Week 11
Things went very well for the Broncos when it comes to poll watching and impressing voters. At the same time, the opposite is true for the pesky Horned Frogs. Narrowly beating San Diego State by 5 at home (when 27.5 point favorites), giving up 35 points, and seeing Utah (their signature win) go down in holy flames at the hands of Notre Dame was exactly what TCU did not want to happen. The Broncos jumped back in front of them in the coaches' and AP Polls, and narrowing the gap considerably in the BCS Standings. At the same time, the Cal Golden Bears gave us the blueprint on how to beat the Oregon Ducks. If only they had an offense to go along with the defense that they played, Oregon may have lost as well (they only scored one offensive touchdown the entire game. That is unheard of). Arizona and Oregon State, I hope you took notes. Thank you Cal. Also, Virginia Tech keeps winning and that is good for Boise State. Too bad they are only ranked in 3 of the 6 computers. If they win the ACC, the Broncos will be in great position to pass the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings. According to BCS analyst Jerry Palm and ESPN writer Mark Schlabach, that may happen anyway. With all that said, let's get recapping the weekend action, including my inspired upset special pick!
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was LA Tech wins 35 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 41, Aggies 20
The Aggies still suck and even when playing a decent WAC team, they get blown out at home. Honestly, this was a pretty easy game to pick. The Bulldogs now need to win their next two games two become bowl eligible. I don't think that is going to happen as they have to face Nevada at home. The Aggies have no shot at a bowl, so they are playing for absolutely nothing. But they can always play the spoiler against the Wolfpack and the Rainbow Warriors.
Utah State Aggies at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Aggies win 31 to 17
Final score: Aggies 38, Spartans 34
I said that Utah State should be able to win this game even if they decided not to show up. Well, that exact thing happened. It was a close game, but the Aggies pulled it out in the end. There really isn't that much more that I need to say about this game because no one cares about either team. Let's move on.
Nevada Wolfpack at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 34
This was by far the best game of the weekend. The Bulldogs outplayed and out gained the Wolfpack, but somehow found a way to lose. Running back Robbie Rouse was yet again a beast and ate up 217 yards on the ground. (He will be tough to stop this Friday in Boise.) In fact, Fresno State had the rushing yard advantage with a total of 250 to 245. They did lose two fumbles, which the Wolfpack cashed in and ended up winning the game. These are the next two teams that Boise State plays, and they better be ready. I will be there this Friday when Fresno State comes rolling into town.
Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tar Heels
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 31 to 27
Final score: Hokies 26, Tar Heels 10
The Hokies continue their tear through the ACC, having now won 8 straight games. This is great for Boise State, as I have mentioned. Tyrod Taylor was a complete monster yet again, tossing the ball for 13 completions, 249 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Nobody (except Boise State) can stop him. North Carolina made it interesting and actually had a 10-9 lead at halftime. But Virginia Tech came out after the half like gang busters and completely stifled anything the Tar Heels through at them. The Hokies have one more road test on Saturday at Miami. North Carolina will host in state rival North Carolina State as well.
Utah Utes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Notre Dame wins 31 to 28
Final score: Fighting Irish 28, Utes 3
I cannot stand anything Notre Dame. I frankly hate everything about them. Yet I found myself rooting for them to beat the highly overrated Utah Utes. It worked. The Irish completely exposed them for the absolute frauds that they are, and at the same time diminished TCU's win over them last week. The worst part for the Utes, they couldn't stop a Notre Dame team that was quarterbacked by an inexperienced freshman. Yikes. This was huge in that voters are now finally realizing that Utah sucks, TCU's win over them is not that spectacular, and they quickly vaulted the Broncos back in front of the Horned Frogs. There are now rumors that Utes Coach Kyle Whittingham is going to bench starting quarterback Jordan Wynn for back up Terrence Cain. Utah plays next week at San Diego State (who nearly upset TCU, by the way), and we sure hope that they can continue their slide. How Utah is still ranked is beyond me. Notre Dame hosts Army on Saturday, in a game that I hope they lose. It's time to get back to hating the Irish, but still being thankful that they beat Utah!
Record coming in: 43-12
This week (including Boise State's win over Idaho): 6-0
Total: 49-12
Make sure you keep checking back in for more info. on Boise State and their upcoming opponents. Go Broncos!
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was LA Tech wins 35 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 41, Aggies 20
The Aggies still suck and even when playing a decent WAC team, they get blown out at home. Honestly, this was a pretty easy game to pick. The Bulldogs now need to win their next two games two become bowl eligible. I don't think that is going to happen as they have to face Nevada at home. The Aggies have no shot at a bowl, so they are playing for absolutely nothing. But they can always play the spoiler against the Wolfpack and the Rainbow Warriors.
Utah State Aggies at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Aggies win 31 to 17
Final score: Aggies 38, Spartans 34
I said that Utah State should be able to win this game even if they decided not to show up. Well, that exact thing happened. It was a close game, but the Aggies pulled it out in the end. There really isn't that much more that I need to say about this game because no one cares about either team. Let's move on.
Nevada Wolfpack at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 34
This was by far the best game of the weekend. The Bulldogs outplayed and out gained the Wolfpack, but somehow found a way to lose. Running back Robbie Rouse was yet again a beast and ate up 217 yards on the ground. (He will be tough to stop this Friday in Boise.) In fact, Fresno State had the rushing yard advantage with a total of 250 to 245. They did lose two fumbles, which the Wolfpack cashed in and ended up winning the game. These are the next two teams that Boise State plays, and they better be ready. I will be there this Friday when Fresno State comes rolling into town.
Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tar Heels
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 31 to 27
Final score: Hokies 26, Tar Heels 10
The Hokies continue their tear through the ACC, having now won 8 straight games. This is great for Boise State, as I have mentioned. Tyrod Taylor was a complete monster yet again, tossing the ball for 13 completions, 249 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Nobody (except Boise State) can stop him. North Carolina made it interesting and actually had a 10-9 lead at halftime. But Virginia Tech came out after the half like gang busters and completely stifled anything the Tar Heels through at them. The Hokies have one more road test on Saturday at Miami. North Carolina will host in state rival North Carolina State as well.
Utah Utes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Notre Dame wins 31 to 28
Final score: Fighting Irish 28, Utes 3
I cannot stand anything Notre Dame. I frankly hate everything about them. Yet I found myself rooting for them to beat the highly overrated Utah Utes. It worked. The Irish completely exposed them for the absolute frauds that they are, and at the same time diminished TCU's win over them last week. The worst part for the Utes, they couldn't stop a Notre Dame team that was quarterbacked by an inexperienced freshman. Yikes. This was huge in that voters are now finally realizing that Utah sucks, TCU's win over them is not that spectacular, and they quickly vaulted the Broncos back in front of the Horned Frogs. There are now rumors that Utes Coach Kyle Whittingham is going to bench starting quarterback Jordan Wynn for back up Terrence Cain. Utah plays next week at San Diego State (who nearly upset TCU, by the way), and we sure hope that they can continue their slide. How Utah is still ranked is beyond me. Notre Dame hosts Army on Saturday, in a game that I hope they lose. It's time to get back to hating the Irish, but still being thankful that they beat Utah!
Record coming in: 43-12
This week (including Boise State's win over Idaho): 6-0
Total: 49-12
Make sure you keep checking back in for more info. on Boise State and their upcoming opponents. Go Broncos!
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