Mountain West Motives

As the Boise State Broncos get ready to make the switch to the (used to be better than the WAC) Mountain West Conference, the state of college football in the West remains in flux. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson and school representatives met in Las Vegas to make a decision on two things; if the conference will expand from 8 members to 10 and if TCU should visit The Blue for the lone conference match up between two of the nation's top non-AQ teams instead of the other way around, as was originally scheduled. Here's the catch; the Horned Frogs don't have a vote on either matter because they are leaving the conference in 2012.

It was decided that the league will stay at eight teams (sorry Utah State, San Jose State. You're welcome Idaho). Here's the deal; it doesn't mean very much. Remember last year around this time when Thompson announced that they would not be inviting Boise State and then two days later they back-peddled and extended their needy hand to the Broncos? All it signifies is that the MWC won't expand right now. Don't be surprised if that changes sometime in the next two days or next year.

The other item on the docket went the way of the Broncos. The representatives decided that TCU will visit Boise State in Boise next season. You have to feel bad for Horned Frog athletic director Chris del Conte. He was sitting there the whole time while the votes were cast and he could do absolutely nothing about it. Sucks to be him. Naturally, he was overly upset about it.

"I'm disappointed. We were told that they were going to be here at TCU and I'm disappointed for our fans, our community and I'm disappointed in the conference. We made an agreement that this was what it was going to be, and to switch it this late in the game leaves a bitter taste in your mouth."

You really can't blame him. Here is how the Mountain West explained their decision;

"The Board felt the change was in the best interest of the Mountain West Conference and would help address current and future scheduling concerns created by the new set of circumstances which stemmed from another change in membership."

In other words, any win that the Broncos get over ranked teams bolsters the Mountain West's status in their quest to gain automatic qualifying status in the BCS so let's give them the advantage over a departing TCU team. In other, other words, "TCU is kinda' screwing us so let's kinda' screw them back!"

It is of the upmost importance that an athletic conference do every thing it can to survive and strengthen itself in this unstable and constantly shifting college football world. The Mountain West is doing just that. The motives behind the schedule change decision may not be the most upright or ethical, but who can blame them?

Both del Conte and Thompson have valid points in this situation. So where does that leave us? In pretty much the same situation we were before. Call it a draw. As a Bronco fan, I am incredibly excited to have the Horned Frogs on The Blue next fall. Even with my move to Pocatello, you better believe that I will be at the game. TCU is renovating their stadium this year anyway, rendering a large portion of it useless during the football season. Bring on the Frogs and let the battle ensue. You know they will have a huge chip on their shoulder and they are going to have a better than average chance of winning, even with Boise State's incredible home winning streak on the line. Can it be football season yet, please!?!?

All WAC Team - Theirs and Mine

As you all know, the Western Athletic Conference handed out their season awards on Monday, and the Boise State Broncos made off like bandits with 11 total players on the first team and 3 on the second team. I thought that whoever makes the decisions on first team, second team, etc. did a really good job. However, there are a couple of changes that I personally would have made, including the awards for Player(s) of the Year. Here is the list of who won what. I will follow that up with what I would have done differently.

WAC top individual awards:

* Offensive Player of the Year: Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, and Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
* Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Carter, DE, Fresno State
* Freshman of the Year: Keith Smith, LB, San Jose State
* Coach of the Year: Chris Ault, Nevada

First-team All-WAC:

Offense:

* WR-Austin Pettis, Boise State, 6-3, 197, Sr.
* WR-Titus Young, Boise State, 5-11, 168, Sr.
* WR-Greg Salas, Hawai‘i, 6-2, 200, Sr.
* TE-Virgil Green, Nevada, 6-5, 240, Sr.
* OL-Thomas Byrd, Boise State, 5-11, 279, Jr.
* OL-Nate Potter, Boise State, 6-6, 297, Jr.
* OL-Kenny Wiggins, Fresno State, 6-7, 310, Sr.
* OL-Rob McGill, Louisiana Tech, 6-6, 310, Sr.
* OL-John Bender, Nevada, 6-8, 325, Sr.
* QB-Kellen Moore, Boise State, 6-0, 186, Jr.
* QB-Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, 6-6, 215, Sr.
* RB-Doug Martin, Boise State, 5-9, 212, Jr.
* RB-Vai Taua, Nevada, 5-10, 220, Sr.

Defense:

* DL-Shea McClellin, Boise State, 6-3, 258, Jr.
* DL-Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State, 6-4, 267, Sr.
* DL-Chris Carter, Fresno State, 6-2, 230, Sr.
* DL-Logan Harrell, Fresno State, 6-2, 275, Jr.
* DL-Dontay Moch, Nevada, 6-1, 245, Sr.
* LB-Winston Venable, Boise State, 5-11, 218, Sr.
* LB-Ben Jacobs, Fresno State, 6-3, 225, Sr.
* LB-Corey Paredes, Hawai‘i, 5-11, 230, Jr.
* LB-Bobby Wagner, Utah State, 6-1, 230, Jr.
* DB-George Iloka, Boise State, 6-3, 207, Jr.
* DB-Jeron Johnson, Boise State, 5-11, 195, Sr.
* DB-Mana Silva, Hawai‘i, 6-1, 220, Sr.
* DB-Davon House, New Mexico State, 6-0, 178, Sr.

Specialists:

* PK-Kevin Goessling, Fresno State, 6-0, 195, Jr.
* P-Bobby Cowan, Idaho, 6-5, 220, So.
* ST-Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech, 5-8, 175, Sr.

Second-team All-WAC:

Offense:

* WR-Jamel Hamler, Jr., Fresno State
* WR-Kealoha Pilares, Sr., Hawai‘i
* WR-Eric Greenwood, Sr., Idaho
* WR-Rishard Matthews, Jr., Nevada
* TE-Daniel Hardy, Sr., Idaho
* OL-Bryce Harris, Jr., Fresno State
* OL-Lupepa Letuli, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Adrian Thomas, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Chris Barker, So., Nevada
* OL-Ailao Eliapo, Sr., San Jose State
* QB-Bryant Moniz, Jr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Alex Green, Sr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Lennon Creer, Jr., Louisiana Tech

Defense:

* DL-Billy Winn, Jr., Boise State
* DL-Kaniela Tuipulotu, Jr., Hawai‘i
* DL-Aaron Lavarias, Sr., Idaho
* DL-Matt Broha, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-Byron Hout, Jr., Boise State
* LB-Travis Brown, So., Fresno State
* LB-Adrien Cole, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-James-Michael Johnson, Jr., Nevada
* LB-Keith Smith, Fr., San Jose State
* DB-Brandyn Thompson, Sr., Boise State
* DB-Desia Dunn, Sr., Fresno State
* DB-Shiloh Keo, Sr., Idaho
* DB-Isaiah Frey, Jr., Nevada
* DB-Curtis Marsh, Sr., Utah State

Specialists:

* PK-Scott Enos, Sr., Hawai‘i
* P-Harrison Waid, Fr., San Jose State
* ST-Taveon Rogers, Jr., New Mexico State

There we have it. Like I mentioned, I have no problem with most of what was decided. With that said, here are a few changes that I would have made.

1. Defensive Player of the Year, how in the world could it be anybody besides Dontay Moch of Nevada? It's ridiculous! I don't want to take anything away from Chris Carter. After all, he did have a great season. But Moch single-handedly won the award in when Boise State played them in Reno. That man is a holy terror and a yeti-beast! He should have won it.

2. Offensive Player of the Year. This on is a bit tricky. Kellen Moore is the better player and is going to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. But Kaepernick beat him head to head. I guess it feels a little bit like a cop out by the WAC, but I guess there wasn't much else they could have done. I would almost lean towards giving it to the senior. Kellen has another year to get another one.

3. Billy Winn. He should have been first team all WAC. That man has been huge for the Broncos, clogging up the middle and wreaking havoc on quarterbacks. I would take Logan Harrell off of the first team and put Winn there. At least Billy didn't get completely shafted like this next player was.

4. Will Lawrence. The Boise State senior offensive lineman has had a stellar season. Not just that, but he has strung together 2 or 3 of them in a row now. How he was left completely off both the first and second team is beyond me. I would put him probably on the second team in place of Ailao Eliapo from San Jose State.

5. Punter. Hawai'i's Alex Dunnachie got shafted. He should have been on at least the second team. I was in person at Bronco Stadium when Dunnachie got off plenty of booming, amazing punts. He should have been mentioned here.

6. I was somewhat surprised to see Winterswyk and George Iloka on the first team. Both are great players, but haven't had stand out years like we were expecting. I guess Winterswyk is in because of his track record. As far as Iloka, maybe there was no one else worthy of it. He did pick up his game towards the end of the regular season (remember the balancing act/interception against Nevada? Beautiful.).

What do you think? Let me know if I've missed anybody or if I am wrong somewhere. As always, Bronco Chase is open for discussion. Let's continue to cheer on our Broncos as they get ready to take on Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl!

Boise State Dominates Fresno; They Had no Chance

I had little doubt that the Broncos were going to win the game, but the way in which it was accomplished blew my mind. The first quarter looked like Boise State was going to be this week's TCU, and possibly fall in the polls and blow their chance for a big bowl game. But the Boys in (Orange)shook it off and blew up for 48 points in the remaining 3 quarters. Kellen Moore didn't even play much of the fourth quarter and they still blew out the Bulldogs. Here are some stats to chew on;

Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
Rushing-125...........49
Passing-391...........76
..Total-516...........125

Average Gain Per Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........6.3...........2.5

Yards Per Pass Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........9.3...........3.2

First Downs:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........31.............9

Third Down Attempts/Completions-%:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.....10/13-77%......1/12-8%

Number of sacks on opposing quarterback:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.........4.............0

If you thought the win over Hawai'i was dominant, it was even better tonight. The way that Boise State played last night was nothing short on insane. Fresno State averages 34 points and 400 yards a game, so holding them to 0 and 125 is incredible. Their bread and butter has been the running game under the small but capable shoulders of Robbie Rouse. That kid was basically non-existent. He finished with 70 yards on 17 carries, 37 of which came in the final drive of the game against the Broncos' 2nd and 3rd stringers. The Broncos more than quadrupled the Bulldogs' total yardage output. The one that stands out the most to me is the average yards per pass completion. They nearly got a first down every single time they passed the ball. It helped that Titus Young was burning that tool of a football player Desia Dunn (number 24). Just like the yardage differential, the difference in first downs is quite impressive. The Broncos had a great third down conversion percentage, something that they improved on greatly from last week. Even better, they only allowed Fresno State to convert 1 of 12 third downs. Finally, Boise State found themselves in the Bulldog backfield all night, terrorizing an already shaking quarterback in Ryan Colburn. 4 sacks is great, but they also didn't give up any. Kellen Moore should have been sacked 3 times, but managed to escape each time. As my little sister said, "I think he's a Jedi."

What We Learned:

The orange jerseys look awesome! At least they do in person. I heard from a few people that they looked nasty on TV. But being at the stadium when they came out in full uniform, it was, shall I say, breathtaking. They did look pretty cool. I hope to see them again in the future.

Desia Dunn is a complete tool. It seems like this section is turning into a place for me to call out losers from the other teams. Last week was Shiloh Keo and this week is Mr. Dunn, number 24. I counted 3 pass interference penalties on him alone. Oh, and don't forget the face that he continually talked junk all game even though he Titus Young was beating him like a rented mule all night long. Good thing we like to talk with our play.

Boise State has some sort of spell over Fresno State. In the few days before the game, their head coach continued to heap praise on the Broncos and say how good they are and how tough they are to beat. What do you think/say if you are one of his players and you hear him gushing over your next opponent like that? It seems that Pat Hill's man crush on the Broncos is doing nothing but allowing his team to get destroyed by them every year. Boise State has their number for sure.

Boise State's secondary is no longer a concern. Not that they ever really were, but without question they are a force on this defense. So think about it now; the Bronco D-line is one of the best in the country and so is their secondary, where is the weakness? I guess you would have to say the linebacking unit, especially with the loss of Byron Hout. But even then they stuffed the Fresno rushing threat all night.

If there is a better receiving duo in the United States than Pettis and Young, I have yet to see it. They are so good together. Combine that with the fact that Kellen Moore isn't human and you have an offense that is impossible to stop. They combined for 18 catches, 257 yards, and all four of Kellen's touchdown passes. That is impressive. So who do you stick your shutdown corner on? Even if neither are open, Tyler Shoemaker or a tight end will be. Basically, you're defense is screwed. Fresno State's coach Pat Hill said this about them; "Those two wide receivers, you were bringing up the SEC. Who in the SEC has two like that? I don't think anybody does." I agree coach.


The referees were terrible. Beyond any calls that I thought were bad or not right (my opinion, obviously), I have never seen a game so disorganized and out of sorts from the officials side as I did last night. They looked like clueless, incompetent inbreeds running around the blue turf in black ninja masks. It was frustrating to say the least.

This team is focused, and I have serious doubts that they will be able to be stopped this season. Coach Pete has done a great job of preparing them, but they themselves are in tunnel-vision mode and are not coming out of it. It's scary for other teams so see this freight train coming your way. I heard a quote the other day; "The Boise State Broncos are like a Fargo, North Dakota winter. You know they're coming, but that information does nothing for you." I like it.

Areas of Concern:

For once, I can honestly say that there was nothing from last night that concerns me. Nevada, be scared.

Favorite Play:

Is there anything else it could be? Kellen is about to get sacked and is in fact wrapped up by a Bulldog defensive lineman. Somehow he shakes himself out of it and proceeds to run 10 yards up the sideline before diving out of bounds just past the first down marker. It was gorgeous! Moore is by no means a running threat and he doesn't like to take off if he doesn't have to, but he made it look easy.

Thoughts and Tidbits:

There was a lot of hard hitting going on last night from both teams. In fact, I saw both Moore and Pettis go down and come up a little shaky and it scared the crap out of me. But, both are fine, obviously. This was the first time that Boise State has worn orange jerseys in what is estimated to be about 20 years. During warm ups, a group of Boise State players (probably around 30) came out onto the field bare chested. Remember, it was freezing cold and drizzling at Bronco Stadium.

Weekly Player to Watch Recap:

Winston Venable was a beast last night. I saw him flying around the field and lighting people up whenever he got the chance. I counted one sack attributed to him. But, the most important thing was how him and the rest of the defense was able to repeatedly stuff the Bulldog vaunted rushing attack. Venable was a key part of that and you can see the confidence he and the rest of the defense has. That is important when considering who the opponent is. Overall, Winston had a great game and will continue that next Friday in Reno.

Perception:

Boise State did more than plenty to continue to impress voters and critics. This was a good Fresno State team that almost upset the Nevada Wolfpack last week. The Broncos completely crushed and devoured their souls in this game. Most impressively, they were able to avoid what happened to TCU last week, barely squeaking by an opponent that they should have crushed. Boise State has a good chance to pass up the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings tomorrow, a week earlier than I and many others thought. Things are looking good right now. Auburn and/or Oregon just need to lose and we are looking at a non-AQ team in the National Championship game. This is for real. I never thought it would be possible, but here we are. Let's get the perspective of the vanquished Fresno State coach;

"I think the truth of the matter is, people are scared to play them. They don't want to play them. I'll say it. I have no problem saying it. I'll take Boise State against anybody in the country. What else do they have to do? They're on the verge of their fourth undefeated season in six years. You gotta be kidding me. Someday we got to wake up and say, 'We just can't listen to all the people who've got all the money. We've got to listen to people that have the best teams.' They're a great football team."

Thank you coach. Remember, this is from a man who has played anybody, anywhere, and gone up against some top teams in his coaching career. His opinion and views are respected and should be taken seriously. Here he is again;

"I've said it before," Hill said. "This is an elite football team. There's no doubt in my mind. If these guys win out, they should play for the national championship. Defensively, we've played some good teams before. We have never been manhandled like that. We got dominated tonight at the line of scrimmage. That doesn't happen to us too often...They are very deserving of playing in the title game..."

It's true. Thank you for saying it. The writer of the article that I just linked is from the ESPN writer Ivan Maisel. He finishes it by saying "They can beat anybody, too, 24 anybodies in a row. The question is whether they will get the opportunity to beat that special somebody. Based on 10 games, any championship game without Boise State wouldn't be a championship game at all." Everyone is catching on and realizing how good this team is. Well, everyone except Mark May and Craig James, but we don't care about them. The point is the Broncos are in a good position and it can only get better from here.

Photos:

Just click here.

Alright everybody, there we have it! The most dominating performance in Boise State history is in the books. Next up we have the Nevada Wolfpack in Reno. Check back in on Monday for my WAC Weekend Recap. Go Boise State!

Weekly Player to Watch, 9th Edition

Doesn't it feel like I am running out of players to choose for my PTW? I know that's not the case, but I just can't get around it. Anyway, this week's game is between two of the best, most consistent teams in the WAC, although Fresno State hasn't won even a portion of the WAC title since 1999. Anyway, now that the Broncos have finished up the easy, cake-walk portion of their schedule, it is time to get back into it and invest everything we have as fans emotionally, mentally, and physically into the next two games. You know the boys in Blue (I guess it will be the boys in Orange for this game!) will be doing the same thing. We have reached a critical stretch in this season where one slip up will destroy everything that they have worked so hard to achieve and in effect, ruin the season for many of us. While I do not feel that the Bulldogs have what it takes to win in Bronco Stadium, let's not look forward to Nevada or we could find ourselves losing, either the game or the all-important "style points."

As I look at some numbers and stats for Fresno State this season, I realize that they rank roughly in the middle in every offensive and defensive category. They do rank 34th out of 120 teams in pass defense, but that is a bit misleading as a couple of the the squads that they have played don't pass the ball much (ie. Ole' Miss and Cal Poly). Not just that, but Hawai'i and (somehow) San Jose State were able to throw for over 300 yards against them. Offensively and as I have mentioned, they rely heavily on the running game. I expect that the Bulldogs will fall behind early and be forced to pass the ball a lot more than they want to. You all know what that means, it's time for our secondary to step up for the third week in a row. Having explained all that, please allow me to present to you my Weekly PTW...Winston Venable!


I feel like I may be copping out a little bit on this one, as Venable was the star of last year's game against Fresno State. But alas, he has not played as well this season as he did during the Fiesta Bowl run last year. Still, nothing is better than Winston going human rocket on Bulldog quarterback Ryan Colburn. The overriding purpose of choosing him is due to the fact that I would really enjoy a repeat of said game winning hit. It was beautiful. You know that Colburn is shaking in his red-colored turf cleats as we speak. Be afraid, be very afraid. I am expecting to see a whole lot of this tomorrow night;


Venable came our way after transferring from Glendale Community College in Arizona.
He was named first team J.C. All-America and first team All-Arizona whilst playing defensive back at G.C.C., registering 191 tackles in his two years there. Did you know that he was also an all-league punter for his junior college team? Why haven't we seen him doing that on The Blue? Venable was rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com out of junior college and was only offered a scholarship to play at Boise State. Chalk that one up as a score for the Broncos! He went from a small school in Glendale to playing on one of the biggest stages in college football in that same city. Hello Fiesta Bowl!


Venable first made his mark at Boise State during his breakout game last year at Fresno State. He started off by returning an interception for a touchdown and finished by making the winning tackle towards the end of the game by knocking Ryan Colburn silly (as we have mentioned). He continued to play extremely well the rest of the season, contributing in every game. However, this season has left a lot to be desired from Winston. He barely played the season opener against Virginia Tech with leg cramps and has not been as productive as many would have thought. He did play well against Louisiana Tech a couple of weeks ago and got a great sack in against Hawai'i, but that is about it. There is a lot of potential there and I feel that he will have yet another break out game against the Bulldogs. Why? He is a nickelback (hybrid safety and linebacker) and is in there to stop the run. Guess what? Fresno State likes to run the ball. That means Venable will be in there a lot. But don't forget, he can play the pass and intercept the rock just as well. Right Andy Dalton?


Unfortunately, Winston has come under fire lately for lowering his helmet when making tackles. In no way is he a dirty player (as I have mentioned many times, mainly in a huge rant that I posted a while back). He just learned a bad habit and is trying to break it. Oregon State wide receiver and uber-midget James Rodgers caught the wrong end of one those hits while trying to block him and Jamar Taylor. It was unfortunate, but that is football. Regardless of bad habits that Winston Venable may have, he is undoubtedly one of the hardest working, aggressive, and most inspirational players on Boise State's squad. His hits and positive demeanor make him a leader on the team and also a fun player to watch. So here is to you, Mr. Venable, and another outstanding performance against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Winston Venable, our Weekly PTW!


Make sure you all enjoy the game tomorrow night at 7:30 on ESPN2! Look for me in the crowd! Also, check back in Saturday for my take on the game and what it means. Let's go Broncos!

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!

The Western Athletic Conference as Films

Today's post is going to be a lot of fun. Besides Boise State football, my other passion in life is film. I love movies and I own over 700 of them. In honor of my love for all things Bronco and my love for films, I am going to combine the two today. That's right; using the current teams in the Western Athletic Conference (I know it will change next year), I will share with you a movie that exemplifies a WAC team. I will do it for each team in the WAC, according to where they currently are in the standings. Please leave as many comments as you would like and let me know if I got one wrong or if you have a different idea for a team. Let's get started!

San Jose State Spartans = Kazaam!


The last place team in the WAC is one of the worst in the nation. For years they had Dick Tomey as their head coach. Tomey is a future hall of famer that never really did anything with his teams in San Jose. He is like Shaquille O'neal; A big name that completely bombed. Shaq never should have even thought about making a movie. "Kazaam" was such a terrible film and likewise, San Jose State has had a bunch of terrible teams. Tomey was only able to take one group to a bowl game. It's not just that. California is filled with talented football players, and the Spartans couldn't get any of them. The putrid stench coming from Northern California is only rivaled by that of Shaquille O'neal and his hideous stint as an actor. Thank goodness it only lasted for a short time! The San Jose State Spartans are the "Kazaam" of the WAC. They aren't even fun to watch.

New Mexico State Aggies = Disaster Movie


The Aggies are exactly what the name of this movie tells us. They are really bad, but they did beat San Jose State this year. The losers who keep making these "movies" (date movie, etc.) need to stop. At the same time, New Mexico State should probably stop fielding a football team. Save your money. If the Aggies go up against a good team (Boise State), they get murdered. If somehow "Disaster Movie" was to get entered in a competition with good movies, it would also get murdered. They are terrible to watch and just like the film, they leave you pissed off for having wasted your time on such a dumpster fire of a film/football team. The New Mexico State Aggies are to the WAC what "Disaster Movie" is to the film industry; a complete and utter travesty.

Utah State Aggies = Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace


Let's be honest here, the first three films made back in the seventies were nothing short of fantastic. Maybe it was because too much time passed before they made the three prequels, but this movie sucked. It had so much promise before it started, just like Utah State. Many people had them picked to be in a bowl game and to be competitive, but that has not been the case. All they hype of the film and the Aggies has been wasted breath. "The Phantom Menace" has its moments of flashiness (mainly the special effects), and the Aggies have shown up for some games and have even won a few. But the successes that both have are overshadowed by their extreme and complete crappiness. Some people may like them, but they are only lying to themselves. Don't waste your time watching the train wreck of a movie nor the JV-like squad of the Utah State Aggie football team. You are the "Phantom Menace" of the Western Athletic Conference, literally and figuratively.

Idaho Vandals = Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd


This one is funny for more than one reason. The obvious one involves the word "dumb." Moving on...Applying this movie to the Idaho Vandals makes perfect sense. Remember back in the day when Idaho was a good football, at one point even beating Boise State 12 years in a row? That was like "Dumb and Dumber." It was great, everybody loved them, and they both have developed extensive followings that extend into the current day. But what about the sequel? Right now, the Vandals follow up the glory days by sucking terribly and embarrassing their alumni. Don't you think Jim Carey is embarrassed by the horrible sequel to his classic film? In other words, the Vandals of today are a shell of what they used to be, and they are terrible. "Dumb and Dumberer" is a crap fest compared to its predecessor. Oh yes, the good ol' glory days when Idaho and "Dumb and Dumberer" still had their dignity. They are gone, forever. Idaho, you are to college football and the great history of your football program, what "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" is to the "Dumb and Dumber" franchise. I cringe just thinking about it. Ewww...

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs = Vanilla Sky


After you watch "Vanilla Sky," you ask yourself "what the freak was that?" After you see the Bulldogs play, you ponder something similar. Whether it is their starting quarterback Ross Jenkins cutting of the sleeves of his jersey,

or Sonny Dykes belligerently screaming at an official over an blatantly obvious offsides call to the point of getting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag, it is just a mysterious, ugly mess. "Vanilla Sky" tries to be smart, to outwit its viewers, but it fails miserably. It's like the people who wrote it tried way too hard with a crappy plot and less than desirable acting, and ended up with a steaming pile of a film. That is how the Bulldogs are. They try so hard to run a no-huddle, fast-paced, quick strike offense, but they don't have the talent or intelligence to pull it off. You are left with jumbled disorder. Sometimes they play well and score some points, just as the movie has scenes and portions that are decent, but the end does not justify the means. Both would have more success by trying less. How is this for next year's campaign slogan: "Louisiana Tech-putting "vanilla" into the WAC." I am not sad to see them not in our conference next year.

Nevada Wolfpack = 17 Again


This was actually a pretty good movie. Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't be my first choice of films to watch, but it was entertaining nonetheless. Just like Nevada, "17 Again" gets the job done and entertains those who watch. But in no way would you rank either as top-tier or best in their conference/genre. Think about it; the lead role in the film is played by Zac Efron. The Wolfpack's leader is Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick. Both are preppy, handsome, pretty-boy "studs" (I use that term loosely) that are completely overrated. Which is better, being the star of "High School Musical" and parlaying that fame and success into other teen-flick roles, or being the starting quarterback for a one-dimensional middle to high-tier team in the WAC? Both are fine, but not what I want to be doing. "17 Again" and the Nevada Wolfpack, like two pees in an under-performing pod.

Fresno State Bulldogs = G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra


I actually enjoyed this film. I like action and special effects, and it was fine once I looked past the cliché, lame, and unthoughtful dialogue and plot line. In fact, I remember seeing "G.I. Joe" advertised during the Super Bowl more than a year before it was released. It promised so much. Hey that sounds like Fresno State! They show so much promise each preseason and proceed to go below expectations year in and year out. But understand, they are indeed a good team with great players and a fearless coach, but they are constantly a let down, just like the film. Look at the stars in the movie; Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, and Brendan Fraser. That is not a complete A-list, but enough to create a sparkling action-flick worthy of high praise. But it did not live up to the hype. The Bulldogs recruit plenty of talent every year, but are underwhelming in their accomplishment. This comparison was just too perfect; "G.I. Pat Hill: The Rise of Underachieving Bulldogs."

Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors = Juno


"Juno" was so wrong in so many ways. The exploitation of pregnant teenagers is only comparable to one thing; the exploitation of an alleged dangerous offense that refuses to utilize the run, therefore making it not dangerous to decent defenses. I cannot stress to you how overrated and annoying this movie was. Hawai'i is about as overrated of a team as there has been in college football this year and in the past few. "Juno" had it's moment to shine when it picked up an Academy Award for best original screenplay (how it did that is beyond me), just as the Rainbow Warriors had their time to shine in the 2007 season. They promptly threw it away (as well as any respect that non-AQ schools may have had at the time) with their (lack of) performance in the Sugar Bowl. The point is while a lot of people may like this film and see a fictitious deeper meaning in it, it's still erroneously glorified and finds itself completely off the mark when it comes to film making. Hawai'i has its fans, but it remains an overrated farce of a good team that wants you to think it's cooler than it actually is (but hey, they're from Hawai'i!). The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors: the annoying over-hyped, exploited, and pregnant teenage girl of the Western Athletic Conference.

Boise State Broncos = Gladiator


That's right, and it's completely true! Now some of you may say "wait a minute! These movie is so far ahead of those on the list, it's not even fair!" To that I say; exactly! You get it! Congratulations! The Broncos are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the conference that it isn't fair. Hence the exit to the Mountain West! But let's think about it, "Gladiator" is deep, complex, violent, glorious, successful, and a lot of fun to watch. In the previous sentence, replace the word "Gladiator" with "the Boise State Broncos" and all of it is still true. Their offense is so complex, it confuses opposing defenses play after play. Their talent is so deep that 3rd string defensive lineman are throwing Bryant Moniz to the turf like a rag doll. Their defense plays so physical and violent that the starting quarterbacks of their opponents are scared to face them. Their glory rests in the number of wins they have had in the past few years and can be summed up in 5 words; "Two Time Fiesta Bowl Champions." That is all I need to stay about that. True gladiators are forged on the battle field and come out victorious, having destroyed their foes against all odds. Boise State is Maximus, plain and simple.

So what did you think? I had a lot of fun creating this post and the comparisons. Check back in tomorrow for my Weekend Picks and some insight. Let's go Broncos!

WAC Weekend Recap, Week 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WAC Weekend Recap, Minus Boise State Edition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, October 23 at 3 PM

1-5 (0-2 WAC)
at

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

Saturday, October 23 at 3 PM

5-2 (3-0 WAC)
at

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

Saturday, October 23 at 6 PM

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

Thursday, October 21 at 7 PM

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

Saturday, October 23 at 12 PM

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

Saturday, October 23 at 1:30 PM

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

Saturday, October 32 at 1:30 PM

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

Record coming into this week: 25-10

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